<p>Does anyone know what your SAT score has to be around to get finalist status? Will anything 2100+ suffice?</p>
<p>You’re talking finalist with NMSC in regards to your PSAT score…correct? Not sure if there is a cut off. Your SAT is just part of the whole application that you fill out after being designated a semi-finalist. I think the finalist winners come out in 3 or 4 waves between March and June of senior year. You can find more info on the Nat’l Merit Scholarship Corp. website.</p>
<p>The commonly cited score is around a 1950.</p>
<p>Yeah, as Ivan says, anything north of around 2000 is good to go. You’ll be fine with a 2100+, as long as you don’t start failing classes or punching little kids.</p>
<p>OK, thanks 
That’s good to know.</p>
<p>Ok I got a 229 on psat and 2100 plus on SAT but I actually got day long suspension for being framed for skipping school…long story… Am I still eligble for finalist?</p>
<p>I have no idea…but you got a suspension for skipping school? Harsh.</p>
<p>salamisalem:<br>
When you get your NM Scholarship application, your GC or Principal has to write a letter of recommendation and characterization of the semifinalist. One of the specific rating factors is “Personal Qualities and Character” and they have to classify the student on a scale from “Below Average” to “Outstanding (top 1%)”. </p>
<p>Now a lot depends on how your principal or GC feel about this incident. A bad recommendation could kill your chances, but average or above so should not affect it very much at least in my opinion. I would assume that this incident is isolated and that your GC/Principal will take that into consideration. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Let’s face the fact here…</p>
<p>Your school wants the prestige of having a National Merit Scholar graduate from their school.</p>
<p>So unless you are really disliked by the school administration, there is NO WAY, ZERO, that they will harm your chances for this honor.</p>
<p>NONE.</p>
<p>It is in the school’s best interest to make sure that you are a National Merit Scholar.</p>
<p>JN2011, Do you know if your PSAT scores qualify you to be a semi-finalist?</p>
<p>joefrommiami: </p>
<p>I would not say that schools will not do it, I have heard of a incident where the school could not recommend the student, but in that case the student had a criminal conviction. So I do agree with you that in most cases the school will not jeopardize the chance of a person getting to National Merit Finalist (which gives the school bragging rights) but it may not be strong enough for the student to get a corporate or NMSC award. </p>
<p>Again in this case, we do not know what exactly the incident was and what the school’s attitude is. So, it is in the student’s interest to make sure that the school does not feel compelled to write something very negative. If I were the student, I would not assume that they will automatically write a good letter and I would be proactive with the school administration.</p>
<p>GTalum, with a 229 I am sure he will make to semi Finalist. Usually the highest scores cut off scores are in the 223-225 range (in a few states like MA etc.). Even in OP lives in those states, 229 is a very safe place as cut-offs usually never change more than 1-2 points from one year to the next.</p>
<p>Sorry, I missed the stat</p>
<p>@GTalum: I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing it probabily will. I live in Michigan and I had a 218, so the cutoff would have to rise like 8-9 points from the previous year. You didn’t miss the stat…I never gave it. Someone else said they had a 229.</p>
<p>i got NMF with a 1910, got a 2180 the second time around but i forgot to forward those scores. oops</p>