<p>How did this happen?</p>
<p>The index is 202.</p>
<p>This means that this is the mininum index that's commended.</p>
<p>Looks like cutoff scores will go up yet again.</p>
<p>Where did you see this?</p>
<p>I just know.</p>
<p>Call (847) 866 5100. They'll tell you the exact same thing. Guranteed.</p>
<p>strange
i got a 205 and got nothing, not even a commendment</p>
<p>wow im lucky as hell then, :202 </p>
<p>received a letter</p>
<p>The cut off line varies by state. It can be anywhere from 200 to 220. For example, in Alabama it is probably around 201 while in Connecticut it is at least 218.</p>
<p>No, that's the semifinalist cutoffs. I'm referring to the commended. The semifinalist ones are going to be sky-high this year.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter what state you live in if you're wishing to be commended. The commended cut-off is nation-wide. Everybody who has a 202 or above should have received a letter by now.</p>
<p>I got a 226, and I haven't received a letter yet. It's starting to make me nervous; I think something might have gone wrong. I had to take the test away from my home school and wasn't able to list the address for my school. Would that cause a problem? My school did receive my score report though. :-( I thought for sure the letter would come today.</p>
<p>ARGH DAMNIT! I'm 218, and that was NY's cutoff last year. I'm so screwed.. this is bull.</p>
<p>lola - don't worry. I don't think everyone has received their letters - my son hasn't. If your school has your score report, you're fine.</p>
<p>does anyone know floridas semi-finalist cut-off from last year, or anywhere i can find this information?</p>
<p>Last years California semi-finalist cut-off was 216.</p>
<p>You can call (847) 866 5100 to find Florida's...</p>
<p>what number is that? to who?</p>
<p>Did those of you who got your letters get them through your school or directly at your homes?</p>
<p>That number is the National Merit folks themselves....</p>
<p>I got a letter, and i'm bummed because i know i didn't get semi: i got 217, I'm in NJ, and I had hoped that the SI would go down this year. Apparently, it won't. :(</p>
<p>I would expect the index to go up to maintain the 50,000 student cut-off for the nationally commended pool. In other words, to be commended you would have to be in a 'higher' percentile than in the past. The number they quote is 50,000 out of 1.3M. That would be the top 3.8% of test takers. I think when they started the competition it was 50,000 out of 1M test takers, the top 5%.</p>
<p>As others have pointed out the semi-finalist and finalist designations are by state.</p>
<p>hrm...well i got a 212...or 214 i forget. but i should have gotten a letter right...for commended students? i live in NJ too...and the person 2 above me got their letter.</p>
<p>argh...the cutoff for commendment is 202 acc to ppl above...i bet my school lost it. gah.</p>
<p>for California Semifinal?</p>
<p>desperate, </p>
<p>Last year's cut-off for CA was 216 (as I mentioned above :) ) This year's won't be announced until the fall, I believe...</p>