<p>I just received my PSAT scores today. My overall selection index is 215, which is in the 99th percentile.</p>
<p>Critical Reading: 66 (missed 6, omitted 0) [94th percentile nationally]
Math: 74 (missed 2, omitted 0) [98th percentile nationally]
Writing: 75 (missed 1, omitted 0) <a href="Why%20was%20the%20writing%20curve%20so%20harsh?">99th percentile nationally</a>
Total: 215</p>
<p>As a junior in Pennsylvania who has not yet taken the SAT, based on my PSAT scores alone, do I have a fair chance at being named at least a National Merit Semifinalist? Does anyone know what the qualifying selection index was for past years?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>The cutoff last year for PA was 215 [National</a> Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html]National”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html) so there is no way to tell if you’ll make it. 15K/16K who make NMSF then go on to make NMF. The 1K who don’t make don’t fill out the final paperwork or have some issues like low grades or rule breaking which rule them out.</p>
<p>The writing curve was really harsh, so do you think that the cutoff scores will be lower than usual? I lost 5 points for getting one writing question wrong. I don’t think anyone has seen a harsher writing curve before!</p>
<p>These are the qualifying scores over the past few years for students in PA:
Class of 2012: 215
Class of 2011: 216
Class of 2010: 214
Class of 2009: 213
Class of 2008: 214</p>