National Merit Semifinalist Qualify Scores -- Class of 2012

<p>^I happen to know Louisiana’s because I called them and asked. They will happily provide you with all historical information.</p>

<p>Thanks for referencing this, igloo. I had compared this data a while back and it gave me hope that the AZ cut-off would not go up. This year’s group seemed to score considerably lower in M (1.5 compared to 1.9), a bit lower in W (.8 to .9) and the same in CR–.9. That gives me hope that there should not be one of the 2-3 point jumps.</p>

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I’m sorry for your disappointment and feel your pain:( D1 scored a 213 the year that was the cutoff so she just squeaked in; this year D2 scored 211 and, even though we knew that was the low end of recent years’ cutoffs, we were hopeful. sigh. </p>

<p>okay, moving on. D2 will be a strong applicant even without NMSF. heck, I was Commended back in the day and I’m over it ;)</p>

<p>congrats to all who made it and good luck to those of you still waiting.</p>

<p>"If you are looking for something to do while waiting;</p>

<p><a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.co…r-soph/juniors”>http://professionals.collegeboard.co…r-soph/juniors</a>"</p>

<p>Well comparing this year and last for NY, the %age of students scoring 75-80 went up slightly for Reading and Writing, stayed the same for Math. Not looking good for my son who scored last year’s cutoff! NY might follow Texas and Ohio.</p>

<p>Agree with Wolverine. No formal recognition, but a great incentive to make sure they do as well, if not better, their junior year. There are a few horror stories floating around about kids who do worse the following year so don’t get complacent.</p>

<p>Yes, this was my son. He did awesome sophomore year and would have made semi-finalist. He didn’t even score 200 his junior year. I have no clue why. He might have had a cold that morning, but still… Luckily that didn’t happen to my DD this year.</p>

<p>I just read that Ohio’s score went up, but DD should be good with a 215. I am not going to tell her though. I’d feel awful if this information was incorrect and I got her hopes up.</p>

<p>So let me ask an opinion here. She scored a 32 on her ACT. Does NMSF status surpass the importance of the ACT score? She really doesn’t want to take the ACT again, but will if she needs it for scholarships. She isn’t looking at any schools that are super hard to get in, she’s just looking for merit money. I think she has a 2130 on the SAT:630 Math, 750 Critical Reading, 750 Writing. The bummer is that so many schools she is thinking about only look at the math and cr scores which aren’t that impressive combined.</p>

<p>linnylu – ACT 32 is equivalent to SAT CR + M 1420, so her ACT might be a little more impressive than her SAT. On the other hand, a 750 CR is very impressive by itself.</p>

<p>Which is more important? For admission, SAT/ACT for sure. For scholarship purposes, it depends on the philosophy of the school. Some schools heavily recruit NMFs (e.g., Alabama) whereas others give more weight to GPA/class rank + SAT/ACT (e.g., Pitt), so it’s hard to say. A 215 in OH should make her an NMSF, and her SAT should be good enough to back up her PSAT, so if you’re happy with your choices of NM-recruiting schools, she most likely wouldn’t need another test. </p>

<p>If she’d like to compare schools that weight GPA/class rank + SAT/ACT more heavily, she might consider retaking the ACT one last time, although a 32 might be competitive depending on the school. I say ACT rather than SAT because it appears to have been “her” test.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>linnylu…It depends (don’t you just HATE that phrase?) on what schools she’s really looking at. In general terms, a high ACT score might qualify her for a higher NUMBER of scholarship opportunities but I can’t think of any offhand that would bring as much MONEY as the NMF can. There are some schools that offer guaranteed merit scholarships with an ACT score of 32, but none that could match the guaranteed full ride and near full rides of Alabama, Auburn (may have changed?), UCF, etc.</p>

<p>NMF status gives you and her the luxury of applying to any school she’s interested in and seeing what merit aid they’ll give with the great comfort of a full-ride safety net in your back pocket. Our D1 was ready, willing, and excited to go to Bama had things not worked out with her scholarship package to U of Minnesota. As parents, we slept a heck of a lot better during those several months of applying and waiting knowing she had a fantastic school like Bama that would allow her to graduate debt free while we waited to see how everything would play out.</p>

<p>Anything for NJ??</p>

<p>Auburn’s NMF scholarships are now competitive, not automatic. Alabama’s are still automatic.</p>

<p>S tells me that 214 is the KS cutoff this year–they found out on Friday. </p>

<p>(It has been 211-212 the last few years. Happy S made it, but surprised at the jump–I think this is the highest it has been.)</p>

<p>Now that sending scores has been mentioned, is it okay to send both SAT and ACT? S scored 2260 SAT and 34 ACT. Also scored 790 on Literature subject test. Would it be okay to send all of those scores or do schools only want one or the other?</p>

<p>^atomom - Does your S know someone with a 213 that didn’t make it?</p>

<p>Ohiomom - They seem exactly alike based on translation charts.</p>

<p>[ACT</a> to SAT Score Conversion Table | InLikeMe](<a href=“http://www.inlikeme.com/test/act-sat-score-conversion-table.html]ACT”>http://www.inlikeme.com/test/act-sat-score-conversion-table.html)</p>

<p>Schools will definitely accept both as well as the subject test. Usually it is the parent/student who would want to withold a test if they don’t like their performance on it.</p>

<p>Thanks texaspg.</p>

<p>Anybody hear anything about Illinois? Praying w/ my 216!</p>

<p>has anybody from colorado heard any news? I’m hoping that my 215 made the cut.</p>

<p>I would bet agnijay and wheathead are good. IL would have to go up 3 points and CO 4 points from last year for you not to make it. Possible, but not probable.</p>

<p>My S has a 2190 SAT (with a high of 780 CR) and a 33 on the ACT, 2 SAT 2s with 800 and 750. I told him to send them all - -they all reflect who he is, and reinforce each other in a way - showing a consistency. Sure, if the #s are really drastically different, or even significantly different. But when they are close, I think it’s better to disclose all.</p>

<p>So let me ask an opinion here. She scored a 32 on her ACT. Does NMSF status surpass the importance of the ACT score?</p>

<p>At schools that care about having more NMFs on campus, then having NMSF status is important. some schools don’t care.</p>