<p>I'm in ninth grade, and I know that most students don't take the PSAT until they're in eleventh grade. However, I go to a magnet school that is number on in my state and I couldn't help but notice that some students got letters informing them that they'd been selected to take the PSAT. In order to be eligible for the governors honors program in my state you must take the PSAT as a tenth or eleventh grader.
The question of why I wasn't selected has been plaguing me all weekend. I'm not one of those people who believes that I deserve everything or am the smartest person to wall the halls. I just feel like I should have the same opportunity. I'm going to ask my counselor tomorrow on what basis the selections were.
I was researching it earlier, and I the fee is only 14 dollars I think. I might just take it on my own terms
However, am I worrying over something that's not worth worrying over. In my research, I discovered that many scholarships are based on the PSAT. I need a scholarship as I want to got to an out-of-state university- either stanford, Princeton, Brown, or Vanderbilt. What do you guys think of my dilemma. Please reply </p>
<p>PSAT is for national merit and the score is only used from your junior year to make that determination. Ivy League schools do not give merit aid but rather financial aid based on need. Some schools give students scholarships based on being a National Merit student and in varying amounts. If you want to take the test and can it won’t hurt you but it doesn’t count until your junior year.</p>
<p>U could take the PSAT now as a diagnostic tool to identify what u need to work on to get a better result by 11th grade.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is the PSAT is being revamped, starting next year. While taking the PSAT this year may help you with real-life practice in a timed test, it will not be the same type of test as when you take it in your junior year.</p>
<p>PSAT Crash Course:</p>
<p>The PSAT is typically taken twice - once in the beginning of 10th grade and once in the beginning of 11th grade. The only time it’s taken by younger students is usually for special programs like the one you described or Johns Hopkins CTY, just to give an example. </p>
<p>10th grade - You take the test, and you are not eligible for any scholarships. If taken in 10th grade, whether you get a 60 or a 240, the score will have no effect on you. It is mostly used as a diagnostic so kids have time to prep if they feel it’s necessary. </p>
<p>11th Grade - The PSAT technically undergoes a name change - it’s the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), but everyone still calls it the PSAT. Colleges will not see this result, but it counts for scholarships. If you are among the top 1% of scorers in your state, you will be named a National Merit Semi-Finalist in the beginning of your senior year. You will them submit another SAT with a similar score, to make sure you didn’t cheat or it wasn’t a fluke, along with a resume. If you are a good student, you will most probably be named a National Merit Finalist and receive a smallish scholarship from the College Board. Universities themselves are often interested in NMFs, and will sometimes offer additional scholarships (full ride at UAlabama with a good GPA, half tuition at USC, etc.). At the schools you listed, being an NMF will probably not net you any additional money - many kids who apply are NMFs because kids who do well on the PSAT tend to do well on the SAT. Not to worry though, those schools tend to be rather generous with need-based aid if you are low-income.</p>