<p>It is not at all a big deal for the Ivies, Stanford, MIT, CalTech. It probably is a big deal for colleges that consider perceived interest as they consider one's application. Tufts and Emory are among such colleges.</p>
<p>It also may be a big deal for colleges that may be safety schools for you particularly if such colleges are not in-state public universities that select students mainly by the stats. I suggest not sending such universities the info because if you have a high PSAT score and good grades, you've probably got the stats to get into your state public anyway.</p>
<p>By the time that you apply to colleges, you'll know whether you are National Merit Commended or a National Merit semi-finalist, and either honor should be mentioned when you apply. </p>
<p>If one makes NM finalist, one can get full tuition scholarships from some universities or can get one-time scholarships of about $2,000 from colleges, corporations and NM.</p>