<p>People can post FAQ and Answers about the entire process.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>1) When do I have to take the PSAT in order to be in the competition.</p>
<p>The PSAT that is taken in Oct of Junior year is the one that is used. If you miss your school’s PSAT date, then have your GC quickly contact NMCorp and a SAT score taken shortly thereafter will be used.</p>
<p>2) How do I make NMSF and when do I find out?</p>
<p>Each state has a cut-off score. So, if your junior year PSAT score is “at or above” your state’s cut-off score, then you’ll make NMSF</p>
<p>You’ll find out around mid-Sept of senior year. However, some schools will tell you late Aug.</p>
<p>3) Does my SAT score need to “match” my PSAT score. </p>
<p>NO. It only has to exceed the minimum req’d SAT score…which is usually around 1960. However, to be safe, try to have at least a 2000. </p>
<p>4) Which SAT score is used? </p>
<p>One that is taken between Soph year and Dec of senior year. Score must be sent to NMCorp…code 0085.</p>
<p>5) Can my SAT be superscored? </p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>6) What are the qualifications to go from NMSF to NMF?</p>
<p>After you’ve been named NMSF, you’ll have some paperwork to fill out (now done online, I believe). You’ll have an essay to write as well. </p>
<p>YOUR SCHOOL will have to fill out a recommendation and include a copy of your grades/transcript. </p>
<p>If you have good grades (usually no more than 1 or 2 C semester grades), you haven’t been a discipline problem, you have a SAT over the minimum (1960+), you’ve sent your SAT to NMCorp, you write a decent essay, then you’ll make NMF.</p>
<p>7) When are students named NMF?</p>
<p>Students who have been named finalists will be notified in Feb of senior year.</p>
<p>8) When are rejected students notified?</p>
<p>Rejection letters are sent out the first week in January of senior year.</p>
<p>9) How many kids go from NMSF to NMF?</p>
<p>16,000 students are named NMSF. 15,000 are named NMF. So, usually the 1000 who don’t make NMF have CAUSED the problem by…not getting the SAT score, having bad grades, writing a rude essay, being a discipline problem at school, not doing the NMSF paperwork, not sending SAT score in.</p>
<p>10) Which NMF students are named NM Scholars?</p>
<p>Any student who receives an “official” NM scholarship is named a NM Scholar. That scholarship can be from 3 sources:</p>
<p>a) the one time $2500 award from NMCorp given to 2500 students</p>
<p>b) a corporate award, usually awarded to the children of employees who sponsor NM scholarships.</p>
<p>c) a NMF scholarship from a college that sponsors official NM scholarships.</p>
<p>11) What is the highest PSAT cut-off score of any state? </p>
<p>the highest cut-off score has been a 223. That is usually the same score that is used for boarding schools. </p>
<p>12) Does it matter if my school has a LOT of NMSFs? Will that hurt my chances of making NMF?</p>
<p>NO. Sometimes, a school will get the odd idea that they can’t recommend all their NMSFs. Those schools are wrong and they should be corrected. </p>
<p>13) Will NMCorp use an ACT score instead of a SAT score to go from NMSF to NMF? </p>
<p>NO. It must be a SAT score taken some time during soph year thru Dec of senior year. </p>
<p>14) Do I have to name a “first choice school” before spring of senior year?</p>
<p>Usually, you do NOT have to name a first choice school before spring of senior year. However, check with each of your schools to see if any have a deadline in order to be considered for a NMF scholarship. Some schools want to be named by Jan or Feb of senior year.</p>
<p>15) What can I do to improve my chances of making NMSF?</p>
<p>Use a College Board SAT practice book and practice during the summer.
Sign up for the October SAT. It’s given about a week before the PSAT.</p>
<p>If you’re a rising sophomore, see if your school will let sophs take the PSAT. Also, sign up for a spring SAT and get the detailed score report/answer sheet so that you can go over wrong answers. </p>
<p>16) My school doesn’t offer the PSAT to all junior students. What should I do?</p>
<p>In late Aug, contact your school’s GC and find out what you need to do so that you can take the PSAT. You may have to pay a small fee.</p>
<p>M2CK – I have lifted your questions and answers and incorporated some of my own, making only minor edits of your text and re-ordering some of the questions. I also removed the enumeration to make future insertions to the list easier. I hope the result is a fairly comprehensive set of answers to the most FAQ we see in this forum.</p>
<p>Some terms:
PSAT - the Prelimary SAT, about half the length of the SAT and without the written essay.
