Below we cover the the most frequently asked questions about the National Merit Scholarship Program. Please see our National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs page for the latest information on actual and projected Selection Index cutoffs by state.
What is the National Merit Scholarship Program and how do you enter?
The NMSP is a program administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in cooperation with the College Board to recognize high achieving high school seniors. Some recognition levels are based purely on junior PSAT/NMSQT scores, while other levels have additional qualifications (explained below). The NMSC gives out approximately $50 million in scholarships each year, and some colleges provide lowered—or even free—tuition to recognized students, multiplying the net impact of National Merit severalfold.
You must take the PSAT/NMSQT as a high school junior and either attend high school in the United States or U.S. Territories or be a U.S. student studying abroad. On your PSAT score report, you will see a section with your Selection Index and how you answered the questions about your entry eligibility. If there is an asterisk next to your Selection Index, it means that NMSC believes that you are ineligible.
What if I couldn’t take the PSAT?
Every year students miss the PSAT for legitimate reasons such as illness. To allow those students the opportunity to compete in National Merit, NMSC has a process known as alternate entry. Students must make a written request to NMSC for an alternate entry application form. The application itself must be signed off on by your principal or counselor and postmarked no later than April 1 after the missed PSAT/NMSQT.
What is the Selection Index?
The Selection Index is a weighting of your PSAT component scores to determines the level of your recognition within the initial stages of the National Merit program.
How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216.
Why is the Reading and Writing twice as important as the Math?
The emphasis on “verbal” skills has a long history with the NMSP. The digital PSAT no longer has separate Reading and Writing scores, but the RW score is still doubled.
I’ve already received my PSAT scores; how can I find out whether I will qualify for recognition?
Although you can use the Compass projections to estimate whether you are likely to qualify as a Commended Student or Semifinalist, there is no way of knowing your official status until high schools are notified by NMSC in early September of your senior year (sometimes schools hear by late August). Compass has published the cutoffs for the class of 2024 and estimates for the class of 2025. An historical archive dating back more than 15 years can be found here. The Commended cutoff for future classes becomes unofficially known in the April after the PSAT. Compass will report this score and how it may impact Semifinalist cutoffs on our regularly updated cutoffs post.
Will I qualify as a Semifinalist if I am in the 99th percentile for Selection Index according to my score report?
Although approximately 1% of test takers will become Semifinalists, there are a number of reasons why percentile scores are far too inaccurate to determine eligibility. Even the state percentiles that are now on the digital SAT report do not have enough information, because they are actually based on the prior 3 years of scores. Further, the percentile is rounded, and not accurate enough to determine cutoffs.
Why do some states have more Semifinalists and Finalists than other states?
Although Commended Scholars are honored based on a single, national cutoff, NMSC distributes Semifinalists proportionally to states (and District of Columbia and U.S. Territories) based on the number of graduating students in the state. For example, California sees approximately 2,100 Semifinalists each year—the most in the country. It gets 13% of Semifinalists because it produces approximately 13% of high school graduates. Mississippi, on the other hand, typically sees about 135 National Merit Semifinalists, because the state produces a bit more than 0.8% of U.S. graduates. The distribution is completely unrelated to the number of students taking the PSAT in the state.
Why are Semifinalist cutoffs so much higher in some states than in others?
Two things that have impact on cutoffs are participation rates and demographics. In some states, ACT is the dominant test and not as many students take the PSAT. This leaves some students out of the competition and will tend to produce lower cutoffs. Some states have large pockets of extremely qualified students and are particularly competitive. For example, Massachusetts and New Jersey have class of 2024 cutoffs of 222 and 223, respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming had NMSF cutoffs of 207 for the class of 2024. The minimum Semifinalist cutoff for a state is the national Commended level. If, for example, the Commended cutoff is at 210, no state can have a Semifinalist cutoff less than 210.
How are Semifinalists set for homeschoolers, boarding school students, or U.S. students studying abroad?
Homeschoolers are treated no differently than other students in a state. U.S. students studying abroad will have to meet the highest state cutoff in the country. For the class of 2024, that was 223. Boarding school cutoffs are the most complex to calculate. Instead of being set at the state level, they are determined regionally. A Northeast boarding school student, for example, must meet the highest cutoff of any state within the Northeast region. NMSC defines boarding schools as schools with predominantly out-of-state students. NMSC considers your state to be where you went to school when you took the PSAT, not your state of residency or the state of your new school.
Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to participate?
NMSC has made this part of the process easier to understand than it was in the past. Students at high school in the U.S. or in U.S. Territories are eligible. Period. Students studying abroad are eligible as long as they are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (“green card”) or or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become U.S. citizens at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.
Will NMSC notify me if I become a Semifinalist?
No. NMSC provides information only to schools until a student becomes a Finalist. Homeschoolers are the exception.
When will my school tell me?
NMSC mails information to schools in late August. Some schools let students know their status in early September. Many schools wait until NMSC officially releases student names to the press in the second week of September. Compass will track all of the latest news on our Semifinalists cutoff page.
Will being a Semifinalist help get me into my first-choice college?
While Semifinalist status is a nice award to list on your application, you should not expect it alone to have a significant impact on your admission chances at most colleges. The recognition tells college that you did well on the PSAT. Your SAT and ACT scores are far more important to colleges; your National Merit status does not add much new information. However, having a high number of enrolled Semifinalists is seen as a badge of honor at some colleges and will factor in their admission decisions. Some colleges have programs specifically to attract National Merit Finalists and offer large merit awards.
Do I need to take the SAT to become a Semifinalist?
No. Commended Student and Semifinalist recognition are based only on your Selection Index and your entry eligibility.
What happens after I am named a Semifinalist?
Semifinalists will receive login credentials for the Finalist application portal. You will need to provide background information and an essay. Your school will need to provide its recommendation and electronically submit your application in the second week of October,
What is the National Merit Finalist essay prompt?
NMSC may change the prompt in future years, but it has been the same for many years. It is broad enough that most students are able to use or slightly rework their Common App essay. For the class of 2024, the prompt was:
“To help the reviewers get to know you, describe an experience you have had, a person who has influenced you, or an obstacle you have overcome. Explain why this is meaningful to you. Use your own words and limit your response to the space provided.”
There is not a word limit specified, but the essay must fit within the provided space (approximately 3500 characters). Expect to keep your essay to 600 – 650 words.
Do I need to take the SAT or ACT to become a Finalist?
Among the requirements to proceed from Semifinalist to Finalist is that you receive a “confirming score.” This score helps validate that you can, on an official SAT or ACT test date, achieve a high score and confirm your testing skill.
Can a high ACT score be a confirming score?
Yes, the ACT can be used to confirm PSAT results.
How high of an SAT score do I need for a confirming score?
The confirming score is determined each year by NMSC and is calculated in the same way as the PSAT Selection Index. The confirming score is set nationally, so it does not matter what Semifinalist cutoff you met. The confirming SAT Selection Index (SSI) generally falls at or near the Commended cutoff.
The easiest calculation of the SSI is from your section scores. Drop a zero, double your RW, and add your Math score. For example, Student X might have a total score of 1450, with section scores of 720 RW and 730 M. Student X’s SSI would be 2(72) + 73 = 217. It’s possible for a student with a lower total score to have a higher SSI. Student Y has a total score of 1430, with section scores of 750 ERW and 690 M. Student Y’s SSI would be 2(75) + 69 = 219.
You cannot determine your SSI directly from your total score. One student scoring 1400 might have a high enough SSI, whereas another student with a 1400 might fall short. You must know your RW and Math scores.
How high of an ACT score do I need for a confirming score?
NMSC wants to have a level playing field, so it converts components of the ACT score into an SAT Selection Index. In order to do that, you need to use the official concordance tables published by ACT/College Board. There is no SAT Science, so NMSC does not look at ACT Science. So discard that score.
Step 1: Add your ACT English and ACT Reading scores
Step 2: Use the ACT E+R to SAT RW concordance table to find the concordant SAT RW score based on the sum in step 1. Be sure that you are going in the correct direction when using the concordance tables. ACT E+R to SAT RW is not always the same as SAT RW to ACT E+R.
Step 3: Use the ACT M to SAT M table to find the concordant SAT M score based on your ACT Math score.
Step 4: Calculate your SAT SI: drop the last zeros (i.e. divide by 10), double your RW, and add your Math score. You want this number to be at least as high as your class year’s Commended Student score.
