National Merit Commended Cutoff

[salpert]

<p>I'm an Arizona student and I scored a 211 on my PSAT last year. I know the National Merit isn't announced for a while, but if I was 98th percentile, not 99, does that mean I'm not even going to be commended? Or can 98th percentile still be commended?</p>

[kyledavid80]

<p>I’m pretty sure you’ll get commended. It’s different for each state, but you should with a 211 in Arizona.</p>

[salpert]

<p>Oh great! 212 was 99, and 211 was 98, and I was really worried I’d missed it by one point. I hope I can still be commended.</p>

[aquamarinee]

<p>You’ll find out soon… in September</p>

[Johnson181]

<p>I thought commended was a national cut-off rather than state by state…</p>

[phonyreal98]

<p>I think it’s 200 in NC.</p>

[you_llsee]

<p>commend cutoff score is nationwide: usually around 202.</p>

<p>so anyone in the US w/ a 202 or higher will be commended. However, the cutoff score to be a semifinalists is different for each state.</p>

[ses]

<p>Commended is by state. Most commended students in MA would be semifinalists in the vast majority of other states.</p>

[jrpar]

<p>Commended is a national cutoff: it was 200 for this past year. Anyone who was at least commended received a letter in April asking them to name their top two schools, so NM could notify those schools that the student was a high scorer and interested in the schools (salpert, if you are a rising senior, you should have received this letter last spring). </p>

<p>In late August or early September, those who are semi-finalists will be notified through their high schools: the semi-finalist cutoffs vary by state.</p>

[jrpar]

<p>The National Merit website (<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org%5B/url%5D”>www.nationalmerit.org</a>) spells out the steps pretty clearly:</p>

<p>

Program Recognition
Of the 1.4 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. In April following the fall test administration, high-scoring participants from every state are invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by NMSC. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.</p>

<p>Commended Students
In late September, more than two-thirds or about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for Merit Scholarship® awards, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.</p>

<p>Semifinalists
In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically able young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the materials provided to each Semifinalist. Click here to learn about requirements for becoming a Finalist in the 2007 National Merit® Scholarship Program. (Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or above is required.) </p>

<p>Finalists
In February, some 15,000 Semifinalists are notified by mail at their home addresses that they have advanced to Finalist standing. High school principals are notified and provided with a certificate to present to each Finalist.

</p>

[you_llsee]

<p>^exactly…</p>

[aisgzdavinci]

<p> And that doesn’t cover internationals </p>

[bluebayou]

<p>jrpar:</p>

<p>did Commended drop last year? [The cutoff was 202 for the graduating class of '06.]</p>

[jrpar]

<p>bluebayou, yes the cutoff dropped this year, after increasing by a point or so a year for several years. The scoring of the writing section was adjusted.</p>

[Johnson181]

<p>I’m probably going to miss semi finalist by one point.</p>

<p>ONE POINT.</p>

[kat41911]

<p>Johnson181: What score did you get?</p>

[Johnson181]

<p>209 .</p>

[CDS32090]

<p>So I got a 217, 99th percentile. Does that make me semifinalist or just commended in Missouri?</p>

[burnedout21]

<p>I live in Indiana and got 214. am I semifinalist or commended?</p>

[kat41911]

<p>I’d say probably a semifinalist for Missouri, but don’t quote me on that. I got the same score but in NY, so I think I’m right on the edge of the cutoff. Hopefully I’ll make it.</p>