<p>I scored a 217 on my PSAT, which pretty much guarantees admittance into NM in my state. What I'm wondering is whether or not NMSC puts precedent over those who scored perfect 240s to those who barely made the cut-off in their state in judging who to admit as a semi-finalist, finalist, etc.
In other words, once you make the cut-off, do PSAT scores still play a factor in the competition?</p>
<p>Also, to any former or current semifinalists, finalists, or scholars who are reading this, what did you get on the PSAT?</p>
<p>If you score at or above the cutoff, and do the paperwork, then you are a finalist. </p>
<p>The process of naming finalists is almost completely objective - expect for that essay portion of the paperwork - and the principal recommendation. Other than that, becoming a finalist is akin to ticking boxes off a list - SAT scores (1900+) … check … decent GPA … check … no criminal record … check …</p>
<p>In short, PSAT scores do not matter after you make the cut-off.</p>
<p>If your score meets or exceeds the cutoff, you’re a NMSF…period.</p>
<p>After that, your PSAT doesn’t matter. Your SAT only matters as long as you score beyond the national minimum…which is about 2000 (it was 1960 last year)…and you send your scores to NMCorp.</p>
<p>As long as you don’t get into trouble at school and do the paperwork correctly that you’d get next Sept, you’ll make NMF.</p>
<p>How do they determine who gets NMSC’s scholarships to become a scholar? (Not corporate or college sponsored) Is that based on the PSAT score or some other factor? Thanks.</p>
<p>No one is sure if it’s high PSAT, high SAT, combo of high PSAT, SAT and GPA…or what. I think they also try to have 50/50 boys/girls…and a % by state.</p>
<p>My 11th grade son scored well on PSAT, but his grades tanked this trimeseter (He got a D+ and had some medical issues which effected his academic performance). His school’s official transcript only shows final course grade. He has recovered from the early bad grades. Does NM only require transcript or do they request copy of each report card?</p>
<p>I’m worrying about this now because if he has a chance of National Merit Finalist (for HS class of 2013) then I want to plan visits at Spring Break 2012 for Alabama and other southern schools. If his grades will keep him out of the running, then we’d travel to a different part of the country to look at some LACs.</p>
<p>NMS looks at the grades on the transcript–interim grades are of no concern. It is difficult to know what the minimal accepted GPA is for going from NMSF to NMF: it seems to be below 3.5 but probably above 3.0, judging from anecdotal evidence. CC posters in the past have claimed to advance with a 3.3. I know of one 2.9 (from long ago) that did not make it. I do not know if they take into account course rigor when appraising semifinalist GPA’s, nor if they consider rising trends, nor if they will take into account hardship factors.</p>
<p>If the GPA is low enough you also might want to consider the prospects for admission to the colleges in which you are interested. NMSF is a fine honor but, in general, it won’t overcome a below-standard GPA when admissions decisions are rendered. Of course if health reasons are accepted as an exceptional factor in grade performance it could boost his odds. I suggest you and/or he discuss his specific case with admissions people directly to get a feel for his prospects.</p>