Example:
A student has ACT scores of 32E, 34M, 33R, and 31S. Science is not used. The sum of E and R is 65. In the concordance tables, this is equivalent to a 700 RW. The 34 Math is concordant to a 760. This student’s SAT Selection Index is 70×2 + 76 = 216.
When do I have to take the SAT or ACT for the score to be ‘confirmed’?
You can use any SAT or ACT score from the fall of your sophomore year to December of your senior year. This means that you could have received an SAT confirming score even before taking the PSAT/NMSQT. NMSC recommends that you not wait until the December test date.
How do I submit scores to NMSC?
NMSC does not automatically know your SAT and ACT scores. You must submit them just as you would to a college. The College Board code for NMSC is 0085. The ACT code is 7984. Please verify these codes before submitting. Since NMSC will use your highest scores, there is no penalty for choosing them as one of your free score recipients when you register for the SAT or ACT.
Can I superscore SAT or ACT dates in order to reach the confirming score cutoff?
No. NMSC will use your highest scores, but will not superscore across test dates.
If I have achieved a confirming score, is there any reason to shoot for a higher score?
The requirement for a confirming score is simply true or false when applying to become a Finalist. However, your test scores are used to evaluate you during the scholarship phase of the competition. Depending on your goals, you may want to optimize your score.
Can sophomores qualify for National Merit recognition?
No. Even if your scores are high enough, you will not be eligible for National Merit as a sophomore unless you will be graduating a year early. In that case, you should contact NMSC or your principal about next steps as NMSC has no way of automatically knowing your eligibility.
Is it hard for a Semifinalist to become a Finalist?
Of the 16,000 Semifinalists, 15,000 become Finalists. You must go through an application process to proceed to Finalist level and then to compete for National Merit Scholarships. As part of the application, you must meet citizenship requirements, have a satisfactory academic record, achieve a confirming score on the SAT or ACT (and submit the scores to NMSC!), write an essay, and receive a recommendation from your principal. More information can be found in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide. In the Semifinalist letter from your school (it will NOT come from NMSC unless you are homeschooled), NMSC will provide details about how to begin the process online.
When will I find out if I am a Finalist?
You will be notified in February of senior year.
Do all Finalists receive scholarships? What is a National Merit Scholar?
Only about half of Finalists become National Merit Scholars and receive a National Merit Scholarship. There are three types of scholarships for Finalists, each with its own criteria. A student can only receive one type of scholarship. Approximately 4,000 Finalists receive scholarships from sponsoring colleges with renewable stipends of $500–$2,500 per year. Students must be accepted by a sponsoring institution and list the college as first choice in order to receive a college-sponsored award. These awards are not transferable to another college. Corporations sponsor approximately 1,000 awards for Finalists each year with a minimum one-time value of $2,500 or $1,000 renewable. Most of these awards are to Finalists who are the children of employees. Approximately 2,500 students receive awards of $2,500 directly from National Merit. These awards are highly competitive and are allocated proportionally by state. A list of sponsoring colleges and corporations can be found in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide.
I’ve heard about colleges that provide full-ride awards. Why are college-sponsored awards only listed as $500–$2,500 per year?
Colleges can also choose to provide additional awards to National Merit Finalists. These are not technically National Merit Scholarships, but they can be the most important awards for many students. Which colleges offer these awards and how much they offer can change from year to year. In recent years, Florida has had a generous scholarship program for National Merit Finalists, and schools such as UT-Dallas and Texas A&M also provide substantial awards. Compass does not maintain a database of scholarships. The National Merit forum at collegeconfidential.com is a useful resource.
Are scholarships available to Commended Students and Semifinalists?
Technically, these students cannot be National Merit Scholars, but approximately 1,100 of them will receive Special Scholarships from sponsoring corporations. As with other corporate-sponsored awards, these are predominantly for the children of employees, although companies can also identify students in a particular region or field of study.
When will I find out if I receive a scholarship?
You will be notified of scholarship status sometime between March and June of your senior year. In order to receive a college-sponsored scholarship, you must note the college as your first choice on the National Merit application. It can be to your advantage not to immediately choose a first-choice college—you can leave it as “Undecided.” You do not want to miss out on a large scholarship because you have listed the wrong college. There is no reason to list a college that does not provide National Merit Scholarships. List your first-choice among college that do provide scholarships. You can update your choice via the Online Scholarship Application portal.
