<p>Okay, so I couldn't find a PSAT section on CC, and I have a stupid question. I recently found my scores from this past year's test. I am seriously bored (which explains why I now devote half of my time to CC) so I read the back, and it stated, " if there is an asterisk next to your Selection Index score, it means you do not meet requirements to enter NMSC competitions for awards to be offered in 2008." So, I look at my selection index and realize there is no asterisk. </p>
<p>What exactly does this mean? Do they have award competitions or something (besides the whole National Merit thing)? </p>
<p>More importantly, why did I not notice this before? Oh...well... maybe the fact that I saw my very very low grade and cringed, all the while tossing the scores into the back of my closet had something to do with it?</p>
<p>I believe that there is only the National Merit Commended/Semi-Finalist/Finalist scholarship competition and something called the National Achievement scholarship competition, but that is geared toward Black students...there might be a Hispanic one as well, I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Your PSAT score is basically the only factor when entering these scholarship competitions and I think you're automatically entered. But to advance to something like NMF level you'd have to do a bunch of stuff - like transcript, essays, SAT score, etc.</p>
<p>^ I have absolutely no idea. I got a 193. Which is by my standards and definitely by CC standards way too low. I don't get the whole advancing thing though. From my understanding, the Nevada cutoff to get entered into the competition was above 200. </p>
<p>So, what exactly do I "meet the requirements" for?</p>
<p>I know that this is fairly unrelated, but I was wondering, I just finished my freshman year and took a friend's old PSAT at home and scored a 202, I wanted to know how much your score fluctuates by taking it at home as opposed to in a classroom with a proctor...this would help me know how much work I have ahead of me for when I take the real one.</p>
<p>The cut-off scores vary from state to state. Last year, the lowest was 204 in Mississippi and the highest was 224 in Massachusetts.</p>
<p>The requirements that you met were probably that you were 1) a citizen of the USA and 2) you were a Jr. There might be other requirements but I forgot.</p>
<p>ashleyL - it probably depends on how carefully you planned when you took the test. did you keep within the time limits, use the right calculator, etc. but also your score can fluctuate anyways. i know people that had a higher score their sophomore year.</p>
<p>the only reason you don't have an asterix next to your score is because you were a junior when you took the psat, and you checked the box to enter into the merit competition. It doesn't mean that your score qualified you. Any junior who takes the test and checks that box will have no asterix next to their score (sorry for the double negative).</p>