<p>Today I received my PSAT score report, after much anticipation and some tie-ups with our school's student services department. I scored a 212 and am in the 99 percentile, which my councilor told me would most likely be good enough to be considered for National Merit. Can someone explain to me what this means? I walked into the PSAT without studying, which now seems rather foolish because I did some poking around and it seems that I am on the lower end of qualification. </p>
<p>Is there anything you can tell me about what exactly being a National Merit qualifier means? What is a 'cutoff' and how can I tell if I've met it? How can I find out more?</p>
<p>What state do you live in?</p>
<p>I live in Colorado.</p>
<p>Here is a link to the cutoff scores, by state, for last year (the class of '09)</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1061009151-post571.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1061009151-post571.html</a></p>
<p>You'll see, that the Colorado cutoff was 213. You would need the cutoff to drop by at least one point to become a Natl Merit Semifinalist. The cutoffs are recalibrated each year based on the scores of that year's cohort. If you look early in that same thread, you'll see the cutoff the previous year was also 213. You'll just have to wait and see what happens.</p>
<p>What does it mean to be a NMSF? It means you can become a NMF, and that can mean big bucks. Many schools give a lot of scholarships and even full rides to NMF.</p>
<p>Find out more info here: National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - NMSP</p>
<p>Thank you, that was very helpful. When you say "You'll just have to wait and see what happens," does that mean that there's any chance of being considered as a semifinalist, even though I didn't make the cutoff? Do they take into account other things, such as GPA?</p>
<p>Hi YDS :)</p>
<p>Actually the cutoffs are for LAST year. Current year juniors will have to wait till the fall to know where they stand (is it September? I can't remember - see this link</p>
<p>National</a> Merit Scholarships</p>
<p>Hey, HM!</p>
<p>No, potentiality, you can't be a NMSF without having made the initial PSAT score cutoff. Once you make the cutoff, they look at things like GPA and SAT score to determine finalists.</p>
<p>You'll know for sure the cutoff score for the class of '10 in fall of '09. Ds still doesn't have his PSAT score. Grrrr.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, everyone. It's certainly a relief to know that the cutoffs posted previously don't apply to this year! Missing it by one point would be a bit agonizing; hopefully that doesn't happen next fall.</p>
<p>If you make it, don't worry about having gotten the minimum score for qualifying in your state. The actual score is not sent to the colleges and all they see is NMSF or NMF (and don't worry too much about that either because 15 out of 16 make it to NMF). Congratulations on a great score.</p>
<p>Awesome, thank you. That's really good to know...I guess now all there is to do is sit back and wait!</p>
<p>That's what I said in post no. 4! ;) Good luck.</p>
<p>Haha, I know. But it's all helpful all the same...</p>
<p>I just thought of another quick question: Is the earliest you know whether or not you 'made it' in fall of next year? I think I read somewhere that they send out letters in September...</p>
<p>Did you read the link in my post above?
National</a> Merit Scholarships
2nd bolded paragraph reads -</p>
<p>"Students will be notified if they receive National Merit status in
September of their senior year."</p>
<p>Edit - but thanks for giving me a chance to greet YDS again! :)</p>