Hello. I am wondering if you can explain how the writing score is used in the calculation that discusses the confirming SAT score using the old SAT. The blog uses the following calculation: CR+M+W-MC. Is the W the actual three digit score given (say 760) and does MC standard for the number of multiple choice questions that were correct? Thanks for any additional information about who the writing section should be taken into account.
Jennifer.
The old SAT had a Writing Multiple-Choice Subscore from 20-80. This was combined with the essay score to determine the scaled 200-800 score. You want the subscore, because National Merit does not use the essay. And then you’ll just drop 0’s from CR and M to make them comparable. The sum is the old SAT SI. For example, a student with scores of 700CR, 690M, and 760W (75W-MC and 10 essay) would have an old SSI of 70+69+75 = 214. In previous years, the confirming score needed to be 196, but it may be higher this year. Students with 200 or above should be in good shape. You should be able to call NMSC if you are on the bubble and concerned.
Thank you!
Hi Mr. Sawyer:
What a valuable service you are providing here! Thank you so much. I THINK I have figured out my son’s situation, but just to be clear, I’d be so grateful if you could take a look at it. He scored a 221 on the PSAT and is a NM semi-finalist. He took the old SAT in June 2015 and scored a 1930 (Reading: 680, Math: 650, Writing: 600) with Multiple Choice: 60. If my calculations are correct, his converted score for the SAT is 1370 and his SSI is 205. I saw in your answers to the questions from John and Kathy on Sept. 6 that 205 may be the very lowest possible number. However, if the NMSC doesn’t announce the confirming score until December, and the last opportunity to test is December, would you recommend he go ahead and register to retake the test in November or December just to be safe? The cutoff for the November test is today, but it looks like they have late registration until 10/18/16. (He’ll be glad to know he doesn’t need the essay portion, in any case!)
Thanks so much for any help you can provide!
Anita,
Alas, I was wrong about the 205. Semifinalists who have called NMSC about the confirming score have been told that NMSC is going with 209 (new SAT). I have not heard whether they are going to use the concordance for old SAT scores or simply establish an old SAT cutoff. Either way, I don’t think your son’s old SAT score would be high enough, because a 193 (68+65+60) would not have made it in prior years. I’d recommend calling NMSC (it might save you a registration), but I think your son is looking at a November test date. You don’t mention whether he already achieved a high ACT score. If he did, then (great!) ignore my recommendation that he repeat the SAT apart from National Merit. Based on his PSAT score, it sounds like he can outdo his June performance.
Yes, I forgot to include that he got a 35 on his April 2016 ACT. I think he can improve his June performance, as well, especially with so much riding on it… I don’t think he prepared much (if any) for that SAT because he already had an ACT score of 33 from June 2014 that we thought was going to be the determining factor on scholarships. We were shortsighted, it seems :/ Thank you so much, again, for your help!
Art:
My junior daughter got a 36 on her ACT and is thrilled that she is done with test taking. But not yet says her college counsellor. She did well enough on the PSAT last year to get Semi-Finalist if she had been a junior and felt even better on the PSAT this week. Her college counsellor says she should take the SAT to get Finalist status assuming she gets Semi-Finalist. For us, thankfully, the scholarship money is not needed. But her counsellor says colleges like to see Finalist status. It’s my understanding that Finalist status is not even determined until late spring of senior year. So my question is this — do colleges (especially the highly selective) consider “Finalist” status in their admissions and is it worth her taking the SAT just for that purpose?
Thank you
ACT mom,
For any number of reasons, I don’t like to go against the advice of a student’s counsellor. In this case, though, your instincts seem dead on. There are colleges that put a premium on attracting National Merit Finalists and are often willing to provide exceptional scholarships, but these are rarely the most highly selective colleges. Finalists are notified in February of senior year. Scholarship awards are not made until deeper into the spring. Technically, then, a Finalist decision might come before an admission committee has made its decision. I’d be hard-pressed to name a highly selective school where this would sway a decision. There is also the threat that your daughter performs poorly on the SAT and negatively impacts her testing portfolio.
