<p>So I took the PSAT in October and scored a 215:
67 Critical Reading
80 Mathematics
68 Writing Skills
To be honest, I have no idea how National Merit works and I was wondering what I would need to get next year to get a scholarship or whatever awards there are. If it makes any difference I'm Asian.</p>
<p>The cut-off score varies by state. For example, in Alabama, I believe the cut-off is usually around 180, whereas in New Jersey, it’s generally between 221 and 224.</p>
<p>Being Asian doesnt affect National Merit</p>
<p>^ Unless he/she is not a US citizen, but most students taking the PSAT obviously are citizens.</p>
<p>So once someone gets past the cut off score they’re a semifinalist? And how does a semifinalist become a finalist?</p>
<p>And yea I’m a U.S. citizen.</p>
<p>BTW, congrats on the 215 as a sophomore, that is a great score! My daughter is now a sophomore and scored:</p>
<p>71 CR (-5)
69 Math (-4)</p>
<h2>71 Writing (-2)</h2>
<p>211</p>
<p>Last year (as a Freshman) she got 64, 60, 56 = 180</p>
<p>I’m hoping she can improve to NMSC Semifinalist as a junior this October… She figures that if she can improve halfway to the goaline from Frosh to Soph then if she can do it again she may be able to pick up 14 or 15 points to get her to 225-226.</p>
<p>16,000 SF
15,000 Finalists</p>
<p>Only those with bad grades, poor SATs etc get cut…</p>
<p>Here is the official explanation:</p>
<p>To qualify as a Finalist, a Semifinalist must:
- continue to meet all program entry requirements
(explained on page 4); - be enrolled in the last year of high school and
planning to enroll full time in college the following
fall, or be enrolled in the first year of college if grades 9
through 12 were completed in three years or less; - complete the National Merit Scholarship
Application with all information requested, which
includes writing an essay; - have a record of very high academic performance
in all of grades 9 through 12 and in any college course
work taken (the high school must provide a complete
record of courses taken and grades earned by the student,
as well as information about the schools curriculum and
grading system); - be fully endorsed for Finalist standing and recommended
for a National Merit Scholarship by the high
school principal; - take the SAT® and earn scores that confirm the
PSAT/NMSQT performance that resulted in Semifinalist
standing; and - provide any other documentation and information
that NMSC requests.</p>
<p>@xquiksilverx</p>
<p>That is a LIE. Even Alabama, in its perceived hick-ness, isn’t THAT stupid. Their cutoff score hovers around the 208-210 range. Some other states, like Arkansas, are actually a lot worse than AL, cutoff score-wise.</p>
<p>There are a lot of people in Alabama that are NOT hicks, but still do not score well on the PSAT. As a matter if fact - there are thousands if teenagers in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philly, NYC Detroit, Chicago, LA and other cosmopolitan areas of the USA that ARE NOT hicks, but do very poorly on standardized test. Just because someone lives in Alabama and does poorly on the PSAT does not mean that he or she is a hick.</p>
<p>No state had a cutoff below 204 last year. Alabama’s was 211.</p>
<p>[National</a> Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html]National”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html)</p>
<p>@“Some other states, like Arkansas, are actually a lot worse than AL, cutoff score-wise.”</p>
<p>I think you mean are a lot BETTER. 
Oh how I adore Arkansas’s beautiful, shiny 205 cut-off…especially since this year as a sophomore I got a 205. Dear cut-off: ohpleasedon’tgoup. Dear self: ohpleasedon’tscorelower.</p>
<p>Anyway, extreme English-person here. >_>
Reading: 80
Writing: 71
Math: 54</p>
<p>lol numbers.</p>
<p>Oh, shoot, I’m really sorry if I offended anyone. My guidance counselor told us the 180 figure and I didn’t think to double-check it.</p>
<p>GCs like yours are why people need cc. What state are you in? Google, and you can get last year’s cutoffs.</p>