NM - National Merit
NMSP - NM Scholarship Program
NMSC - NM Scholarship Corporation, the sponsors of the NMSP
NMSQT - NM Scholarship Qualifying Test - the NMSC has designated the PSAT for this role
NMSF - NM Semifinalist, see below for details
NMF - NM Finalist, see below for details
NMS - NM Scholar, see belor for details.</p>
<p>What is the National Merit Scholarship Program?
[National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - NMSP](<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php]National”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php)
In brief, NMSP is a national competition which identifies high-potential students primarily on the basis of their PSAT scores and awards them scholarships either directly or indirectly through corporate sponsorship or through the colleges they choose to attend.</p>
<p>When do I have to take the PSAT in order to be in the competition?
The PSAT that is taken in October of your junior year is the one that is used. If you miss your school’s PSAT date, then have your GC quickly contact NMSC and a SAT score taken shortly thereafter will be used. It is possible to take the PSAT as a sophomore or even as a freshman, but these scores will not qualify for the NMSP competition.</p>
<p>How many people take the PSAT?
As of 2011 the total number of junior testers exceeded 1.5 million. This represented almost 50% of number expected to go on to graduate in 2013.</p>
<p>When do I find out my scores?
Scores are received by high schools by about Thanksgiving week each year. High schools have their own schedules about notifying students of their scores. Some do so almost immediately and some wait until January. Neither the College Board (who administers the PSAT) nor the NMSC contact students directly about their scores.</p>
<p>I received a letter from the NMSC telling me I am a “top-scorer”. What is that?
A top-scorer is among the 50,000 (top 3.3%) highest scorers among all junior testers. The qualifying score for this is set on a nation-wide basis and is usually around 200-202. Top-scorers are notified in April of their junior year.</p>
<p>How do I make NMSF and when do I find out?
NNSF’s are selected from the pool of top-scorers. Each state has a qualifying “cut-off” score. So, if your junior year PSAT score is “at or above” your state’s cut-off score (boarding schools have other cut-offs based on regional groupings), then you’ll make NMSF. You’ll find out around mid-September of your senior year. However, many schools will tell you in late August.</p>
<p>Is the cut-off determined by the top 1% of scorers in the state?
Only approximately and on average. The cut-offs are determined by allocations based on a state’s number of graduating seniors, not by number of PSAT testers.</p>
<p>What is the highest PSAT cut-off score of any state? The lowest?
The highest cut-off score has been a 223. The lowest has been around 200 in some years. (Boarding school cut-offs are equal to that of the highest state in their region.)</p>
<p>Why isn’t there a national NMSF cut-off? Why do this state-by-state?
That is a question that should be directed at the NMSC. Suffice to say it has been done this way for many decades.</p>
<p>What happens to the other top-scorers?
The 34,000 top-scorers who do not qualify as NMSF are recognized as “Commended Scholars” but do not advance beyond this level. Some colleges will grant merit aid to Commended Scholars.</p>
<p>What are the qualifications to go from NMSF to NMF?
After you’ve been named NMSF, you’ll have some paperwork to fill out (now done online). You’ll have an essay to write as well. YOUR SCHOOL will have to fill out a recommendation and include a copy of your grades/transcript. If you have good grades (usually no more than 1 or 2 C semester grades), you haven’t been a discipline problem, you have a SAT over the minimum (1960+), you’ve sent your SAT to NMCorp, you write a decent essay, then you’ll make NMF.</p>
<p>When are students named NMF?
Students who have been named finalists will be notified in February of their senior year.</p>
<p>When are rejected students notified?
Rejection letters are sent out the first week in January of senior year.</p>
<p>How many students go from NMSF to NMF?
16,000 students are named NMSF. 15,000 are named NMF. So, usually the 1000 who don’t make NMF have CAUSED the problem by…not getting the SAT score, having bad grades, writing a rude essay, being a discipline problem at school, not doing the NMSF paperwork, not sending SAT score in.</p>
<p>Does my SAT score need to “match” my PSAT score.
NO. It only has to exceed the minimum required SAT score…which is usually around 1960. However, to be safe, try to have at least a 2000.</p>
<p>Which SAT score is used?
One that is taken between sophomore year and December of senior year. Score must be sent to NMSC…code 0085.</p>
<p>Can my SAT be superscored?
No.</p>
<p>Which NMF students are named NM Scholars?