Being named a Finalist means that a student got an excellent PSAT score, an excellent SAT score, and had very good grades. It’s something to be proud of, and it can lead to scholarships. The fact is, though, that any student expecting admission to the most selective colleges should have excellent test scores and have very good grades. In your daughter’s case, she achieved a world-class ACT score early in the process. She is already in more elite company than even National Merit Finalists. She has nothing more to prove on the testing front (ok, maybe Subject Tests, but that’s a different post). There is also no pressing deadline. A student able to achieve a 36 on the ACT could likely take a peek at the SAT instructions, roll out of bed, and nail a confirming SAT score at any point. Assuming that she does get a Semifinalist-level PSAT score, she’ll have until December 2017 to take an SAT. My advice is to put National Merit aside and focus on schoolwork (and everything else in her life). The opportunity will still be there if she changes her mind next fall.
Thank you Art – this is so helpful. She does have plenty on her plate with the junior year course load, not to mention extracurriculars, so not worrying about prepping for another test would be beneficial. You make an excellent point about waiting — as you point out, there is no reason she has to take it this year, and could take it next fall if it suddenly becomes important for her to try to get Finalist status.
Thank you again!
Art–when calculating the Selection Index from an SAT score using the method College Board uses, if the student achieved a 40 in one section, do I need to drop two points because the PSAT maximum is 38? So if the Selection Index I calculate is 224 (38+40+34)*2, is that really a 220 (38+38+34)*2?
Laura,
Consider the extended score range the gift to high section scorers that the PSAT took away. You don’t have to adjust the 40, so the SAT Selection Index would be 224 — safely clear of the confirming mark. I am assuming that you are referring to Finalist qualification.
I was actually just trying to use this year’s SAT to gauge how close we are getting to Semifinalist range next year when it will count. We are in TX so a 220 would have been right on the mark for this year’s Semifinalist cutoff, whereas a 224 would give us some breathing room!
Ah, that was my second guess. In that case, yes, I would probably use the 220 calculation. At the highest score levels, though, those sorts of inter-test comparisons are untrustworthy. If nothing else, it shows that your student is right in range for TX.
Ok, thanks! She’s taking the PSAT next week as well so we’ll see how the Selection Index goes with that!
Art,
I’m a senior in the class of 2017 and was lucky enough to be named a National Merit Semifinalist. I had gotten a 34 on the ACT and was quite content with my score so I did not feel the need to take the SAT. However, when my school notified me that I was a Semifinalist, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try to confirm my PSAT score. I just recently received my SAT score and it wasn’t as high as I had hoped it would be. I received a 690 in both the EBWR and Math sections for a total of 1380 which puts my SSI at 207. I had only put the October test date on my Finalist application because I did not initially think I would need to take the test multiple times. Advice?
Andrew,
Congratulations on being a Semifinalist. Sorry to hear that your first go at the SAT did not give you what you wanted. At the risk of stating the obvious, the advice depends on whether or not you want to be a Finalist. I’m so often answering questions about how to make Semifinalist or how to make Finalist or how to get a scholarship that I forget to mention that standing pat is a valid decision. You are happy with your ACT score and probably quite busy with applications and senior year. For some students the decision is an easy one, because they want to pursue a scholarship opportunity. As I mentioned to another commenter earlier this month, your Finalist status is very unlikely to impact your admission chances. Whether the honor or financial gain is worth taking the December test is up to you.
As for dealing with the fact that you put the October date on your application, that shouldn’t be a problem. If you cannot update it online, give NMSC a call to help you out. AFAIK, there is no reason that you are precluded from your submitting your December score.
Someone needs to explain to me why NMSC uses PSAT scores from a students fall junior year when it is completely possible they have not even taken course work covered on the PSAT as the determining factor for Semifinalist status? My son scored one point below the 215 cutoff on our state. He then proceeded to take the actual SAT both old and new format and scored a 220 with regards to a “confirming score.” No one ever truly explained to us the importance of the PSAT. We literally thought it was merely a “practice test” for the SAT. (My bad…for having a life outside my kids schooling.) But more importantly than that is why the actual SAT would not carry the deciding weight with regard to semi or finalist? This makes no sense. After all this is the test that colleges are utilizing in their evaluations. Incidentally, he subsequently scored an ACT composite of 35.
