<p>I got a 240 on the psat and now it seems completely useless. None of the schools I am applying to are offering scholarships for the score or any award i get from it. </p>
<p>I read this from the bullet above </p>
<p>"Do well on your PSAT. This opens up a world of opportunities. "</p>
<p>Where can I find this amazing world? Am I just looking in the wrong places?</p>
<p>If the PSAT is still the NAtional Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, then that's probably what they're talking about. Is it still the PSAT/NMSQT?</p>
<p>If you are a junior, and you got a 240 on your PSAT, you will likely start receiving mail from schools where you will be in the running for merit aid. If you are a senior, and you have already applied to colleges, then you already made the choice that you weren't going to use your National Merit status at all. The reality is that there are still schools out there that award students scholarships based on being NMS finalists. But they are not HYPS etc. So...if you are a junior...you might want to research this a bit, and tweak your list a bit.</p>
<p>stingystooge - you do realise that the PSAT score itself is not going to be looked at by schools so you will find nothing about it on school websites. It is the fact that it qualifies you for national merit semi finalist (which would not be awarded till the fall) that counts and even more if you make finalist (comes out around feb of senior year). Many schools do not give awards for NMF but many do so it depends on where you are looking. But when you are checking the scholarship pages look for National Merit Finalists (NMF) - not PSAT scores.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acheivement.</p>
<p>Some prestigous schools do not award NF scholarships per se, but they do provide better f/a packages (more grants, less loans) or other named scholarships for top scolars.</p>
<p>USC gives automatic half-tuition merit scholarships for National Merit Finalists. This of course doesn't preclude you from getting the full-ride, the half-tuition is just the minimum.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that schools which offer tremendous merit aid are hoping to get better students than they would ordinarily stand a good chance of getting. So as a perfect scorer on the PSAT, if you're looking at the types of schools that 2400 scorers usually do, none will offer financial inducements on the basis of merit. On the other hand, many of them have very generous merit aid, so the world of opportunities might include HYPMS at a bargain rate. Or, you could just decide you like the idea of five free years all paid at the U. of Oklahoma - nice options!</p>
<p>That's tragic. when I got my score, I was like WAYYY happy. Now it seems like almost a sham...
I mean, colleges don't even look at my PSAT score, let alone the pretty little 0's at the bottom.
IF ONLY that number counted for something, rather than just "finalist" status, oooh life would be like great. I'm not making much sense.
Congratulations everybody, and good luck!</p>
<p>
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IF ONLY that number counted for something, rather than just "finalist" status, oooh life would be like great.
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</p>
<p>I'm sorry, I thought that an automatic full ride at several schools was 'something'.</p>
<p>Most schools offer merit scholarships - even if they don't specifically give money for the National Merit (PSAT) - the fact that you are a NM finalist will definately help you win other merit scholarships that are offered by that school - if you have a positive attitude and other qualifications, that is.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, having talked to USC admissions yesterday. They do want NMF and National Hispanic and Achievement scholars. Yes, the norm is 50% tuition and sometimes more, but they do clearly state that it is not guaranteed and they have turned down NMF's.</p>
<p>Yea, they've probably turned them down because of GPA issues. They wouldn't admit a person with a 2.5 GPA just because they are NMF. But with a 3.5+ I don't think it would be a problem. :)</p>