<p>Wow…I learned something today. Things definitely have changed! Do you think these high schools are trying their best to increase their NMSF numbers in order to raise their USNWR rankings?</p>
<p>We had 4 NMSF in our school ( 498 kids in sr. class) in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. They encouraged kids to take the PSAT as sophs and juniors, and even have a prep class for it in the evenings. My daughter didn’t take the class but did take the PSAT soph and jr. years and is a NMSF.</p>
<p>Our school (375 seniors) had 2 NMSF, and the other school in our district had only 1. All Pre-AP and AP students are required to take the test both Soph. and Jr. years. Other than her Soph. test, my daughter had no other prep, didn’t study, took it “cold”, and made NMSF. One of the other students spent hours and hours in a prep class over the summer and only scored 4 points higher than my daughter. So, who knows?</p>
<p>When I took it 20+ years ago, I had no idea the significance. When scores came back, my counselor told me that I missed “it” by 1 point. I didn’t even know what “it” was until we started this whole process with my daughter.</p>
<p>PCP, ds’s school pays for it freshman-junior years. Not sure it has to do w/rankings (don’t AP tests drive that?). Probably has more to do w/scheduling. All freshman-juniors are in their seats taking the test, while seniors are home asleep.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Our HS even lets Frosh take the test, altho everyone has to pay $15.00. And why not? A score of zero is meaningless.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That “1 point” can mean the difference between a full ride at a college or automatic discount (at USC, for example).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Our, HS no, bcos it’s the psat is downplayed significantly by the GCs. Of course, it’s a test-happy community anyway, with 5-10% of the juniors qualifying every year.</p>
<p>But, note, we are in Southern California, so USC is a popular match for top kids. And since USC offers an automatic tuition discount for a 2.5 hour test, might as well study for it. Moreover, qualifying for NMSF makes USC a near-safety since they just love high test scores.</p>
<p>4 kids in the entire mid-Hudson Valley region: 1 private school student and 3 public school kids. The public schools in this area generally underplay the PSAT for whatever reason. It is very rare that anyone takes the PSAT as a sophomore, and I’ve only met one public school guidance counselor who makes a point of suggesting to exceptionally bright 10th graders that they do so. Once you get north of Carmel the world is a very different place.</p>
<p>Son’s catholic school had 5 NMSF out of 202 seniors, the 3 public schools had a total of 19, and there were 2 home schooled students. Son’s school offers the opportunity for sophmores to take the PSAT ~ although it is not required. Each students pays for their own test fee. The $15 is well worth the baseline you get in sophmore year to see if you have potential for the real deal jr year.</p>
<p>18/~180. Public high school. Median SAT score is around 1800…</p>
<p>60 Semifinalists out of a class of ~500. Public School. Not selective. No special requirements.</p>
<p>Son’s school has 17 NMSF out of a class of 78 kids.Private school in a city with many very good private and public schools.</p>
<p>25 out of a class of ~480. Highest number in the city/county, including many private schools & the public “college prep” school. Our school just has a lot of smart kids. </p>
<p>Some kids take the test as sophs, just for practice. My kids only practiced by taking the sample test at home, once, under timed conditions.</p>
<p>I took the PSAT in my 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th grade years.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>At my school it is mandatory for sophomores to take the PSAT, and it’s free for them. Juniors have to pay $13 to take it, and Freshman can take it as well.</p>
<p>As for OP, I was the only NMSF at my public school. There were 47 in our district.</p>
<p>At my public school it’s also required and free for sophomores.</p>
<p>3 in a class of almost 400. In NYS.</p>
<p>Competitive entry private school: 28 NMSF out of about 130 students. Down by 5-6 from previous years, even though this was the first class that was offered the test as sophomores. No prep offered at school, though more and more kids are doing outside classes, I hear.</p>
<p>10 out of a class of 63 - private college prep school. The 14 public high schools in our county only had 23 in total!</p>
<p>FauxNom, that must be Lakeside School, best private school in greater Seattle area, where Bill Gates went.</p>
<p>My D’s public high school has 14 (out 200 senior), #5 in greater Seattle area. All 14 are from gift program</p>
<p>My suburban Arizona school had 9/60 kids make semifinalist this year. Last year there were 19. It’s nice to see that our grade is an “off” grade…</p>
<p>Hmm, as far as I know I’m the only one in a class of 400…public school of course. 
I’m not sure if that’s a low number or not</p>