Dan,
Let me start by saying that there are quite a few Semifinalists who would gladly trade their NMSC status for your son’s SAT and ACT scores. At the end of the day, it’s those scores that will determine acceptance or rejection at colleges.
The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) was once a separate test used to identify talented — from a testing standpoint — high school students and was traditionally given early in the junior year. The College Board and NMSC joined forces almost 50 years ago so that students could take a “Preliminary SAT” and the NMSQT at the same time. The PSAT leaves out a few math topics that some students don’t see until junior year, so it’s generally a fair take on where a student stands in October. You are right, though, that not every student realizes the significance of the PSAT or has time to prepare for it. There is not an ideal alternative. There is no universal timeline for the SAT, so it would be extremely difficult to coordinate all of the steps in the National Merit process. It would require a significant overhaul that neither NMSC nor College Board has much incentive to undertake, I’m afraid. My complaint is that only the SAT serves as a confirming score. The concept that the ACT could not function for that purpose is a narrow-minded business decision.
Art,
Thanks for all your information; it is extremely helpful!! Our son is a Semi Finalist in California. As many, he did the ACT for his college apps, and did very well. When he learned that he needed to take the SAT in order to continue to compete to be a Finalist, he took the new SAT in November. He scored 760 EGRW and 750 math. Based on the information you’ve provided, I believe that equates to a SSI index of 227. Is this confirming score and index likely to be enough for the Finalist cut off for California? He’s trying to decide if he should re-take the SAT in December.
Thank you for your assistance.
Scott
Scott,
Your son’s SAT is definitely high enough as a confirming score, which is an SSI of 209 across the country. Geography comes into play at the Scholar level, where National Merit Scholarships and corporate scholarships are generally distributed by region. Even in that competition, I don’t think it is worthwhile to re-take in December. Other factors such as grades and the Finalist application will also play a role. This is less of an issue for college-sponsored scholarships.
Thanks for all your insight and info. You made the first two weeks of September much more relaxing for me as my son’s school refused to give him his information regarding the Finalist application until September 14, so your info is what let me know he was in with this score. Now the wait till February for the finalist announcements. I understand about 16000 making semi-finalist, and 15,000 making finalist. But I have read in places that ‘many’ don’t bother even filling out the finalist application as they are going to schools where it won’t matter, or don’t want to take the SAT to confirm. Are you aware of any numbers regarding those who actually apply for finalist making it? Not the 16,000 who qualify as semi-finalists, but how many actually ‘apply. I haven’t been able to find that out anywhere.
As my son has or is applying to many schools where NMF makes for significant scholarship amounts, any info would be helpful. Thanks again for all your info.
Mark,
NMSC doesn’t release any information on how many Semifinalists miss out on Finalist stage because of specific reasons. In fact, their rounded numbers are loose estimates of the real number of Finalists. Keep in mind that this stage is not really a competition — it’s about hitting marks. If your son can answer “Yes” to the questions below, he will (almost certainly) be a Finalist.
Did he fully complete the Finalist application on time?
Did he obtain a confirming SAT score?
Are his grades good (no C’s and mostly A’s)?
Will his school give him a thumbs up?
Short of discipline issues, honor code problems, or missed deadlines by the school, I haven’t seen the last one trip up many students. NMSC doesn’t give any explicit guidance on number 3. Even a couple of below C marks may not disqualify a student.
You write, “Short of discipline issues, honor code problems, or missed deadlines by the school, I haven’t seen the last one trip up many students.” In 1975, I was blackballed by my school. I learned that I was a NMS semifinalist directly from NMS, as the school didn’t bother to tell me. So I jumped through all the hoops pursuing National Merit Scholar without realizing that I had no chance because NMS allows the school to veto semifinalists from becoming finalists.. Because of the secrecy of the blackball process, I was never told why I was blackballed, only that I did not get a school recommendation.
(I don’t know if they used a Selection Index then, but my PSAT scores were 75-74, and my confirming SAT scores the following spring were 760-750, at a time when the national mean was well below the designed mean.)
I think if they are calling themselves a Merit Scholarship program, they should focus on merit rather than whether the student is from one of the Chosen Families of the town. The point of using a national test rather than just school grades and teacher recommendations is to bypass the schools’ own assessments of who the Right students are. Giving schools blackball rights allows those schools to override the bypass and reassert their power over impecunious students.
