Does it look bad if you don't get National Merit?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>If you're applying to the really top schools, does it look bad if you're not a National Merit Scholar?
I'm asking because we're getting PSAT scores back soon and I'm sure I did worse than last year (my score was 220) and the Pennsylvania cutoff is around 216. So, if I don't make it, how will it look to colleges?</p>

2

<p>Your actual SAT scores will matter much, much more.</p>

3

<p>youll be fine. no one cares about psat</p>

4

<p>Random question: What is the room for leniency on each section if you want to get at least a 770 on each? D:</p>

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<p>I’m thinking:
about -1 for math
about -2 or 3 for reading
about -1 for writing (last time -1 was a 75!)</p>

<p>Ok, that makes me feel a little better. But I’m still gonna feel like a failure if I don’t make it. :(</p>

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<p>I meant for the actual SAT haha but thats pretty intense for the PSAT D:</p>

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<p>ohhh haha. Erm I would estimate:
-5 for CR
-1 or 2 for math
-3 for writing assuming your essay’s 10+</p>

<p>haha i really don’t know. It really depends on the curve.</p>

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<p>-5 for CR is almost definitely a 740. -2 could be 770, but that hasn’t happened in the past few years. More likely 750.</p>

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<p>Oh right. I was going by the hardest ones, on which the curve was -3 800 and -4 780.
I probably should have accounted for the easier ones haha.</p>