<p>I scored 240 on the PSAT this year, and I was curious if this high score would make me more likely to receive the National Merit Scholarship than if I had made the cutoff by a smaller margin (like if I got a 225)? After the semi-finalist cutoff scores, is your PSAT score a factor in detirmining whether or not you qualify to be a finalist? Or is this based completely on your GPA, SAT scores, and your essay?</p>
<p>I have never seen any published criteria for the National Merit-sponsored scholarship. Some have posted they believe this is the case, but I have never seen any evidence. Remember, there are 3 types of National Merit scholarships - National Merit sponsored, corporate sponsored, and college sponsored. None are "better" or "more prestigious" than the other.</p>
<p>It is my understanding that PSAT scores are irrelevant after advancing to the semifinalist stage.</p>
<p>Might have a little weight on your application for finalist status, but then again, your 240 is probably accompanied by a 4.5 GPA. You'll probably make it to finalist status.</p>
<p>National Merit seems very secretive about everything. You can't find cutoff scores on their web site and I still don't know if they weight their GPAs.</p>