<p>Hey guys, I'm still waiting on my PSAT scores, coming this December, and I'm anticipating really high ones. Last year when I took the PSAT as a sophomore, I got a 210 and I live in Indiana so I only need a 212 to qualify for national merit (at least the semi-finals). The only problem is my grades kinda suck...I have a 2.9 GPA and I'm wondering if that will prevent me from getting the scholarship. I've heard, that National Merit is based strictly off the test score and has nothign to do with grades, (i've also heard that grades are important). Also, I'm African-American so I could also qualify for National Achievement, Do you think that grades will prevent me from getting either scholarship?</p>
<p>To be commended, grades don't matter. But in later stages of the competition, they do.</p>