Any student who receives an “official” NM scholarship is named a NMS. That scholarship can be from 3 sources:</p>
<p>a) a one time $2500 award from NMSC given to 2500 students</p>
<p>b) a corporate award, usually awarded to the children of employees who sponsor NM scholarships.</p>
<p>c) a NMF scholarship from a college that sponsors official NM scholarships.</p>
<p>Does it matter if my school has a LOT of NMSFs? Will that hurt my chances of making NMF?
NO. Sometimes, a school will get the odd idea that they can’t recommend all their NMSFs. Those schools are wrong and they should be corrected.</p>
<p>Will the NMSC use an ACT score instead of a SAT score to go from NMSF to NMF?
NO. It must be a SAT score taken some time during sophomore year through December of senior year. If you have only an ACT score and find you have qualifed for NMSF, you will have the October, November, and December sittings of the SAT in which you can take the SAT in order to qualify for NMF.</p>
<p>Do I have to name a “first choice school” before spring of senior year?
Usually, you do NOT have to name a first choice school before spring of senior year. However, check with each of your schools to see if any have a deadline in order to be considered for a NMF scholarship. Some schools want to be named by January or February of senior year.</p>
<p>What can I do to improve my chances of making NMSF?
Use a College Board SAT practice book and practice during the summer. Sign up for the October SAT. It’s given about a week before the PSAT. If you’re a rising sophomore, see if your school will let sophomores take the PSAT. Also for sophomores, sign up for a spring SAT and get the detailed score report/answer sheet so that you can go over wrong answers. Some schools even permit freshman to sit the PSAT.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t offer the PSAT to all junior students. What should I do?
In late August contact your school’s GC and find out what you need to do so that you can take the PSAT. You may have to pay a small fee.</p>
<p>For the National Hispanic Recognition Program, see this thread for FAQs, Regional cutoffs, scholarships, etc.:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/640730-national-hispanic-recognition-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/640730-national-hispanic-recognition-program.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks, entomom. And in that spirit I will add a link for the National Achievement Scholarship Program for African-American Students. (I could find no analogous descriptive thread on CC.)</p>
<p>[National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - NASP](<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nasp.php]National”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nasp.php)</p>
<p>Many thanks to m2ck and Descartesz for starting this thread and providing so much excellent information in one place, definitely worthy of Sticky status!</p>
<p>I will add one more link that I have found helpful, it’s on Carleton’s website but contains general tips for NMS:</p>
<p>[Carleton</a> College: Admissions: Tips for National Merit Scholars](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/national_merit_tips/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/national_merit_tips/)</p>
<p>excellent thread! my only suggestion is to add links showing the most PSAT cutoff scores by state and PSAT scores over the past few years by state. Every year students ask what the cutoff numbers are or are likely to be. .</p>
<p>Last year’s state by state cut-offs for NMSF qualification</p>
<p>AL 211; AK 212; AZ 213; AR 205; CA 221; CO 215; CT 220; DE 217; DC 223; FL 214; GA 218; HI 216; 211; IL 216; IN 214; IA 210; KS 214; KY 212; LA 209; ME 212; MD 221; MA 223; MI 210; MN 215; MS 205; MO 213; MT 209; NE 209; NV 209; NH 216; NJ 223; NM 210; NY 219; NC 217; ND 204; OH 214; OK 209; OR 216; PA 215; RI 213; SC 211; SD 206; TN 214; TX 219; UT 208; VT 217; VA 220; WA 220; WV 204; WI 209; WY 204; International 223; New England Boarding Schools 223; Commended Scholar 202</p>
<p>This post has links to 2007-2011 PSAT cutoffs, for those who like to look at the historical data: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13116405-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13116405-post1.html</a></p>
<p>Q. My D doesn’t want to miss Saturday morning practice
to take the PSAT. Is there an alternative?</p>
<p>Yes. Check with other schools in your area. Nearby schools may offer the PSAT to students during the morning on Wednesday of the same week and allow students from other schools to sit in. She’ll have to miss half a day of her own school, but may prefer that. </p>
<p>Q. If she takes the test at another school, where will results be sent?</p>
<p>Results will be sent to the school she attends.</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE:</p>
<p>Per the OP:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is a Resource sticky thread intended to help members find the answers to FAQs about the NM process. This will hopefully aid members in finding answers quickly and cut down on the number of threads that ask the same question. Resource threads are only helpful if they stick to the subject and do not become too long.</p>
