What does NMSC look for in National Merit Scholar winners?

<p>I BARELY made the cut for semi-finalist, scoring just above the cut-off score on the PSAT. How much does the NMSC look at PSAT scores in determining who the National Merit Scholar winners are? I have good grades and good leadership, if that information helps at all. Is it not likely that I'll be chosen as a winner because of my "low" score on the PSAT (and by that I mean a score that just barely made the cut)? </p>

<p>Also, one other thing, on the NMSC website it says that they look at two test scores. What does this mean? Two sets of PSAT scores, or PSAT scores and SAT scores? I hope it's SAT scores, because I performed much better on that test than I did on the PSAT!</p>

<p>Thanks, and any information helps!</p>

<p>jhupost…Yes, the 2 test scores they look at are PSAT and SAT. As long as your SAT was taken between Oct of your sophomore year and Dec of your senior year and you got 2000-ish or higher you’re fine.</p>

<p>Regarding the scholarship awards, it may depend on which “official” NMSC scholarship you’re hoping to get. If you’re hoping for one of the $1K-$2K per year university sponsored awards your PSAT score probably won’t affect anything. Many of those are automatic if you are a NMF and you list that school as your first choice (check the particular school website to be sure). If you’re hoping for one of the one-time $2500 awards, then it’s possible that your PSAT score MAY come into play. I don’t think anyone is positive what all is considered when the $2500 scholarships are awarded.</p>

<p>Finally, your actual PSAT score won’t matter for most (if not all) of the big dollar “unofficial” scholarships for NMF’s. Many of them are automatic once you are named an NMF (and have the school listed as first choice) like Bama’s, and the ones that are competitive or limited in number would look at your other resume items (GPS, SAT, ACT, EC’s, etc.) and probably never even ask about your PSAT. Good Luck wherever you choose to go. You’ve got some great options!!</p>

<p>I was close to the cutoff last year, too (I got 219 on the PSAT and I think the cutoff for my state was 218). However, my understanding is that once you’ve made that cutoff, your PSAT becomes less important. Work hard at getting your SAT score high, keep your grades up, extracurriculars, etc. etc. If you’re named a NMF, there are a lot of good options, not only from corporate or National Merit scholarships, but from colleges themselves. I’d encourage you to look around at schools you might not otherwise consider. I’m going to school for free because I was a NMF. Good luck!</p>

<p>There are THREE ways to become a NMScholar.</p>

<p>1) Being one of the 2500 students who are chosen to receive the ONE TIME 2500 dollar scholarship.</p>

<p>2) Any NMF who goes to a school that gives an official NMF college scholarship (so this number is NOT finite.) So, if you go to Bama, Oklahoma, or any of the other schools that give EVERY NMF an official NMF scholarship, then you get named a NMScholar.</p>

<p>3) Any NMF who receives a Corporate NMF scholarship becomes a scholar. Usually these are the children of employees of comanies that sponsor these NMF scholarships.</p>

<p>BTW…If you are accepting a big NMF scholarship from a university AND you’re eligible for a corporate scholarship, you can get both scholarships, but the college scholarship will be reduced by whatever the “official” amount is. For example…my son took the large NMF at Bama and also received 2500 per year from my H’s company. So, my son “lost” $1k per year from the big Bama scholarship, but that was more than made up with the 2500/yr corporate scholarship. NMCorp will work with you to make sure you get the most money.</p>

<p>What if your SAT score goes way up? My S barely made the NMSF cutoff and sent in his 2100 SAT score from last March. He just got his October SAT score and it is now 2350. Should he send that score to National Merit too?</p>

<p>A kid I know scored right on the cut-off point of the NSF and had ~2230 on SAT. She ranked 3/400 at her school and had good ECs, holding three organization presidencies, among others. She was one of those 2500 students who were awarded the $2500 scholarship. Another kid from same school got the same award. She’s valedictorian, won some nationally known awards, a Davidson Fellow and a US Presidential Scholar nominee. Once you’re in the NSF pool, PSAT and SAT scores are not that terrible important. Both kids have a lot more going for them than the scores alone.</p>

<p>Also bear in mind that NMSC tends to spread the scholarship around to more students. If you are qualified for a four year Corporate sponsored NM scholarship, you might not be in contention for the $2500 one time NMSC scholarship any more.</p>