<p>I'm about to start my senior year and hadn't even been thinking about my PSAT scores until today. I only got a 213 (bad day, don't you judge me!), which is relatively low, seeing as I live in Maryland where the semifinalist cutoff is usually around 220. However, a 213 is definitely high enough to get commended and the website says I should have found that out months ago (in April). I never did. Does this mean that test scores were freakishly low in Maryland this year and I got semifinalist? Or maybe it means that the guidance department at my school is incapable of doing their jobs and informing people of their commended status? Any thoughts? Thanks!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Probably this. You should have gotten a letter from NMSF (either through USPS mail or through your guidance office) stating that you either made semi-finalist or commended. With a 213 in MD, you probably made commended.</p>
<p>Try looking at a web site: [National</a> Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html]National”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In my kids’ Maryland high school, I think it may even have been as late as October last year. Not one word before that.</p>
<p>I know “Be patient” is a crummy answer, but you kind of have to be patient on this one.</p>
<p>In April, you should have received a letter stating you are Commended (you are). The letter stated that you could list your two top schools on the College Board website. The schools would have been notified. The cut off was May 25th. In September, Semi-Finalists will be notified. You may want to call College Board and tell them you never received a Commended letter. You would not want to miss another letter, if you are NMSF.</p>
<p>OhioMom, I don’t mean to contradict any of what you’re saying, but that was absolutely not my kid’s experience in Maryland a year ago. My kid got nothing from NMCS, either directly or through her school, in the spring, and a commended certificate from her principal in the fall. I’m not sure that was how it was supposed to happen, but it’s how it did happen.</p>
<p>And, amelia, I’m sorry to say it, but I’d be absolutely astonished if 213 qualified for semi-finalist in MD.</p>
<p>National merit does send out a letter to everyone that is expected to make commended or above (50k + people) in April/May. However, these are sent to schools and if the schools did nt turn them over, it is their fault.</p>
<p>Not sure why Maryland would do it differently. This is what happened for my S and it follows the procedure stated on the website.</p>
<p>Oh, I don’t even know that it’s statewide. It could be just one more shortcoming of our local high school.</p>
<p>Maybe the OP and I are neighbors!</p>
<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC App</p>
<p>When you said you were also from Maryland and that is what happened to your kid, I thought you were implying something about Maryland. Maybe you are neighbors. Not sure how many high schools nationwide would sit on those letters.</p>
<p>It’s not like they don’t do this every year.</p>
<p>I know! The only thing that surprises me any more is the school’s limitless ability to surprise me.</p>
<p>Huh, I never received a letter for being commended and I got a 222. I doubt sending that in to my top two colleges would have that much of an effect anyway.</p>
<p>It’s nice, but not a big deal. One poster said one of the schools they chose waived the admission fee. I don’t think that is common though.</p>
<p>I thought all “High Scorers” received a letter in May. Then from there in September you would receive a letter of Commended or Semi-Finalist status.</p>
<p>^That’s what’s supposed to happen. The thing is, most of the high scorers letters go to the high school first. And I’m sure you know about inefficient high school administrations. :P</p>
<p>high scorer status gets reported to schools and the schools are supposed to report to the student in spring last year. nsmf or commended status is set up same way…reported to schools and school reports to student. you can go to your school’s college counselor to have them check your high scorer status. the commended/nmsf list was definitely received by schools on 9/14/11 (and it might have been sooner) so they can look that up as well.</p>