<p>Hello everyone. I am a student in Louisiana and I just wanted to ask about the cutoff for national merit. I got a 209 and I am in the top 2 percent in the nation but I was wondering if that means I'll get National Merit. I know that the scores come out next September but since Lousiana is one of the lowest scoring states and I'm in the top 2 percent, does that pretty much mean I got it? Thanks for taking your time to read and reply.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1580340-class-2015-nmsf-qualifying-scores.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1580340-class-2015-nmsf-qualifying-scores.html</a></p>
<p>Please review past scores on this thread. It was 209 three years in a row and the highest ever was 211 for your state. So you have a solid chance if things remain the same.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1580340-class-2015-nmsf-qualifying-scores.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1580340-class-2015-nmsf-qualifying-scores.html</a></p>
<p>Check the first and second post of this thread. All the cutoff scores for all the states are there for many years. LA has been 209 the past 3 years, but was 210 the year before that, and once was 211. So you may be safe, but you won’t know for sure until next September. Good luck!</p>
<p>Today we received my son’s score of 221 on the PSAT. Here in Texas I think the cutoff has been 219 for two of the last three years, with a 216 in 2013.
The result of 219 for 2014 is from a hubpages site that may or may not be accurate.
Would you guys feel “safe” with a 221 in Texas this year?</p>
<p>I would say yes. Congratulations!</p>
<p>Thank you, texaspg - that would be wonderful for him!
Why is it I’m on the computer freaking out and my kid is playing Dota2 ?!</p>
<p>texaspg, I have a question I’d like to ask privately but, not having the requisite 15 posts - I can’t send it. Do you mind sending a private message so I can reply?
It’s nothing super-secret but I don’t want the question seen by a particular school.
Great if you can, understand if you can’t!
Thanks</p>
<p>I got a 220 on the PSAT in Pennsylvania! However, my best friend received a 215; do you think she is safe?</p>
<p>texaspg, I’ll just go ahead and ask. My kid is 17 and leaving for college after three years of highschool. 9th public (5/461 - he took two shop classes and was hurt on the weighted gpa scale), the last two years homeschooled. Also homeschooled 3rd-8th grade.
A Yale alum called to set up an interview with him and what puzzles me is that they only have his SAT I scores which were low (relatively) 800cr, 660M, 670W with a 7 on the essay as he ran out of time. He does not have SAT subject tests or ACT+W on file with them which is what they require.
Additionally, he wrote an excellent essay on the Common Application but then turned around and mistakenly pasted it in for the Yale writing supplement a few days later so they got TWO versions of the SAME essay!
My question is, “why are they interviewing him?” Don’t they need to interview likely candidates? I know he would be a great fit and would excel but man he has soiled the process and I don’t know why they would call. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Olivia, my son also has 220, and I sure hope for both of us that is good. It seems unlikely that it would go higher, but you never know for sure. The rational part of my brain would estimate 216-218, so your friend will certainly have to wait with bated breath. A drop for PA isn’t out of the question. Good luck to you both!</p>
<p>Everyone should read and post on the 2015 thread. I think that one’s more active, and will likely remain active for the long haul.</p>
<p>i got 221 in california
do you think that i will be able to get merit?
i know last year it was 223, but in the past years, my score would’ve qualified
what do you think this years cut off is for california?</p>
<p>Got a 209. Last year was 210 for michigan. Do you think im expected to get it? Score cutoff has usually been 207-211. Mean is 209. So far I’ve been hearing rumors that it will decrease a little bit. The curve was harsh. But I’ve been hearing of quite a few 210+ granted all the smart people I talk to, and the smartest region in the state. PLEASE CHANCE ME…so nervous.</p>
<p>"My question is, “why are they interviewing him?” Don’t they need to interview likely candidates? I know he would be a great fit and would excel but man he has soiled the process and I don’t know why they would call. Any thoughts? "</p>
<p>Sorry, did not see the posts until today and you wouldn’t have been able to respond to a PM without the requisite 15 posts anyway.</p>
<p>Ivies try to interview as many people as they can and since he submitted his supplement they had a gap for interviews between REA and RD and they talked to him. The interviewers are not aware of where an applicant stands and the schools don’t normally short list people before sending names out.</p>
<p>The SAT scores don’t seem all that bad if he crossed 2100. Its too bad that he pasted his common app essay though. Those type of mistakes can kill an app.</p>
<p>He wrote to them yesterday and they were kind enough to allow him to send in the essay as an addendum so we’ll see where that goes… On the plus side, he said the interview went very well and now he REALLY wants to go there!
Chances are slight but at least now he has a fighting chance - hoping for the best!</p>
<p>@mikefr Yale interviews every applicant they can. Just like all the other Ivies. The regional directors get notified of all applicants who have submitted applications and they do their best to get each one assigned to an alumni interviewer. The only qualification is submitting an application. Has nothing to do with quality whatsoever. No selection process involved. And for all these schools, the interviewer knows nothing more than the students name and contact info, and occasionally the major of interest. No scores, grades, recs, essays, nothing.</p>