<p>IA <= 225</p>
<p>I got my letter from my guidance counselor earlier this week! I know this figure isn’t the most helpful (IA is usually around 209), but I wish my best to everyone.</p>
<p>looking4schools2 – From what we’re told, there are students that are never told they’ve made NMSF (a misrouted/lost packet is one conceivable reason). That’s one of the purposes of this thread–it’s in the student’s best interest to stay on top of these things.</p>
<p>linnylu – The author of post #28 knew of a 213 and a 214 in his/her OH school. The 214 got a letter and the 213 did not. That’s pretty good evidence for the cutoff being 214. See my comment to looking4schools2 above. If I’m not mistaken, the letter is addressed to the principal, who often gives it to the GC to distribute. My S knew to expect the April “at least commended” letter and was proactive with his GC, who finally tracked it down to a secretary “who gets all the standardized testing stuff.” Worst case, you can wait until the 9/14 media date, call NMSC to get the OH cutoff, take that info along with your D’s score report to the school and start making noise, if necessary.</p>
<p>semifinalists – It’s no fun to miss the cutoff by a point or two, but it’s a real stinker to make the cutoff and then lose out on the benefits because somebody else didn’t take care of business. Remember, you are the most invested of anyone in the process. Follow through!</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, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, ID, IA, KY,
ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND,
OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY</p>
<p>Updating AR, IA, MO</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 = 205<a href=“post%20#498,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +2
**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 <= 219, > 217 (posts #363, #474)
**HI = 216<a href=“post%20#225,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +1
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 <= 225 (post #501)
**KS = 214<a href=“post%20#87,%20per%20principal”>/b</a> +3
KY <= 218, > 211 (post #437, #111)
**LA = 209<a href=“post%20#459,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> -1
ME = ?
MD = ?
MA <= 223 (post #359)
MI = ?
MN = ?
**MS = 205<a href=“post%20#192,%20NMSC”>/b</a> No change
**MO = 213<a href=“post%20#497,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +3
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV <= 211 (post #250)
NH = ?
NJ <= 224 (post #493)
**NM = 210<a href=“post%20#302,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +4
NY > 220 (post #435)
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 <= 225, > 213 (posts #360, #475)
**TX = 219<a href=“post%20#46,%20per%20principal;%20post%20#267,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> +4
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA <= 221 (post #446)
**WA = 220<a href=“post%20#491,%20per%20GC”>/b</a> + 2
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>
<p>Linnylu – I am positive Ohio is 214. My daughter has her packet with the score breakdowns and 214 is clearly asterisked. I agree with SteveC’s advice. Last year our school’s sole NMSF received her packet from a new principal very late in the process, so I called National Merit to verify when the packets were mailed (8-23, first class from Evanston) and put the school on notice to watch for it. My daughter got hers from the principal on 8-26. If I remember correctly, everything is due mid-October.</p>
<p>GeminiMom, you mentioned your daughter’s “packet with the score breakdowns and 214 is clearly asterisked”. Can you tell me what that packet was? My son received only the letter saying he made semifinalist. I know the initial score report will have an asterisk next to the Selection Index score if the student does not meet the entry requirements into the National Merit competition (for example, all sophomores who take the PSAT will have an asterisk), but it sounds like your daughter received something different with her NMSF letter.</p>
<p>Barfly – I don’t have it in front of me, and will double check the contents later. I believe it consisted of an overview of the requirements to move on to finalist, a log-in and password (maybe to access the essay prompt?) and a breakdown of how all 2010 junior PSAT takers in our state scored from 240 on down. (This breakdown had asterisks by the cut-off score for the state, but does not correspond to the asterisk next to the Selection Index Score.)</p>
<p>Thank you, GeminiMom. I suspect your school gave you a copy of what was sent to the principal/counselors. Generally, the student gets only the letter which includes the password and username. Lucky you! That sounds pretty interesting!</p>
<p>Son got his today in Tennessee but no help in narrowing the scores as he was above the previously stated upper limit and did not receive any additional information from the GC.</p>
<p>Daughter just told she CT made NMSF in CT.
GC said cutoff is 220 (+1 from last year)</p>
<p>Talked to my guidance counselor today, wouldnt tell me if I got SF or not, but she did tell me that the MD cutoff was 221. I got a 224, so I’ll be expecting that letter :)</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, CO, DE, DC, GA, ID, IA, KY,
ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND,
OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY</p>
<p>Updating CT, MD</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 = 205<a href=“post%20#498,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +2
**CA = 221<a href=“post%20#321,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +2
CO = ?
**CT = 220<a href=“post%20#508,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +1
DE = ?
DC = ?
**FL = 214<a href=“post%20#107,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
GA <= 219, > 217 (posts #363, #474)
**HI = 216<a href=“post%20#225,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +1
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 <= 225 (post #501)
**KS = 214<a href=“post%20#87,%20per%20principal”>/B</a> +3
KY <= 218, > 211 (post #437, #111)
**LA = 209<a href=“post%20#459,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> -1
ME = ?
**MD = 221<a href=“post%20#509,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +1
MA <= 223 (post #359)
MI = ?
MN = ?
**MS = 205<a href=“post%20#192,%20NMSC”>/B</a> No change
**MO = 213<a href=“post%20#497,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +3
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV <= 211 (post #250)
NH = ?
NJ <= 224 (post #493)
**NM = 210<a href=“post%20#302,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
NY > 220 (post #435)
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 <= 225, > 213 (posts #360, #475)
**TX = 219<a href=“post%20#46,%20per%20principal;%20post%20#267,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> +4
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA <= 221 (post #446)
**WA = 220<a href=“post%20#491,%20per%20GC”>/B</a> + 2
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>
<p>I was told I made Semi-Finalist but the Principal did not give me any application. Do you know WHERE you get the application? How long and complicated is it?</p>
<p>what state are you from? what was your score?</p>
<p>State is TN, PSAT 220</p>
<p>okay, thanks. any news from colorado yet?</p>
<p>Wahhh okay. I’ve been [unofficially] notified by my principal that I’m a semifinalist (Ohio, 232), but I do not have a packet or anything – just a piece of paper with my NMS login. Should I have a packet by now? Any Ohio kids that know?</p>
<p>The principal should have your paperwork in the packet he/she got with your letter. This may require persistence on your part.</p>
<p>I filled out my paperwork about 30 years ago, so I’m sure the form has changed, but I don’t remember anything too complicated. There is an essay, but just about anything will work as long as you don’t say anything stupid or say what you do say rudely.</p>
<p>[edit] Thanks, elle12. The NMS login may replace the old school packet. Not sure.</p>
<p>GC said that most of it’s online this year, so there might not be a big packet.</p>
<p>FYI, schools have the choice to complete the NM “paperwork” the old-fashioned way, which is paper, or to do it online, which more and more are doing. If your school elects to do it online, your student won’t get a packet, they’ll only get a sheet with instructions about what to do online and by when.</p>
<p>Thanks, minoafrau. I knew someone here would have the answer. :)</p>
<p>Any word from Michigan? I’m concerned about so many states have increases from last year!</p>