<p>Please do not ask individual questions here, instead, start your own New Thread.</p>
<p>This thread is dedicated to members providing GENERAL information concerning FAQs about the NM process, all other posts will be deleted.</p>
<p>Q) Where can I get actual PSAT practice tests, to accurately simulate test conditions while preparing?</p>
<p>Each year CB releases ‘Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT’, which contains a full length practice test in a separate pullout booklet. The guide itself, which is full of useful information about what one needs to study, practice problems, and info about the National Merit program, does not change much from year to year, but the practice test does. Get 2012 guide/test from GC, also downloadable from NMSC (w/o test currently).</p>
<p>Here are a couple of old tests I found browsing :</p>
<p>2007 Practice Test (math sections only)
<a href=“http://mvyps.org/~ken_DeBettencourt/PSAT%202007.pdf[/url]”>http://mvyps.org/~ken_DeBettencourt/PSAT%202007.pdf</a></p>
<p>2010 Practice Test:
<a href=“http://www.bsd405.org/Portals/24/homepage/super_wednesday/psat_practice.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bsd405.org/Portals/24/homepage/super_wednesday/psat_practice.pdf</a></p>
<p>2011 Practice Test:
<a href=“http://wildcat-testing.wikispaces.com/file/view/PSAT+practice+2011.pdf[/url]”>http://wildcat-testing.wikispaces.com/file/view/PSAT+practice+2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>2012 Student Guide with Practice Test should be available in GC office soon, if not now.</p>
<p>Explanations for the 2011 practice test answers are currently available at CBs PSAT webpage, but may soon be replaced by explanations for the 2012 practice test as soon as the 2012 practice test is widely available. If you want them, download now.</p>
<p>CBs PSAT webpage contains online practice problems, which are different from the ones in student guide.</p>
<p>Test takers receive their actual test booklet back with scores, so if you know older students, beg to borrow, erase marks and copy.</p>
<p>Hindsight: collecting guides from HS starting in K would have netted a huge stack by 10-11.</p>
<p>A few enterprising souls sell old actual test booklets on amazon and other places for $10-15 each.</p>
<p>Q) How do I register to take the PSAT?</p>
<p>Any HS which offers the test should announce registration 2 weeks or more in advance of the mid-Oct. date. To be sure you get registered, check with GC well in advance, especially if you arent sure your school offers the test. Cost varies, possibly free, esp. if high %age of low SES and/or if given on Weds. during school. Our school charges $25- of which $14 goes to CB and the rest administration, waived if low-SES.</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE:</p>
<p>Per the OP:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is a Resource sticky thread intended to help members find the answers to FAQs about the NM process. This will hopefully aid members in finding answers quickly and cut down on the number of threads that ask the same question. Resource threads are only helpful if they stick to the subject and do not become too long.</p>
<p>Please do not ask individual questions here, instead, start your own New Thread.</p>
<p>This thread is dedicated to members providing GENERAL information concerning FAQs about the NM process, all other posts will be deleted.</p>
<p>For NM scholarships, please see this thread (go to the end for the most recently updated list):</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html</a></p>
<p>I have consolidated the contents of previous FAQ thread postings here made some additions regarding SAT confirming scores and high school notice.</p>
<p>Some terms:
PSAT - the Prelimary SAT, about half the length of the SAT and without the written essay.
NM - National Merit
NMSP - NM Scholarship Program
NMSC - NM Scholarship Corporation, the sponsors of the NMSP
NMSQT - NM Scholarship Qualifying Test - the NMSC has designated the PSAT for this role
NMSF - NM Semifinalist, see below for details
NMF - NM Finalist, see below for details
NMS - NM Scholar, see below for details.</p>
<p>What is the National Merit Scholarship Program?
In brief, NMSP is a national competition which identifies high-potential students primarily on the basis of their PSAT scores and awards them scholarships either directly or indirectly through corporate sponsorship or through the colleges they choose to attend.</p>
<p>When do I have to take the PSAT in order to be in the competition?
The PSAT that is taken in October of your junior year is the one that is used. If you miss your school’s PSAT date, then have your GC quickly contact NMSC and a SAT score taken shortly thereafter will be used. It is possible to take the PSAT as a sophomore or even as a freshman, but these scores will not qualify for the NMSP competition.</p>
<p>How many people take the PSAT?
As of 2011 the total number of junior testers exceeded 1.5 million. This represented almost 50% of number expected to go on to graduate in 2013.</p>
<p>When do I find out my scores?
