National Merit Semifinalist Qualify Scores -- Class of 2012

Paying for College National Merit Aid
361

<p>Good news for Massachusettians (?) who were probably worried about what nosebleed heights their state’s cutoff score would reach.</p>

<p>Unlike SteveC, I haven’t written a formatting script and am forced to bold final scores by hand.</p>

<hr>

<p>PLEASE DON’T FREAK OUT! Check the explanation of the notation in the first post. When you see, for instance, AZ <= 219, that means that Arizona’s cutoff is no higher than 219. This comes from a report like, “I live in Arizona, made a 219, and got my letter.” When you see, for instance, TX > 216, that means that Texas’ cutoff is higher than 216. This comes from a report like, “I live in Texas, made a 216, and didn’t make it.”</p>

<hr>

<p>Remaining states that need to be finalized:
AK, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA,
ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND,
OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY</p>

<p>Updating LA, MA, TN</p>

<p>**AL = 211<a href=“post%20#281,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a> +1
AK = ?
**AZ = 213<a href=“post%20#126/#132,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
AR = ?
**CA = 221<a href=“post%20#321,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +2
CO = ?
CT = ?
DE = ?
DC = ?
**FL = 214<a href=“post%20#107,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
GA <= 221 (post #182)
**HI = 216<a href=“post%20#225,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
ID = ?
**IL = 216<a href=“post%20#110,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +2
**IN = 214<a href=“post%20#147,%20#193,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/B</a> +2
IA = ?
**KS = 214<a href=“post%20#87,%20per%20principal”>/B</a> +3
KY > 211 (post #111)
**LA <= 210<a href=“post%20#353”>/B</a>
ME = ?
MD = ?
MA <= 223 (post #359)
MI = ?
MN = ?
**MS = 205<a href=“post%20#192,%20NMSC”>/B</a> No change
MO = ?
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV <= 211 (post #250)
NH = ?
NJ = ?
**NM = 210<a href=“post%20#302,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
NY > 217 (post #265)
NC <= 217 (post #288)
ND = ?
**OH = 214<a href=“post%20#28,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/B</a> +2
**OK = 209<a href=“post%20#106,%20NMSC”>/B</a> +3
OR = ?
PA <= 215 (post #224)
RI = ?
SC = ?
SD = ?
TN > 213 (post #360)
**TX = 219<a href=“post%20#46,%20per%20principal;%20post%20#267,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA = ?
WA = ?
WV = ?
WI <= 209 (post #166, #191)
WY = ?</p>

<p>10(?) Boarding school regions
No scores reported yet.
These usually are set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states in the region.</p>

<p>Internationals=?
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.</p>

<p>Commended (national cutoff) = 202 (Class of 2012 Notification Letters - College Confidential)
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.</p>

362

<p>@XXjcat</p>

<p>Can you confirm that they actually didn’t make it, or are they just assuming no news is bad news?</p>

<p>I don’t quite understand how the cutoffs can go up in the majority of states if the number of semifinalists has not gone down, and the score percentiles have remained basically the same; especially in states like Tennessee where the number of test takers went down, along with the number of high scorers.</p>

363

<p>Got confirmation today that a 217 in Georgia didn’t make semifinalist status. Word came from the GC at my school.</p>

364

<p>Bummer. I have two good friends who both received 217s in GA.</p>

365

<p>@adam5400
it’s a definite. my GC called all those who made it at our school, and she wasn’t one of them. there were 9 of us.</p>

366

<p>I know, it really is a bummer. And, like I said before, I think that cutoff is 218 and that makes it one bitter pill. The GC didn’t get the cutoff info because no one from our school made it! Or, that is what I was told by the GC - maybe he just didn’t read the fine print. I did get that 218 from a GC at another school in Georgia so I am pretty confident that is right.</p>

367

<p>I’m fairly confident that the cutoff in Georgia is 215, as this is what our principal has hinted to us. It would also make sense that 215 would be the cutoff given the historical data for GA, where the cutoff has never risen above 215. I sincerely hope that the above posters were simply misinformed.</p>

368

<p>

</p>

<p>Wow. I barely made it… by 3 points.</p>

<p>Despite the rise from 219 (I think) last year, more people than ever in my class (15 including myself) got SM recognition.</p>

