<p>I just got back my PSAT and received a very much less than expected 93% (190) (I really thought I should have done a lot better). I'm kind of stressed/upset about it since I feel like I underperformed. Just wondering how important PSATs are in college admissions (I'm looking into schools like NYU, BC, Brandeis, Tufts, BU, UMich) and whether if a solid SAT score (2100+) can redeem my chances of getting into these schools.</p>
<p>You don’t even submit results from the PSAT. Shake it off, and use it as an opportunity to see where the design of the SAT is tripping you up. Also plan on taking the ACT.</p>
<p>All in all, not a big deal, and it has given you useful information for tests that will matter more.</p>
<p>The PSAT does not matter at all in college admissions. It is only important for two things:</p>
<p>1) to qualify for NM, National Achievement, and National Hispanic scholarship status</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>2) to make the cut for the marketing list for some colleges and universities.</p>
<p>If you have not yet taken the SAT, the PSAT is somewhat useful in predicting your SAT score, but it is not a perfect predictor of that score. Not to mention that many students do better on the ACT than on the SAT anyway. If you like the ACT format better than the SAT format, you won’t have to take the SAT at all.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response guys. I guess I was somewhat psyched out since I was hoping I could get a National Merit so I could put it on the Common App hoping it would influence something. </p>
<p>@happymomof1 So are you saying that I’m projected to only score a 1900 on the SAT? I wasn’t initially planning on taking the ACTs and was thinking of it more as a back up test.</p>
<p>I highly recommend you taking the ACT. My son got a 189 on the PSAT (which was bad for him). He ended up with a 2090 on the SAT, but a 34 on the ACT (without any prep classes or much studying for either). He also got 780, 770, and 700 on his subject tests. The PSAT is just practice and no big deal, but you should take both tests just to see which one you do best on. I have three kids - 2 did better on the ACT and 1 did better on the SAT. Colleges do not care which one you take so try both. By the way, the son I was referring to did just fine come college acceptance time. No worries.</p>
<p>The PSAT is designed to correspond to an SAT score, minus a zero. The SAT is a very “studiable” test; there is no reason you cannot raise your score. I know someone who got a 200 as a sophomore, a 222 as a JR, and then got a 2360 on the SAT. The studying was merely buying the standard test prep books available in every chain bookstore, and then doing practice tests. </p>
<p>There is no reason why concerted study will not get you to the 2100 range, so this less-than-you-hoped-for PSAT result may be a blessing in disguise. But I am still in the “take the ACT” camp as well.</p>
<p>PSAT’s do not matter at all. And for NYU, you can avoid sending in SAT I and/or ACT’s all together. I think they accept a combination of AP’s and SAT Subject Tests in lieu of SAT I/ACT</p>
<p>And you did OK. I got a 177.</p>