<p>Well i am really good in math. I got every single grid in question right; except that i didint. I reversed grid every single one of my answers. I wasent functioning right that day and i have no idea why i did that. That kept me from national merit, because i would have had an 80 in math but instad i got a 60. </p>
<p>Now I have become depressed. I feel like smashing my head into my computer monitor and pulling my hair out. I studied hard for national merit but it turns out i did not make it becasue i made 20 points lower in math. I have the SAT coming up in january, but i feel too much like a failure to even consider taking it. </p>
<p>You guys got any advice. I really need it. Everybody in my family has got national merit and they expected me to do it to. </p>
<p>I do not know how i am giogn to break it to my dad.</p>
<p>Just tell your dad the truth, you miss-gridded the answers. National Merit is not very meaningful anyway (I'm a NMSF, so I have some perspective). Also, you are by no means a failure. You were within 20 points of National Merit, which puts you above a large majority of PSAT takers, and you miss-gridded an entire section of grid-ins (which is like 10 out of the ~40 math questions). You will be fine.</p>
<p>well i tried to tell my dad and he got really mad. He told me that i just made an exuse for not getting in. he said i was a dissapointment. now i feel sick to my stomach. i knew i could have got it but i just f-ed up my math. i have a 35 in math on the act. i just feel real real bad. This kind of stuff always happens to me.</p>
<p>Dude...if your dad seriously acts like that because of your scores, you need to take a step back and look at this objectively; your scores are not the problem here (although it does stink that you gridded incorrectly -- it's an awful feeling, I would know!), your dad is the problem. A "disappointment"...wow. I feel bad for you, not only because he said that to you but also because you take it so seriously. Just realize that you did EXTREMELY WELL and you don't need his ..."opinion," and if he calls you a disappointment just because of a score you got on a test, then he has some issues.</p>
<p>My husband and I were both NMSF. I made it to scholar, but didn't accept it at Michigan State University as it was only $100/year in 1970. My husband didn't even advance to finalist 2 years later. Was he a failure? No, we are both doctors and earn the same amount of money in 2007.</p>
<p>My DS took the SAT as a sophomore last June. He did poorly on the Writing because he thought he was finished (but wasn't) and didn't complete 9 of the multiple choice questions. This was solely a human error--one I am quite sure that he won't make again when he takes it next May. On this year's PSAT, he filled in the wrong bubble for a CR question--costing him two points. He got a 218 which may not make the cutoff in NY (but would have made it last year in 45 states!). I'll bet that he won't make that mistake again, either. These mistakes make him human. What's important is how he gets himself back together after making a mistake and whether he carries a positive lesson from his mistakes.</p>
<p>Your dad is wrong in so many ways. A parent should never do this to their child. Nobody is perfect--you and your dad included.</p>
<p>I personally would make a joke out of it. Not today, because it just hurts too much, but some time in the future you WILL be able to look back on this and find some humor. Given your ACT scores, you have demonstrated your mastery of this level of mathematics.</p>
<p>My best advice is to forgive yourself and, when you can, to forgive your dad. Look forward to what I am confident will be a bright future. If you are not ready to take the SAT next month, I would suggest that you don't. Perhaps the May exam which offers full Question and Answer service would fit your needs as a Junior.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. I can tell you that you will feel better...just hang on.</p>
<p>It was his fault too. He is a doctor and since i have very bad add he told me to take 40mg of adderal xr. Bad choice. My heart would not stop beating. I tried to tell him that i was really nervous, but he still sees it as an excuse</p>
<p>Wow! With a dose of Adderall XR on board I'm sure that my heart would be racing, too. I'm glad, Krusty, that your heart didn't stop beating or you wouldn't be writing to us today! </p>
<p>Your father's perspective must be clouded by his own hopes and/or expectaions for you. Perhaps he feels that because you won't be National Merit that it will diminish his appearance in the community. </p>
<p>Krusty2515, you are an evolving young adult. Please try hard to see yourself from our perspective. We were both National Merit quality students. Your academic quality is clear to us and to other similarly qualified contributors to this string. </p>
<p>Take a deep breath, step back and develop your own perspective, rather than looking at yourself through your dad's critical eyes. Looking at this site, you know how your ACT scores stack up against those of some of the brightest students out there. Don't let this one stumble on what, overall, is a really unimportant test take you out of the race.</p>
<p>you hit the nail on the head. He said his pride has been hurt. He said he wanted my name to be in the newspaper and everything. I told him from the beggining that i would proalby not made national merit because i have a sleep disorder (idiopathic hypersomnia). Well i would have made it if i gridded in right but oh well. that is the past i guess, and there is nothign i can do about it. i am starting to get over it</p>
<p>There must be some reason for your dad to act that way. Perhaps he was brought up in a different environment and he has high expectations for success. You have to understand that not everyone is open-minded. It's not because they don't want to be, it's just the way they were brought up.</p>
<p>When I have kids I will expect these things of them, but I sure as hell wont guilt trip them if they mess up. I'll only encourage them more in the future. (lets turn a lowish psat into an insane SAT)</p>
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<p>well i tried to tell my dad and he got really mad. He told me that i just made an exuse for not getting in. he said i was a dissapointment. now i feel sick to my stomach. i knew i could have got it but i just f-ed up my math. i have a 35 in math on the act. i just feel real real bad. This kind of stuff always happens to me.<<</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>Tell your dad he's full of ****.</p>
<p>Also, you're mad about a 35 math on ACT? LOL!! Dont take life so serious dude</p>
<p>I misgridded one of my answers that might be the diff on whether or not I make NMSF, and I'm extremely upset----not b/c of my parents, but I know that I'm definitely going to need the scholarship money =(</p>