Scores are received by high schools by about Thanksgiving week each year. High schools have their own schedules about notifying students of their scores. Some do so almost immediately and some wait until January. Neither the College Board (who administers the PSAT) nor the NMSC contact students directly about their scores.</p>
<p>I received a letter from the NMSC telling me I am a “top-scorer”. What is that?
A top-scorer is among the 50,000 (top 3.3%) highest scorers among all junior testers. The qualifying score for this is set on a nation-wide basis and is usually around 200-202. Top-scorers are notified in April of their junior year.</p>
<p>How do I make NMSF and when do I find out?
NNSF’s are selected from the pool of top-scorers. Each state has a qualifying “cut-off” score. So, if your junior year PSAT score is “at or above” your state’s cut-off score (boarding schools have other cut-offs based on regional groupings), then you’ll make NMSF. You’ll find out around mid-September of your senior year. However, many schools will tell you in late August.</p>
<p>Is the cut-off determined by the top 1% of scorers in the state?
Only approximately and on average. The cut-offs are determined by allocations based on a state’s number of graduating seniors, not by number of PSAT testers. (Note that a group consisting of 1% of scorers is also a group consisting of 0.5% of high school graduates.)</p>
<p>What is the highest PSAT cut-off score of any state? The lowest?
The highest cut-off score has been a 223. The lowest has been around 200 in some years. (Boarding school cut-offs are equal to that of the highest state in their region.)</p>
<p>2011 cutoff scores
AL 211; AK 212; AZ 213; AR 205; CA 221; CO 215; CT 220; DE 217; DC 223; FL 214; GA 218; HI 216; 211; IL 216; IN 214; IA 210; KS 214; KY 212; LA 209; ME 212; MD 221; MA 223; MI 210; MN 215; MS 205; MO 213; MT 209; NE 209; NV 209; NH 216; NJ 223; NM 210; NY 219; NC 217; ND 204; OH 214; OK 209; OR 216; PA 215; RI 213; SC 211; SD 206; TN 214; TX 219; UT 208; VT 217; VA 220; WA 220; WV 204; WI 209; WY 204; International 223; New England Boarding Schools 223; Commended Scholar 202 </p>
<p>Why isn’t there a national NMSF cut-off? Why do this state-by-state?
That is a question that should be directed at the NMSC. Suffice to say it has been done this way for many decades.</p>
<p>What happens to the other top-scorers?
The 34,000 top-scorers who do not qualify as NMSF are recognized as “Commended Scholars” but do not advance beyond this level. Some colleges will grant merit aid to Commended Scholars.</p>
<p>What are the qualifications to go from NMSF to NMF?
After you’ve been named NMSF, you’ll have some paperwork to fill out (now done online). You’ll have an essay to write as well. YOUR SCHOOL will have to fill out a recommendation and include a copy of your grades/transcript. If you have good grades (usually no more than 1 or 2 C semester grades), you haven’t been a discipline problem, you have a confirming SAT over the minimum (1960+), you’ve sent your SAT to NMCorp, you write a decent essay, then you’ll make NMF.</p>
<p>When are students named NMF?
Students who have been named finalists will be notified in February of their senior year.</p>
<p>When are rejected students notified?
Rejection letters are sent out the first week in January of senior year.</p>
<p>How many students go from NMSF to NMF?
16,000 students are named NMSF. 15,000 are named NMF. So, usually the 1000 who don’t make NMF have CAUSED the problem by…not getting the SAT score, having bad grades, writing a rude essay, being a discipline problem at school, not doing the NMSF paperwork, not sending SAT score in.</p>
<p>Does my SAT score need to “match” my PSAT score.
NO. It only has to exceed the minimum required SAT score…which is usually around 1960. However, to be safe, try to have at least a 2000.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the “confirming” SAT score is calculated by excluding the essay contribution to your “normal” SAT score. In other words to get the confirming score (1) find the writing multiple choice subscore on you SAT score report (this will be a two digit number likely 60-80 for most NMSF’s), (2) multiply it by 10 and (3) add it to your math and critical reading scores. As a formula the confirming calculation looks like this: CR + M + (W(mc)*10) = confirming score.</p>
<p>Which SAT score is used?
One that is taken between sophomore year and December of senior year. Score must be sent to NMSC…code 0085.</p>
<p>Can my SAT be superscored?
