<p>Letters to semifinalists (distributed through the school) should be distributed shortly. Since NM does not publicly post a list of semifinalist cutoff scores, we have, in the past, collected the data here. Last year, we were able to get all 50 states plus DC (but not, I believe the cutoffs for international and boarding school regions). It was also possible, after a few weeks, to contact National Merit to request the cutoff score for a specific state, but I don't know if that policy will continue this year. School counselors should receive cutoff information, and some students were able to verify cutoffs with their counselor.</p>
<p>Please note - sometimes the National Merit paperwork gets lost in the high school bureaucracy. If you haven't received your semifinalist letter by late September, you should check with your counselor or principal. Included is an application for Finalist which you will need to complete by a specific deadline. One of the requirements is an SAT score that is within range of your PSAT score. If you have not already taken the SAT, sign up for a fall date as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Commended letters should begin to be distributed by schools in late September. Based on posts in May, the national commended cutoff score is 200.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>By “within range of your PSAT score,” do you mean the projected SAT score or the actual PSAT score?</p>
<p>The consensus is that your SAT should be above the lowest cutoff score, which is also around 200 normally. So as long as you score 2000+ you should be fine.</p>
<p>For comparison, here are the cutoffs from last year (graduating class of 2008).</p>
<p>AL = 209
AK = 213
AZ = 211
AR = 201
CA = 217
CO = 213
CT = 217
DC = 223
DE = 219
FL = 212
GA = 214
HI = 213
IA = 209
ID = 204
IL = 213
IN = 213
KS = 212
KY = 208
LA = 206
MA = 223
MD =221
ME = 211
MI =209
MN =213
MO = 211
MS = 202
MT = 207
NE = 207
NV = 208
NC = 214
ND = 202
NH = 215
NJ =221
NM = 208
NY =219
OH = 211
OK = 207
OR = 213
PA = 214
RI = 212
SC = 210
SD = 203
TN = 213
TX = 215
UT = 202
VA = 217
VT = 216
WA = 215
WI = 208
WV = 200
WY = 200</p>
<p>NJ peeps have to work alot hard than i imagined ^a 200+ cutoff score ..wow</p>
<p>“NJ peeps have to work alot hard than i imagined ^a 200+ cutoff score ..wow”</p>
<p>Wow… every state has a 200+ cutoff score…
Maybe you meant 220+?</p>
<p>There is another state that is tied with it and 2 that are above it.</p>
<p>Don’t bump this thread. People will post when the time comes. Scores are not supposed to be released until the 12th of September.</p>
<p>“NJ peeps have to work alot hard than i imagined ^a 200+ cutoff score ..wow”</p>
<p>Wow that’s so unfair.</p>
<p>“One of the requirements is an SAT score that is within range of your PSAT score.”</p>
<p>What exactly does “within range” mean? 100 points? 50 points?</p>
<p>Within the range usually means something like you have to do better than the lowest score that made the cutoff.</p>
<p>Just because you were in Massachusetts or something doesn’t mean that you will need a 2230 to qualify as opposed to someone in Wyoming needing only 2000 to qualify.</p>
<p>do you think a 233 (hopefully paired with a good application) will be enough to win a scholarship?</p>
<p>yes^ it is quite high</p>
<p>what about a 223 with a good application? i live in oregon btw…</p>
<p>^ of course. the cutoff is 213 right?</p>
<p>I think the posters above are asking about receiving actual scholarships, not semifinalist status. I don’t think there’s any number that guarantees receipt of one of the $2500 NMSC-funded scholarships. None were awarded to the kids I know who all scored 230 to 234 and had great apps. But there are lots of other money sources for finalists. My kid is getting around $80,000 from USC, where he is blissfully happy.</p>
<p>“NJ peeps have to work alot hard than i imagined ^a 200+ cutoff score ..wow”</p>
<p>Wow… every state has a 200+ cutoff score…
Maybe you meant 220+?</p>
<p>There is another state that is tied with it and 2 that are above it.</p>
<p>^^ yea thats wat i meant</p>
<p>Cutoff in TN is <= 215. My son scored a 216 and is a semifinalist.</p>