National Merit Semifinalist Qualify Scores -- Class of 2012

<p>Thanks. Appreciate it</p>

<p>any news from colorado yet?</p>

<p>I think the numbers remain the same in the end, i.e., 50k upfront, 16k for NMSF etc.</p>

<p>The numbers in each state change because they pick a percentage of people from each state based on number of test takers and if more are taking it, then the top numbers can go up.</p>

<p>I think the numbers relatively fluctuate each year depending upon the number of test-takers and their overall performance (the test is standardized after all). If the average score in the state increased, or more students took it one year, it could have a large impact on the NMSF score.</p>

<p>Also, is there anyone in NC who has received notification yet? I asked my GC, but se hasn’t heard anything yet.</p>

<p>Cut-off for AZ is 213 and up.</p>

<p>Hi NicolasCage, is it 213 for sure? My son has 216. Does it mean he is in?</p>

<p>Nicolas: how do you know it is 213 for AZ?</p>

<p>Actually, the number of test takers has nothing to do with the number of NMSF in a state. That number is determined by the number of graduating seniors compared to the number nationwide.</p>

<p>^AZCPAMOM - Yes that does make sense.</p>

<p>^ so you are saying a state is awarded a number based on the graduating seniors irrespective of how many actually took the test?</p>

<p>It has always been listed as top .5% of test takers in a state and not graduating seniors.</p>

<p>Every state is different as far as the top percentages go. In Arkansas it is probably the top 5%. The number of SF in each state has to do with the population of students. That’s how they determine what piece of the pie each state gets. They do not all have to take the test. But of course you can’t make SF without taking the test.</p>

<p>Was informed by counselor.</p>

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<p>Although the test is standardized to hold its relative level of “difficulty” constant, fluctuations occur from year to year and are apt to be particularly large in states with lower numbers of testers. With the limited amount of data we have I don’t see how we can draw any conclusions about trends in this year’s results, certainly not enough to premise socio-economic theories upon.</p>

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<p>State quotas are allocated based on number of high school graduates compared to the nation as a whole. Each state gets a portion of some 16,000 NMSF spots calculated effectively at about the top 0.5% of its graduates. Thus, states with comparatively more graduates will have comparatively lower score cut-offs (assuming equivalent perfomance among the testers) because their NMSF quota is relatively large.</p>

<p>Increased numbers of testers might serve to raise the cut-offs by introducing a few more high scorers but usually the scores of “new” testers are disproportionately below the cut-offs. In general about 1% of testers (about 50% of eventual high school graduates take the PSAT) are recognized as NMSF, but if the number of testers were to dramtically increase in a state the cut-off scores would probably rise by only a little and the total number of NMSF spots would not be affected at all.</p>

<p>As far as I know there has been no change in the count of NMSF nor Commended students.</p>

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<p>PSAT raw scores were tweaked about five years ago to align the Wrting section with the “new” SAT Writing section. As I recall the net effect was to lower the average cut-offs about 2-3 points. So it is hard to compare cut-offs from before 2008 to cut-offs thereafter.</p>

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<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>

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

<p>Updating AZ, IL</p>

<p>AL = ? (post #?, per GC/NMSC/other)
AK = ?
**AZ = 213<a href=“post%20#126/#132,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
AR = ?
CA <= 225 (post #50)
CO = ?
CT = ?
DE = ?
DC = ?
**FL = 214<a href=“post%20#107,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
GA = ?
HI = ?
ID = ?
**IL = 216<a href=“post%20#110,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
IN <= 215 (post #34)
IA = ?
KS = ?
KY > 211 (post #111)
LA <= 216 (post #101)
ME = ?
MD = ?
MA = ?
MI = ?
MN = ?
MS = ?
MO = ?
MT <= 209 (post #90)
NE <= 215 (post #10)
NV = ?
NH = ?
NJ = ?
NM = ?
NY = ?
NC <= 224 (post #85)
ND = ?
**OH = 214 <a href=“post%20#28,%20established%20by%20score%20comparison”>/B</a>
**OK = 209<a href=“post%20#106,%20NMSC”>/B</a>
OR = ?
PA = ?
RI = ?
SC = ?
SD = ?
TN = ?
TX > 216, <= 224 (post #29)
UT = ?
VT = ?
VA = ?
WA = ?
WV = ?
WI = ?
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 am speechless at these numbers. There are going to be a lot of disappointed kids out there.</p>

<p>As more kids study/practice for this exam, the numbers will rise.</p>

<p>well, M2CK, that is true. But we are still looking good for that UA presidential…</p>

<p>^^</p>

<p>Good! What’s your son’s major?</p>

<p>Also…I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these “GC reported” scores change…they’ve been known to be unreliable in the past.</p>

<p>Same with DS, slippy. Got some work to do to make sure that happens!</p>

<p>Mom2collegekids, I have a UA question for you. DD’s friend didn’t make NMSF. She is hoping to raise her ACT score enough for the presidential scholarship at UA. Is that enough to get her into honor’s housing if DD wants to room with her? Or is there more to it than that? </p>

<p>I really hope Ohio’s score report is correct and DD did make NMSF. Still nothing from her school.</p>

<p>To be in honors housing, you don’t have to qualify for the Presidential. </p>

<p>What is your D’s friend’s current ACT? </p>

<p>Does she need a scholarship in order to afford Bama? What will her major be? Bama gives a 2/3 tuition scholarship for an ACT 30-31…or …SAT 1330-1390…and actually, if that student majors in Engineering or Comp Sci, she’d be given free tuition and 2500 per year (CoE bumps up the scholarship for those with ACT 30-31)</p>