369

<p>^^ lol. You didn’t barely make it. You’d make it in any state. No cutoff has ever been 225.</p>

370

<p>The South Carolina psat cutoff scores is greater than 210 because I didn’t make it. </p>

<p>AL = 211 (post #281, per NMSC) +1
AK = ?
AZ = 213 (post #126/#132, per GC) +4
AR = ?
CA = 221 (post #321, per GC) +2
CO = ?
CT = ?
DE = ?
DC = ?
FL = 214 (post #107, per GC) +4
GA <= 221 (post #182)
HI = 216 (post #225, per GC)
ID = ?
IL = 216 (post #110, per GC) +2
IN = 214 (post #147, #193, established by score comparison) +2
IA = ?
KS = 214 (post #87, per principal) +3
KY > 211 (post #111)
LA <= 210 (post #353)
ME = ?
MD = ?
MA <= 223 (post #359)
MI = ?
MN = ?
MS = 205 (post #192, NMSC) No change
MO = ?
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV <= 211 (post #250)
NH = ?
NJ = ?
NM = 210 (post #302, per GC) +4
NY > 217 (post #265)
NC <= 217 (post #288)
ND = ?
OH = 214 (post #28, established by score comparison) +2
OK = 209 (post #106, NMSC) +3
OR = ?
PA <= 215 (post #224)
RI = ?
SC > 210 (post #370)
SD = ?
TN > 213 (post #360)
TX = 219 (post #46, per principal; post #267, per GC) +4
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA = ?
WA = ?
WV = ?
WI <= 209 (post #166, #191)
WY = ?</p>

371

<p>If you go to school in one state but live in another, which cutoff applies?</p>

372

<p>The cutoff in the state where the school is at is the cutoff score that applies.</p>

373

<p>WOW. I HAVE A 220 IN CALIFORNIA.</p>

<p>SO ANGRY, especially because of that controversial writing question which they put in there! Ugh! I wasn’t after the money; I was only after the award…</p>

374

<p>What was the controversial question.</p>

375

<p>Fix the error:</p>

<p>"Although best known for her appearance in (movie name,) (actress name) also was a famous (occupation name.)</p>

<p>Many people chose that best was the error, as it should have been better. The listed answer was 'No error."</p>

<p>Total BS. Only writing question I missed on the PSAT, got an 800 on SAT writing later that month. Is the cutoff official, or is it just speculation?</p>

376

<p>Have to apologize for error in my previous post for LA score. My son got a 211 not a 210. He found out from his guidance counselor today that he’s a semifinalist, we haven’t seen the actual letter yet.</p>

377

<p>221 cutoff in CA is official.</p>

378

<p>Regarding GA, I think ‘GC saying’ trumps ‘principal hinting,’ but I’d like to get something more definitive before causing any more heartburn than is already out there.</p>

<p>As of 9/2/11 at 8:00 AM Central:</p>

<hr>

<p>PLEASE DON’T FREAK OUT! Check the explanation of the notation in the first post. When you see, for instance, AZ <= 219, that means that Arizona’s cutoff is no higher than 219. This comes from a report like, “I live in Arizona, made a 219, and got my letter.” When you see, for instance, TX > 216, that means that Texas’ cutoff is higher than 216. This comes from a report like, “I live in Texas, made a 216, and didn’t make it.”</p>

<hr>

<p>Remaining states that need to be finalized:
AK, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA,
ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND,
OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY</p>