Randy,
Thank you for sharing your story. I wish I knew how often this happens today and what students could do to avoid it.
We are in California. My son’s PSAT score is 1480. And scaled at 220. Based on last year’s CA cut off. We missed by 1 point? Very disappointed
Chloe,
Yes, 220 would have missed last year’s cutoff by a point but keep in mind that we won’t know this year’s cutoffs for almost 10 months. Your son has excellent PSAT scores either way things turn out.
Hello, My 11th grade daughter just received a 221 in PA for the Oct 2016 PSAT. How optimistic can we be? She seems very hesitant/nervous that she will miss the cutoff by a little bit and I’m not sure what to think about this myself.
Thank you!
ResearchMom,
In restating historical scores on the new PSAT scale, I developed the estimate that a state’s cutoff increases by 4 points in a year only 1 time out of 100. It’s possible that the class of 2018 scores will be more volatile than in a typical year, but I’ve also found that the higher the cutoff, the lower the volatility (essentially, scores start to approach a limit). The overall level of cutoffs would have to shift up or PA would have to leapfrog a lot of states for its Semifinalist level to reach 222. Some students prefer not to get their hopes up, and I appreciate that. Your daughter’s chances, though, seem very strong.
Hi Art,
Thank you so much for the hard work you do providing information to concerned students and parents. We live in Minnesota, and my daughter just received her PSAT score of 1470. She would have met the requirement for NMF based on the the cut-off from last year, but of course we know the cut-off can change from year to year. Financing college at a high level for her is not possible for us. What do you think are the odds her scores will earn her semi-finalist status this year?
MN Mom,
We don’t have enough information to know whether MN’s class of 2017 cutoff represents an upward shift in the state or just indicated a high-scoring class. Without any state-specific news to go on, I would say that my best estimate is that Minnesota would be in line with the historical distribution, which means that there is a greater than 50% chance of the cutoff staying the same or decreasing. I sometimes wish that students who do not need NMSF status could open up their seats to students like your daughter. It’s important to note, though, that NM scholarships are just one of the ways that excellent students can finance college. My alma mater, for example, has tremendous need-based awards, and there are any number of universities with academic scholarships based on grades and SATs (or ACTs). It sounds like your daughter is on the right track.
Hi! I just got my national merit scores back and I got a 219. I’m from New Jersey, and when I looked at the cutoff from last year I was very disappointed to see that it was 222. Do you think that there is a possibility of the cutoff being 219 this year?
Kayla,
You are in the toughest state in the country when it comes to NMSF cutoffs. Unfortunately, this means that the cutoff will not move to 219 this year. I hope you’ll take encouragement from from a great score, though.
My son took the SAT and scored a 1550. He got his PSAT results back today and scored a 1510. We live in Texas. How likely would you say is he to receive National Merit and Scholarships?
Vanessa,
At that PSAT score, he is guaranteed to make Semifinalist. What happens after that is harder to nail down. To qualify as a Finalist, you need 4 things:
1) A completed application (that’s sort of a given) later in 2017.
2) A confirming SAT score. [Your son’s 1550 already fulfills that one.]
3) Excellent academic performance. NMSC does not define this specifically. A high GPA without C’s is generally a shoo-in.
4) Support of the school. Usually no reason for a school not to want a Finalist, but I have heard of schools sometimes withholding it where there have been disciplinary issues.
Obtaining a scholarship depends on how his application, scores, and grades stack up against other students in your region. Obviously there is virtually a guarantee of a scholarship if he choose, as his first choice, a college that offers scholarships to all Finalists. You won’t be able to start with process until the fall when he receives SF notification and Finalist applications are open. He won’t know scholarship status until spring of 2018. He seems to stand an excellent chance. Congratulations on his scores.
Does being commended mean anything when it comes to college applications? Is there any benefit from that at all or just a reason for frustration?
Florentina,
I might draw the analogy to National Honor Society. It’s nice to have on your application, but it largely confirms what is already obvious elsewhere (in the case of NHS, that you have good grades; in the case of NM, that you do well on tests). Even if it had no impact at all on admission, I admit that I like the idea that students receive an honor for their academic achievement. Frustrating? Yes, I think that’s fair, too.
Art, I just received a 1490, SI of 222, in CT. What are the chances that the cutoff slides up to 223?
