<p>I know I won't be a semi-finalist, I got a 203 (97%), and I live in Jersey so I've got no shot. But, will it still be a good thing to be a commended national merit scholar? (Hopefully)</p>
<p>I’m a commended student as well and I’m guessing not really. It’s just something you can put on your app. It makes it look more full, but doesn’t really have that much value as a ton of kids applying to top schools are commended+</p>
<p>If you are indeed asking specifically in regards to “top schools”, then yeah, commended status really isn’t a very big deal. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you were speaking generally, then yes. Commended status does mean something as is a benefit to many applicants at many schools.</p>
<p>However, regardless, it can never hurt you. Unlike a low SAT score or low GPA, a non-stellar PSAT means nothing to colleges. Many students never even take the PSAT. On that note, a high PSAT score (commended, semi-finalist, finalist, etc) doesn’t mean much either and definitely not anywhere near the “main” factors like courses, GPA, SAT/ACT, ECs, Essays, etc.</p>