Should I feel bad? No NM...

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I'm taking the PSAT tomorrow as a junior, like thousands of others. But I always see national merit on everyone's chance me threads and whatnot, and I know for a fact NM is out of question for me (600-650s on practice sections for me in everything, and I'm in NJ). If anything, like, PURE luck, it'll be a Commended Student but nothing more.</p>

<p>Should I feel bad? Does it say anything about college prospects? Have I squandered a fruitful opportunity?</p>

<p>Anyone else relate? Sorry for just another one of the ten million PSAT threads on...</p>

2

<p>And what’s the big deal with not getting a high PSAT score? If you’re doing other things on the side, it’s not even a problem.</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>It’s a squandered opportunity, could’ve been an easy app booster plus some pretty vital scholarship funds.</p>

4

<p>Don’t worry too much :slight_smile:
Though PSAT and NM are important, what will heavily matter is your SAT!</p>

5

<p>Don’t let it kill you. Just get your SAT scores up and you’ll be fine :)</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>If you can snatch a national merit worthy score, then the PSAT surely does matter.</p>

7

<p>Having “National Merit Semifinalist/finalist/commended” on your application certainly would help, but not significantly. </p>

<p>Put it this way: a very high SAT score, around 2200+ looks much better and is more important.</p>

8

<p>I’ve heard from some friends (veterans of the college application process and college students at top schools) that NMSF may not even be worth a spot on your application! This holds especially true if you have many other academic distinctions.</p>

<p>In fact, the only thing that NMSF indicates is a strong PSAT score (depending on your state as well). If so, that will also be exemplified through your SAT score. So why fret? No need to worry!</p>

9

<p>BUT scoring high on the PSAT (225+) will give you a shot at summer programs like Telluride, which look FANTASTIC on college applications. a commended worthy score wont cut it for selective summer programs.</p>

10

<p>

Really? I never really considered summer programs to be helpful in college application process. I think they are significantly overrated. Time is better spent doing community service/researching/studying/traveling abroad.</p>

<p>To OP,
Don’t feel bad! You’re in NJ. It is extremely difficult to qualify for NMSF. NMSF doesn’t really mean much anyway once you apply to top-tier schools.</p>

11

<p>well its just telluride that looks extremely good due to its reputation, plus TASP only depends a bit on PSAT scores. but yeahh it sort of sucks how NY. NJ, CA, has such high scores…</p>

12

<p>well SSP and RSI also weigh on PSAT scores. getting into any of them will look great.</p>