Nervous,
222 falls at end edge of my estimated range for CT. That doesn’t mean 223 is impossible for CT, but I do think it’s quite unlikely for reasons I’ve mentioned regarding other states — most CT students already take the PSAT, so there is no pent-up pressure, and moves at the top end of the range become less and less likely.
Hello, My 11th grade daughter just received a 218 in tx for the Oct 2016 PSAT. How optimistic can we be? She seems very hesitant/nervous that she will miss the cutoff by a little bit and I’m not sure what to think about this myself.
Thank you!
Sri,
Texas has been more competitive than ever in recent years, but the cutoff has fallen within your daughter’s range a number of times, as well.
We live in GA and got our PSAT results today. My son’s PSAT score is 1460. And scaled at 218. Based on last year’s GA cut off, do we hold a chance for the Semifinalist ranking for NMSF ?
Mom in GA
Shalini,
Your son’s score is within a point of last year’s cutoff, so he certainly does hold a chance. It’s hard to quantify beyond what you’ll find in our Semifinalists cutoff post.
Hi,
My son scored 1440 in PSAT with a SI score of 213. We are from TX, I understand the semi-finalist cutoff is 219. What about the commended status and how does this help?
Reddy,
Your son will almost certainly make the Commended level. While there is no data on how NM helps in admission, it is a nice honor for students and something to list on one’s application. Ultimately, SAT and ACT scores are far more important than PSAT scores.
Hi Art ,
I am in Michigan and received a 217 Selection Index. Will I get National Merit?
Daniel,
I can’t say that you will be a Semifinalist, but a 2 point increase in a cutoff (from the class of 2017’s 216 cutoff) is not all that common, so you do have a strong chance.
Hi Art,
I got a 217 index on my PSAT in Michigan. Will I make the cutoff?
Daniel,
MI hit a new high last year amidst its switchover from the ACT to the SAT. It’s much too early to say whether that will carry over to this year. Being 1 point over last year’s cutoff does put you in a nice position, but one where you may have to wait until September to know for sure.
Great work MR. Sawyer. I enjoy reading your insight . I appreciate the effort you take to answer everyone’s questions and concerns. My son now a Freshman in OSU Honors Engineering ,was a NMS Finalist with a GPA of 4.3 and Senior year GPA of 4.7. He did not make it to any of the selective schools he wanted. At the end of the day, you never know how this college admission decision process actually works and it makes absolutely no sense to worry a lot about NMS. I have a daughter who is a Jr in High school and she has a SSI of 221. Frankly speaking we no longer care. 🙂
Thank you, Roopa. Yes, admissions can be fickle at the most competitive colleges. OSU Honors Engineering sounds like quite a strong program in itself. I’m glad to hear that your daughter did so well and that you are also able to take a peaceful attitude toward it all.
Any chance of a score of 215 making the cut in PA?
Sally,
I’m afraid that’s lower than we’ve seen PA go for NMSF cutoff. It is definitely high enough for Commended honors.
I am new to this ‘land of test results, cut offs and merits’
My daughter will graduate in 2019. She is currently a sophomore and took the PSAT in October – receiving her score results today. I’m not trying to figure out what they mean. (aside from the fact that she rocks – lol)
Reading & Writing: 690 (99th percentile)
Math: 590 (91st percentile)
Total: 1280 (97th percentile)
But none of these match up with the scores I’m seeing for PSAT’s online.
Will she be eligible for the Merit Scholoarship based on these scores? Or will she have to retake the test again next year as a Junior?
Brenda,
Congratulations on your rocking daughter. 🙂 Only junior scores are used for National Merit. NM uses a Selection Index that is twice the Reading/Writing plus the math (drop a zero). So she is at 69×2 + 59 = 197. Commended level is likely to fall somewhere in 207-210 range for the class of 2019. That’s an improvement she can definitely reach between sophomore and junior year. The percentiles can be tough for students to interpret because they provide different types. The most prominent — and the ones I think you are looking at — are the Nationally Representative percentiles. These try to rank a student as if every sophomore in the country took the PSAT. Not every sophomore does, of course, so that’s where the User percentile comes in (it will be in her online report). Those represent a comparison to the sophomores that actually took the test (technically all the sophomores who took the test in Oct 2015 because it lags a year).