<p>Hi all,
I really appreciate all the effort that went into the FAQ threads on this board. The info is extremely useful for a parent like me just starting this process. </p>
<p>Here is my question, I hope somebody here can help. My son scored a 233 on his PSAT. Obviously, he will make the cut off for NMSF. He was NOT planning to take the SAT, as he already took the ACT and has an excellent score. Now he will obviously take the SAT to be eligible to advance to finalist, but I am wondering about the following Q and A in the FAQ:</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>I have searched the NMSC website, and the 2013 student guide, and I can't find this info anywhere other than in the FAQ's here on CC. Is it just common institutional knowledge? Is there any way in which a higher score on the SAT would benefit him NM-wise, or is this just an over/under number? He could probably walk into the test cold and get a 2000, but is willing to put in the effort if a higher score would serve any meaningful purpose (he does not plan to use this SAT score for anything other than NM, and would probably take the test in Dec of his senior year). On the other hand, he is the typical extremely busy HS junior, and we are not looking to add SAT prep to his load, since he did so much work and prep in order to take the ACT in October. One of his top choice colleges sponsors a huge number of NM scholarships, so we want to be careful about this process and make sure he does all he can to earn the scholarship. </p>
<p>I'm sorry about the long post, and I greatly appreciate any input that would be helpful. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>From the National Merit perspective, the only difference between a minimum qualifying SAT score (1960+) versus a high score would be a greater possibility of winning the $2500 NMSC scholarship that can be used at any college. </p>
<p>However, this is not always of benefit, and in some cases the student could be penalized if his/her first choice college offers a better college-sponsored award or if he/she could qualify for a better corporate-sponsored award.</p>
<p>While it is correct that typically a 1960 is enough to reach NMF status, I am certain that one DOES NOT need to match his or her score from the PSAT. I am currently in the class of 2014, and am technically still waiting for news on my status. After getting a 224 last year on the PSAT, I was worried that my correspondingly low SAT score this past November wouldn’t be enough (2110). However, I learned that the only factors regarding NMSF–>NMF are mainly one’s grades and minimum SAT score.</p>
<p>On that note, I do think that aiming to do well on the SAT is beneficial in that your son would be a stronger candidate for the NMSC $2500 scholarship, since they tend to give those to students with higher SATs, in general. This is why I chose to retake the SAT during December.</p>
<p>Thanks BobWallace and tspro2014 for your responses. It’s helpful to understand that a higher SAT score might improve his chances for the NMSC $2500 scholarship.</p>
<p>Could either of you (or anyone else) please direct me to a source that states that a 1960-2000 is typically the cut off to go from NMSF to NMF? I understand that the CC “institutional knowledge” is that there is a formula that eliminates the writing score and ultimately gets you to a 1960. But I can’t find this info in writing anywhere but in this forum. </p>
<p>I would greatly appreciate any help.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’ know that NMSC publishes that number in any of their program info. What they say is more vague. You need ‘a score that confirms the PSAT performance.’ If you want to be absolutely positive and don’t trust what you read here, or are a ‘trust but verify’ type (very smart), you can call NMSC and ask them about this. They ought to be able to tell you at least what the minimum confirming score was last year, if they don’t have that info yet for the current juniors. There is always a chance they might bump it a bit sometime, though it doesn’t move like the state cutoff scores do.</p>
<p>Thanks, celesteroberts. In fact, I just got off the phone with the NMSC. She stated that while they do not release the actual cut off score to advance to SF, she could confirm that for the last seven (7) years, the score has been 1960, using that formula posted in this forum’s FAQ that eliminates the score from the essay. So–I think that’s as confirmed as it’s going to get.</p>
<p>Further, she said that she could not opine on whether a higher SAT score would make one more likely to win a scholarship, but she restated that the committee considers a student’s entire file, including GPA, essay, standardized tests, recs, etc. So it seems pretty clear that a higher SAT score will help, and, in fact, the anecdotal on evidence on CC bears this out, especially with regard to the NMSC $2500 award. Perhaps not so much with the school sponsored awards (with which our family is primarily concerned), but I will reach out to the admissions office of that college to explore further.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all!!</p>
<p>^^
sorry for the typo above in the second line. I meant “cut off score to advance to NMF.”</p>
<p>I am certain that one DOES NOT need to match his or her score from the PSAT.</p>
<p>Right…it would be ridiculous to require a “matching” score. That would mean that a child who got a 235 would need a 2350…ridiculous. It would be silly to say, “oh, you only got a 2280 so you don’t make it.”</p>
<p>Knitter, you may reconsider the SAT test date. I would sign mine up for the September date, if he can’t take it this spring. That way he has time in the summer to prep before he gets too busy with school and college applications. He would also have a chance to re-take if for some reason he doesn’t get a 1960. </p>
<p>There was a parent whose NMSF child didn’t get a 1960 and then his December test was delayed by weather. It was very stressful for them not knowing if the late score would be accepted. Save yourself that stress and take it as early as possible.</p>
<p>I appreciate your advice. We’ll definitely consider it. He may be taking an sat subject test in the sept date, so it may not work out. He also will have college apps and the intel/Siemens competition requirements in the fall, so dec seemed like a good option. I can’t imagine he wldn’t get a 1960 (he would do a couple of test condition practices before hand),
he is a very, very good test taker (already has a 36
On the act). But I hear what you are saying and will look back over the dates to see what we can do. Thanks for weighing in, much appreciated.</p>
<p>He may be a SUPER test taker, but you have no idea what could happen in Dec…he may have the flu, your family may have an emergency, whatever. He could miss the test date for some odd reason.</p>
<p>Since he is a super test taker, I would have him take the SAT cold this spring…no prep. If it’s good enough then you’re done…and it’s out of the way. If he can get a 36 on the ACT, then he can very likely get at least a 2200 on the SAT cold.</p>
<p>is there a June date? or is May the last SAT for the school year? If there is a June test, I’d have him take that one.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. He is taking sat2’s on the May and June dates. I appreciate what you are saying about leaving it until dec. we’ll have to figure something out. Thanks for weighing in.</p>
<p>I read somewhere at nm that the sat only needs to be consistent with PSAT.</p>
<p>^^
No, consistency isn’t required. Doesn’t matter if a person has a 240 on the PSAT, he/she doesn’t need anything close to that to make NMF. If he gets a 2100, he’s fine…even though that’s equivalent to 300 pts less. </p>
<p>Consistent just means you will not have a sudden drop below the ~2000. It does not mean you need to have a matching or higher score than PSATx10. By the way, it is not your SAT composite score that they look at. It is the M+CR+ 10xWriting MC score.</p>