<p>Updating LA</p>

<p>**AL = 211<a href=“post%20#281,%20per%20NMSC”>/b</a> +1
AK = ?
**AZ = 213<a href=“post%20#126/#132,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +4
AR = ?
**CA = 221<a href=“post%20#321,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +2
CO = ?
CT = ?
DE = ?
DC = ?
**FL = 214<a href=“post%20#107,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +4
GA <= 221 (post #182)
**HI = 216<a href=“post%20#225,%20per%20GC”>/b</a>
ID = ?
**IL = 216<a href=“post%20#110,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +2
**IN = 214<a href=“post%20#147,%20#193,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/b</a> +2
IA = ?
**KS = 214<a href=“post%20#87,%20per%20principal”>/b</a> +3
KY > 211 (post #111)
LA <= 211 (post #376)
ME = ?
MD = ?
MA <= 223 (post #359)
MI = ?
MN = ?
**MS = 205<a href=“post%20#192,%20NMSC”>/b</a> No change
MO = ?
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV <= 211 (post #250)
NH = ?
NJ = ?
**NM = 210<a href=“post%20#302,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +4
NY > 217 (post #265)
NC <= 217 (post #288)
ND = ?
**OH = 214<a href=“post%20#28,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/b</a> +2
**OK = 209<a href=“post%20#106,%20NMSC”>/b</a> +3
OR = ?
PA <= 215 (post #224)
RI = ?
SC > 210 (post #370)
SD = ?
TN > 213 (post #360)
**TX = 219<a href=“post%20#46,%20per%20principal;%20post%20#267,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +4
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA = ?
WA = ?
WV = ?
WI <= 209 (post #166, #191)
WY = ? </p>

<p>10(?) Boarding school regions
No scores reported yet.
These usually are set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states in the region.</p>

<p>Internationals=?
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.</p>

<p>Commended (national cutoff) = 202 (Class of 2012 Notification Letters - College Confidential)
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.</p>

379

<p>"I’m fairly confident that the cutoff in Georgia is 215, as this is what our principal has hinted to us. It would also make sense that 215 would be the cutoff given the historical data for GA, where the cutoff has never risen above 215. I sincerely hope that the above posters were simply misinformed. "</p>

<p>Like I said, the GC at our school told me my child didn’t make Semifinalist with a 217. Yes, you are correct that the cutoff has never been above 215 in Georgia, but this year,…it is.</p>

380

<p>We can, however, use miami62’s floor score for GA, which seems as definitive as most other posts.</p>

<p>“Hinting”? Why be coy about this?</p>

<hr>

<p>PLEASE DON’T FREAK OUT! Check the explanation of the notation in the first post. When you see, for instance, AZ <= 219, that means that Arizona’s cutoff is no higher than 219. This comes from a report like, “I live in Arizona, made a 219, and got my letter.” When you see, for instance, TX > 216, that means that Texas’ cutoff is higher than 216. This comes from a report like, “I live in Texas, made a 216, and didn’t make it.”</p>

<hr>

<p>Remaining states that need to be finalized:
AK, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA,
ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND,
OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY</p>

<p>Updating GA</p>

<p>**AL = 211<a href=“post%20#281,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a> +1
AK = ?
**AZ = 213<a href=“post%20#126/#132,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
AR = ?
**CA = 221<a href=“post%20#321,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +2
CO = ?
CT = ?
DE = ?
DC = ?
**FL = 214<a href=“post%20#107,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
GA <= 221, > 217 (post #182, #363)
**HI = 216<a href=“post%20#225,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
ID = ?
**IL = 216 <a href=“post%20#110,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +2
**IN = 214 <a href=“post%20#147,%20#193,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/B</a> +2
IA = ?
**KS = 214 <a href=“post%20#87,%20per%20principal”>/B</a> +3
KY > 211 (post #111)
LA <= 211 (post #376)
ME = ?
MD = ?
MA <= 223 (post #359)
MI = ?
MN = ?
**MS = 205<a href=“post%20#192,%20NMSC”>/B</a> No change
MO = ?
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV <= 211 (post #250)
NH = ?
NJ = ?
**NM = 210<a href=“post%20#302,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
NY > 217 (post #265)
NC <= 217 (post #288)
ND = ?
**OH = 214<a href=“post%20#28,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/B</a> +2
**OK = 209<a href=“post%20#106,%20NMSC”>/B</a> +3
OR = ?
PA <= 215 (post #224)
RI = ?
SC > 210 (post #370)
SD = ?
TN > 213 (post #360)
**TX = 219<a href=“post%20#46,%20per%20principal;%20post%20#267,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA = ?
WA = ?
WV = ?
WI <= 209 (post #166, #191)
WY = ?</p>

<p>10(?) Boarding school regions
No scores reported yet.
These usually are set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states in the region.</p>

<p>Internationals=?
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.</p>

<p>Commended (national cutoff) = 202 (Class of 2012 Notification Letters - College Confidential)
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.</p>