<p>i've read from other sites it was 210 and 209 before that but the curve is tougher this year so does that mean it'll stay 210?
also, if i get 210 am i a semi finalist or do i have to get OVER 210?
who ever gets over whatever cuttoff in their state, are they automically qualified for SEMI-FINALIST no matter what?</p>
<p>The curve doesn't matter in terms of affecting the cutoff. What really determines the cutoff score is the % of high school students in America that Michigan hs students make up, and how the best students score. For example, if Michigan contained 5% of the nation's high school students, then there should be around 0.05 x 16,000 = 800 National Merit semifinalists in Michigan. From that number they look at the cutoff that would result in about 800 Michigan semifinalists. </p>
<p>The cutoff for MI is usually around 210, so in one year I doubt it will jump any higher than 212, if even that. A safe score would be 215+. </p>
<p>If 210 IS the cutoff, then anyone with 210 or above is a semifinalist. Thus achieving semifinalist status just depends on one's score and the state one lives in. To achieve FINALIST status requires writing and essay and having grades that would correspond to your PSAT score, but there are about 16,000 semifinalists and 15,000 finalists, so nearly everyone makes it to finalist status.</p>