<p>Cdhads,
One also needs to have good grades. I have heard directly from S's GC that she has seen students with high scores, good essays not make finalist because of bad grades. I don't know what the required gpa is.</p>
<p>any clue when you have to send your SAT scores in to the NMSC people by?</p>
<p>Send scores through <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a>
Send to National Merit Scholarship Program ( code 0085) as recipient.
Oct. 12 Schools mail in your finished TYPED application.
Oct 9 SAT test date
Nov 6 SAT test date
Nov 6 Send in Scores! Last sure date for getting them in time. (It takes 3 weeks to get them)
Dec. 4 Last accepted SAT test date. Send in that score! May reach them too late!
Scores of tests taken between Oct. 2002-Dec 2004 will be considered.</p>
<p>That's it! </p>
<p>This was all in your application info.</p>
<p>Any additions or corrections, anyone?</p>
<p>cdhads got everything right. The NMSC instructions did make a big point about the risk involved in relying on the SAT scores from the Dec. 4, 2004, test date getting to them on time. BigSteve121, I hope you have already taken the SAT, so you can tell the College Board to send in your scores NOW. You don't want to be thrown out of the competition just for missing a deadline!</p>
<p>"Send scores through <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a>
Send to National Merit Scholarship Program ( code 0085) as recipient."</p>
<p>Duh, some how we missed this requirement. Thanks for posting that.</p>
<p>I called NMS offices myself to check whether they had gotten everything they needed for my son. The person I spoke with said they typically send out a notice if they are missing something and that they don't even start wading through the apps until January...this sounded odd to me, but she was very definite.</p>
<p>three weeks you say....OK...I took the SAT in June '04 but just got around to sending the scores to NMSC and my colleges yesterday....so I ought to be good...thanks</p>
<p>I have an SAT score of 2040 and I am a Semi-Finalist. I have all A's and a good list of extracurricular activities, etc. Does anybody know if this score would be adequate to move on to Finalist standing?</p>
<p>im a semifinalist with a 2300 SAT and 4.0 GPA and all that other stuff. but i just sent my SAT scores today. i hope it gets there on time....</p>
<p>I have a 2390 and 4.5 (4.0 scale) GPA. Do I have a shot at finalist?</p>
<p>I forgot about sending my SAT scores. Should I rush send them? It sounds like it but I don't want to pay the extra $17 if I don't absolutely have to.</p>
<p>Anybody know what the “magical” SAT score number is that is the yes/no tipping point?</p>
<p>There is no “set” score, but the “rule of thumb” seems to be that 2000+ is needed. Some may have gotten selected with sub-2000.</p>
<p>I’ve heard it’s around 2000. Someone last year had a definitive answer…I want to say 1950. I don’t think it needs to “match” your PSAT score meaning that if you got a 221 on your PSAT, you don’t have to have a 2210+ on your SAT to confirm it.</p>
<p>I believe all you need is to match the lowest PSAT qualifying score. Most years the lowest PSAT score is around 200. Thus a SAT score of 2000 is usually sufficient. You might even qualify with a near 2000 score like RobD said.</p>
<p>Ok, even though this is a “brought back from the WAY dead” thread…and asking the same thing that’s on the other threads…I’ll tell you that someone (on the other thread) was told by National Merit this year that it was much lower. That no one had to come close to THEIR psat score, and that the overall was…1960 ish.</p>
<p>Then I’ll add…for Robd, because I think it’s a funny coincidence…my D got a 221…and a 2210. How weird is THAT? Added to that - each section was also exactly the same. She took both tests in the same month too (Oct of Jr year).</p>
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<p>R124687:</p>
<p>Wow. My S got PSAT 223 and a SAT 2230. However the sections were not the same.</p>
<p>My daughter got a 224 PSAT and a 2320 SAT. Maybe the earlier thread resulted from a misunderstanding with National Merit.</p>
<p>I’ll tell you that someone (on the other thread) was told by National Merit this year that it was much lower. That no one had to come close to THEIR psat score, and that the overall was…1960 ish.</p>
<p>I find that very hard to believe. Must be a misunderstanding. The SAT cut-off may have been 1960 for this year - certainly not the average. </p>
<p>I’ve seen too many postings from NMSF on this board. Nearly all of their SATs have been 2000-2400.</p>
<p>My memory is telling me that someone had called NMC in the past and they had said anything over a 1950 was “good enough.” I haven’t searched the threads to find it though.</p>
<p>My D had a 221 PSAT and a 2200 SAT. She was quite peeved (and I chuckled in private about it) that her 80 CR PSAT “dropped” to a 770 CR SAT 
She brought her math up from a 64 PSAT to a 690 SAT which I thought made her score look much more attractive.</p>