I was recently told that I had been acknowledged as a National Merit Semifinalist due to my 219 PSAT score - and that’s all well and good but I’m worried about my chances for advancing to the finalist position. I’ve read everywhere that a matching SAT score is necessary for qualification (but without a strict grade cutoff), but I only got a 2040. Could that be too low to qualify? I don’t want to spend the time and money retaking the SAT in December, especially since I got a 35 on my ACT and that’s definitely the only score I’ll submit to colleges. Is it worth it to retake the test just in case? Or am I being paranoid and I’m in the safe zone?
My EC’s are also weak but that’s something I’d explain in my essay (my mom (dad is out of the picture) is disabled and can’t work so I’ve got to work ~20 hours a week at my own job, etc. You can see where that’s going). I also plan on giving a “brag sheet” to my principal/counselor to make writing his recommendation easier and more accurate to me.
Can anyone give me some advice? If I got to be a finalist that would be HUGE for me, even if I don’t get an actual scholarship. Thanks.
I believe conventional wisdom is that this year’s confirming score should be a 1960 or above. I don’t know what the breakdown of your score is, but NMC will calculate your score by adding the M + Reading + (Wriitng multiple choice)x10.
Don’t worry about ECs, they really don’t matter for Finalist.
Your GPA will matter though. A C or D on your transcript may hurt you, but we do know of kids last year with at least on C on their record who still made it.
How is your GPA? Cs are frowned upon but as long as you have As with a few Bs, you should be OK.
From what I have read, a 1960 is the SAT qualifying score for NMF. But there is a formula as the score for the essay is not considered. (Your scores are a lot like my son’s. He really preferred the ACT.)
Also, working is comparable to an EC. College admission people understand that some students have family responsibilities and have to work.
Are you low income? If so, it might not be too late to apply for Questbridge National College Match (due September 28) if you hurry and get a commitment for the teacher recommendation letter (s) asap.
Thanks for the replies - sorry I forgot to mention my GPA. I’ve got a 92.5 or so (my school doesn’t weight harder classes), all A’s with a few B’s scattered in. I’m also taking 6 AP courses total and most of my other classes are honors if that has any bearing.
Madison - my family is essentially 0 income technically. Looking into this Questbridge thing - it seems like a great fit for someone like me. Sorry if I come off as ignorant about any of this stuff, neither of my parents went to college so this is all new stuff to me. Thanks for the tips!
Click on the light blue Apply Now oval in the above link.
This is Very Important! Start your application today, stay up late all week to complete it and your essays! Talk to your favorite teacher (s) tomorrow and apologize for late notice and beg for the rec letter (s).
Deadline is September 28 so there is not much time.
This could make all the difference in the world to you.
You are fine. Don’t worry about it. You will be NMF. Nevertheless, getting a scholarship is another story unless you choose one of those schools that offer automatic scholarship to NMF.
@natajacobson74 - the question related to whether it would qualify as a confirming score for NMF. The answer is yes, so it’s not low for those purposes.
Please understand that while questbridge is a nice program, you can still apply on your own to any of those partner schools and they will be interested and if accepted you would get their normal very nice comprehensive aid package. This is a program that gives you a chance to notice these schools and vice versa. But only 5 pct get accepted through the Match. Many more get acceptance through RD. the aid comes from the colleges, not questbridge. It is not a magic pill, it is just one way to apply to those colleges and a nice award.
Edit :ha I recommended questbridge to you in you other thread last May. Why now if you weren’t interested then?
All colleges that ‘meet 100 pct need’ should be on you radar and they will all notice your NMF and ACT score.
I have seen mention of this formula that NMSC uses when standardizing SAT scores (Math+Critical Reading+(10xMultiple Choice Score of Writing)) - why exactly is that? I am a Semifinalist (PSAT: 220 in a ~203 qualifying state), and when using that formula on my highest SAT score, I have only a 1900; my composite score is a 2120. Does this mean that I am unlikely to qualify based on this score, or am I missing something?