<p>it's just the top of the 99th percentile. they don't show that much detail on the score report though, so yo'll have to wait to see.</p>
<p>Uh... I got 217 and didn't get commended.</p>
<p>Not trying to stir up controversy here, but the cutoff-by-state index is something that has tweaked me for some time.</p>
<p>If this is a nationwide competition, then shouldn't people be compared with peers around the country rather than with peers within their state? This is probably a level-playing-field technique, but it is certainly not level.</p>
<p>Example: Student A sttends a solid private academy in Mississippi, a state with a traditionally low index. Student B attends a run-down public school in New Jersey, a state with a traditionally high index. Who is more likely to receive a better formal education? And, beyond that, who is more likely to have to make a higher score in order to be a semifinalist?</p>
<p>I REALLY want commended to go down this year, but I can get it if it stays or goes up one. However, I would say that it will drop.</p>
<p>And, yes, commended is worth something. I go to a private school that offers virtually no academic honour awards, so it will give me something to put on my applications; I rely solely on national honours. The typical CC student is way above the national average as far as what they post as scores go- which makes sense, as we're all here during our spare time discussing grades and colleges. But being in the top 50,000 is a great honour, especially if you (like me) are not applying to the top few unis in the nation.</p>
<p>iin, aren't you a Junior right now? You don't find out if you've been commended or not until September of Senior year</p>
<p>Kasey, the commended cut-off is actually announced in April of junior year. In September, 34,000 who made the cut-off find out that they didn't make Semi and that is when they recieve their certificates, but those who made at least cut-off will know in April.</p>
<p>Sort of off topic, but I heard that you can send your PSAT score (my score was 236) to two universities of your choice. Is this true, and if so, do colleges get your PSAT score before most early action deadlines? thanks :)</p>
<p>not the exact score; just the fact that that you are commended</p>
<p>I know i'm not eligible for NMSC but i got 210 on PSAT this year...can i still be commended?</p>
<p>I don't remember the exact website that gives the actual list, but the cutoffs are different by state. A 211 in NJ is worth much less than the same in Nebraska. Not particularly a "national" testing in that respect, since the importance of your index score depends on the state you live in.</p>
<p>Zimmer, that's only for Semi- and Finalist. :) Commended is set nationally, and the other two by state.</p>
<p>I stand corrected. Sorry.</p>
<p>So 99th percentile gives you an automatic commendation? If so, no ones told me I'm commended, lol.</p>
<p>Ii, yes. You won't be notified until April.</p>
<p>Oh, I guess the posts I read about NMS Finalists was for last year then...</p>
<p>There is a difference between commended (what you mentioned two posts ago) and Finalist.</p>
<p>The top 50,000 scorers get Commended (you fall into that catagory, guarenteed). That is always all of the 97-99 percentiles and a portion of the 96. However, Semi-finalists are done by state, and not every person in the 99 percentile in each state gets Semi. You are not guarenteed Semi even in the 99 but you are guarenteed Commended. Finalist is, of course, one above Semi. Commended cut-off (guarenteed Commended or Semi) will be announced in April. Which one you fall under will be announced in September. Finalists will be announced February of senior year.</p>
<p>Doesn't it suck that some states semi cutoff is below the commended cutoff?</p>
<p>Is the commendation cutoff based on the national percentile? I got a 200 (96 percentile) on my PSAT, and I'm wondering if I'd have a chance of being commended or not.</p>
<p>It is based on the selection index (in your case, 200), not percentile, but becasue it is a certain number who got commended, we know which percentile that number will fall in (usually highest 96, I believe).</p>
<p>For the last three years, 200 would not have made commended, and before the PSAT this past October, it wouldn't have seemed possible for a 200 to be commended this year. However, the percentiles are way down, and the cut-off will almost certainly drop (last year it was 203). If it does drop, there is a slight, slight chance 200 will be the cut-off.</p>
<p>Don't forget that Internationals are not eligible for National Merit recognition unless they are U.S. citizens, residents or are in the process of getting residency. I don't know the exact rules.</p>