No.</p>
<p>Which NMF students are named NM Scholars?
Any student who receives an “official” NM scholarship is named a NMS. That scholarship can be from 3 sources:</p>
<p>a) a one time $2500 award from NMSC given to 2500 students</p>
<p>b) a corporate award, usually awarded to the children of employees who sponsor NM scholarships.</p>
<p>c) a NMF scholarship from a college that sponsors official NM scholarships.</p>
<p>Does it matter if my school has a LOT of NMSFs? Will that hurt my chances of making NMF?
NO. Sometimes, a school will get the odd idea that they can’t recommend all their NMSFs. Those schools are wrong and they should be corrected.</p>
<p>Will the NMSC use an ACT score instead of a SAT score to go from NMSF to NMF?
NO. It must be a SAT score taken some time during sophomore year through December of senior year. If you have only an ACT score and find you have qualifed for NMSF, you will have the October, November, and December sittings of the SAT in which you can take the SAT in order to qualify for NMF.</p>
<p>Do I have to name a “first choice school” before spring of senior year?
Usually, you do NOT have to name a first choice school before spring of senior year. However, check with each of your schools to see if any have a deadline in order to be considered for a NMF scholarship. Some schools want to be named by January or February of senior year.</p>
<p>What can I do to improve my chances of making NMSF?
Use a College Board SAT practice book and practice during the summer. Sign up for the October SAT. It’s given about a week before the PSAT. If you’re a rising sophomore, see if your school will let sophomores take the PSAT. Also for sophomores, sign up for a spring SAT and get the detailed score report/answer sheet so that you can go over wrong answers. Some schools even permit freshman to sit the PSAT.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t offer the PSAT to all junior students. What should I do?
In late August contact your school’s GC and find out what you need to do so that you can take the PSAT. You may have to pay a small fee.</p>
<p>Even though I have a qualifying score, my school (1) has not contacted me or (2) doesn’t know anything about the National Merit or (3) says I am not on their “list”. What should I do?
Often high schools have many concerns, especially as the school year starts, that do not prioritize the interests of their higher-performing students. In particular if your school does not often have NMSF qualifiers they might not be aware of the significance of the notice they received. If there is no one familiar with the NMSP notice can get lost in the office shuffle. It is also possible you might have provided incorrect information about yourself when you took the PSAT last October.</p>
<p>First be aware that only scores taken as a high school junior (or, more precisely, in the second-to-last year of high school) qualify for the NMSP. Sophomore and freshman scores do not count. Assuming you have already talked with your guidance counselor or school administration about your score, you should contact the NMSC directly about your status by calling their office on or after the press embargo date in mid-September. They will be happy to help you. [National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation](<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/about.php]National”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/about.php)</p>
<p>If you do confirm you qualify you will have to fill out an on-line form to advance to the NMF level. Your school will also have to provide information on your behalf, too, and you might have to supervise the process to make sure their part is completed in a timely fashion.</p>
<p>Additional information</p>
<p>** National Hispanic Recognition Program**, see this thread for FAQs, Regional cutoffs, scholarships, etc.:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/640730-national-hispanic-recognition-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/640730-national-hispanic-recognition-program.html</a></p>
<p>National Achievement Scholarship Program for African-American Students
[National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - NASP](<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nasp.php]National”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nasp.php)</p>
<p>Historic cutoffs
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13116405-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13116405-post1.html</a></p>
<p>Advice for NMSF qualifiers
[Carleton</a> College: Admissions: Tips for National Merit Scholars](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/national_merit_tips/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/national_merit_tips/)</p>
<p>Practice Tests
2007 Practice Test (math sections only)
<a href=“http://mvyps.org/~ken_DeBettencourt/PSAT%202007.pdf[/url]”>http://mvyps.org/~ken_DeBettencourt/PSAT%202007.pdf</a></p>
<p>2010 Practice Test:
[Bellevue</a> School District](<a href=“http://www.bsd405.org/Portals/24/hom...t_practice.pdf]Bellevue”>http://www.bsd405.org/Portals/24/hom...t_practice.pdf)</p>
<p>2011 Practice Test:
<a href=“http://wildcat-testing.wikispaces.co…ctice+2011.pdf%5B/url%5D”>http://wildcat-testing.wikispaces.co…ctice+2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>For NM scholarships, please see this thread (go to the end for the most recently updated list):
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html</a></p>
<p>^^^great job!! thanks for the consolidation!</p>