PSAT - NMSF - Students are being told!

Parent Cafe
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<p>You can ask the college counseling office at your HS & they should have the info. Most schools have someone to "cover" an absent administrator so things don't "fall thru the cracks." The only way to learn how things are being handled at your kids' HS is to ask, politely.
At my kids' HS, this was all handled thru the college counseling office. The grade level counselor also knew which kids scored high enough on the PSAT so they'd qualify for NMSF. The college counselor also had to write a letter of recommendation anyway to include in the packet. Each school sets its own deadlines & procedures, all of which are clearly spelled out in the packet handed to all NMSFs.
At my kids' HS, they told the kids to type out their essay on a plain sheet of paper & it was somehow affixed or retyped to the application form for NMF. The essay needs to fit in the space allotted on the NMF application form.</p>

<p>There was quite a bit of time from the date the aps were handed out & the deadline, so don't stress, but politely & discretely inquire. Remember, your child will need to get nice letters of rec from the school, so cultivate good relationships there.</p>

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<p>I don't think the essay has anything to do with the decision as to the 15000 kids who advance to Finalist status -- I think that's all done on the numbers (grades, confirming SAT score) and on the high school principal's favorable recommendation.</p>

<p>But I do think the essay is probably very important for determining which kids get the $2500 National Merit sponsored scholarship, probably more for the specific information that the reveal about the kid's accomplishments than for stylistics of writing. So, no matter what the wording of the prompt, the essay should really answer this question: "Tell us why you deserve to get the scholarship money."</p>

<p>Don't sweat it, but do save it -- the same basic essay can be used for other scholarship apps as well. It's probably worthwhile and a great time saver to have a generic scholarship application assay saved on disk -- it makes it easier to apply for multiple scholarships later on.</p>

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<p>At our school the counselors just went into the English classes and gave the semi-finalists a letter or something. Son's not home and I'm not sure if it was a letter or a certificate.</p>

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<p>My D got 229 (PA) so I'm pretty sure she qualifies but she has not started school and hasn't received any notification. I'm very anxious to get the "official" word. School doesn't start classes for a week and half so I guess I just have to be patient,</p>

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<p>Yeah, 229 is above all prior cut-offs (the highest in the past was 222), so your D should be good for NMSF. Your D should be receiving her notice from her school shortly after it begins--patience is a good virtue to cultivate, especially in living peacefully with teens. <grin></grin></p>

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<p>Son (and others) were told by principal and counselor. The counselor is copying all materials and then giving them copies on Monday or Tuesday. We haven't actually "seen" anything.</p>

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<p>Hello... we haven't been notified yet...but wondered what the essay requirements are? Has anyone been told? thanks</p>

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<p>Thank god you have someone in administration that realizes what a big deal this is!!! congrats.</p>

<p>We had two NMF's and two principals. The first one, called us about this time and was so excited and asked us to come in right away to congratulate us and get us going on paperwork. Schools learn several weeks before public announcements are made and are asked not to disclose to media the information. </p>

<p>The second, a new principal, no notice. No notice for some time. Our D went in and finally asked if she was mentioned at all... "NO" from the principal's secratary, "nothing for you". My D asked to look at a large stack of mail sitting on the desk and within 30 seconds pulled the letter out... only two weeks later than she was supposed to receive it. Scramble mode. This also happened later with another scholarship opportunity. </p>

<p>So be glad your school's excited for your child, believe me, when they don't care is much worse.</p>

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<p>Here is the essay prompt for the NMSF!!!!</p>

<p>In your own words, describe your personal characteristics, accomplishments, primary interests, plans, goals. What sets you apart? (about 500 words).</p>

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<p>I am soooo grateful that my son's school is so proud of its NM winners. If my kid went to a school where they "played games" and dragged their feet giving the info to the kids, I'd make a HUGE stink and embarrass them soooo much that they woudn't dare do it another year. (Sometimes I think that educators who do this are just jealous because they were never so honored.)</p>

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<p>Many thanks for the prompt! Our school has not located any NM correspondence as of this morning...perhaps the West Coast mail is slow!<br>
We are hearing from colleges already. But still would like to know that CA cutoff.</p>

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<p>The California cutoff is almost always 216. I think that one year it was as low as 215 -- but if your kid's score isn't at least 215, then it probably won't make the cutoff. The school would only receive correspondence at this point for semifinalists -- the commended stuff comes a little later.</p>

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<p>Can someone please explain further?</p>

<p>My son's score was 228 and we are in Florida, so I'm assuming he is an NMSF. </p>

<p>The head guidance counselor at his high school said today that they have heard nothing yet. But at least one Florida student on this site has been notified. </p>

<p>We are hearing nothing from colleges, though. </p>

<p>I'm very confused. What should we be hearing? </p>

<p>Thanks for any assistance!</p>

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<p>This is just incompetance! The letters were mailed a week ago. Either your counselor hasn't gone thru their mail or the principal hasn't.</p>

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<p>"This is just incompetance! The letters were mailed a week ago. Either your counselor hasn't gone thru their mail or the principal hasn't."</p>

<p>That's what I was thinking as well! But what can you do besides politely inquire daily, without alienating guidance or the principal, whose recommendations Brandon will need in the very near future? <em>wry grin</em></p>

<p>I'll make a very pleasant pest of myself on a daily basis until we hear something!</p>

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<p>Hi...at a PTSA meeting this evening our principal said the letters were given to our counselor who handles seniors and will be mailed tomorrow. My s is getting a letter....at a 231 ..we are not surprised...but still havent heard the official CAL cutoff. We were hopeful for a few of his friends who were borderline...Thanks for clarifying.. sounds like the figure doesn't move much from year to year.</p>

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<p>Our friends daughter was a NMF a few years back and the window to send the paperwork and essay if very short..I would go down to the school and start making a lot of noise! I believe the school has to have everything mailed back well before Oct 1 including the students essay and paperwork.</p>

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<p>Well... I, as a parent (they ignore student requests), would go to the principal and nicely say that the letters were mailed over a week ago to the school, so if they don't have them then they need to contact the National Merit Corp and get the materials resent before it's too late. I imagine, at that point, the materials would magically surface!</p>

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<p>Typically a cutoff score doesn't move more than 1 or 2 points up or down. However, one or two states have had a 4 (or was it 5) point increase in recent years. I think that kind of huge increase is rare. </p>

<p>Remember, each state's cut off is based on what the top 1% of that state's PSAT scores are. So, if in a given year, the top 1% of a state scored as low as 208, then that number is that state's cutoff. If the top 1% of another state scored as "low" as 220, then that is that state's cutoff. </p>

<p>It's easy to see that it isn't likely for a state to have a huge jump either way -- unless a state has taken some action which either greatly increased or decreased it's students' participation and/or success in the PSAT exam.</p>

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<p>If you really feel your child should be getting the paperwork and the "office" doesn't have it or isn't aware of it, time to go a bit higher up. Our district superintendant got a "friendly" letter from me about our situation with the second child. While polite and friendly I also pointed out the actual worth of this NMF status to my family, and while we love the district the loss of a potential six figure scholarship because someone isn't paying proper attiention to the mail would cause us to seek the lost scholarship dollars from the school district. So somebody would be giving my child a scholarship, either a college or her school district.</p>

<p>They got right on it. :)</p>

<p>In some ways I understood their lack of interest as the district has only produced 3 NMF in the last five years. They just don't see them enough to understand the importance. I am now working with the district to help them understand the importance of the NMF and other scholarship opportunities available to students. Mine are both in college now so I can help without looking like I'm showing off.</p>