Names of National Merit Semifinalists in DC Released: Sidwell -16. St. Albans - 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WJ has many more NMSFs

And you can discuss that in the MCPS thread, why you feel the need to post that here I do not know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:224

I don't get the 224. What's that on the scale to 1600?

Around 1480 I think

Can someone explain please? If 1480 was Semifinalist, I don't undertand how my son isn't on the list. He had a 1530. In Maryland.

If you are referring to OP’s list, it is because it was “DC” NMSF, not “DC-metro area” NMSF. Presumably MD has its own list.

You either had to have a 224+ on the PSAT, OR register the SAT alternative in April and submit scores that had the equivalent.

If your kid didn't register in April OR took the PSAT then their SAT score would not be counted.

Sorry -- what do you mean register the SAT alternative? If DC took the SAT and scored a 1530, did he also have to register for something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This list makes no sense if you compare it to previous years. Sidwell has more finalists than it normally would. St. Albans only one. GDS only one. None for Gonzaga (which typically has 5ish). Nothing for Walls.

My kids don't go to any of these schools, but, I wonder what the deal is. This isn't something I'd be bragging about over at Sidwell. I think this list is really weird and possibly incomplete or manipulated in some way.

Has anyone considered that the parents of the top public school students transferred them to open private schools during the pandemic and Sidwell got the top crop (maybe because they had more open seats, maybe because they answered the phone calls first, maybe because they were more accommodating).

You'd of course have to ask a Sidwell parent if most of these 16 Semifinalists were transfers but regardless I think this is a job well done and should be celebrated.

Congrats to Sidwell! (And if my pandemic theory is right - they should start poaching star students every year )

Uhmm, no, honey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a former NMSF myself, I can’t figure out for the life of me why anyone cares about this.

Lots of corporate scholarships available to those who meet the cutoff.

Actually, no, unless your parent works for a specific company or you want a full-ride to a few remaining state schools that do this. Otherwise, you're looking at writing a bunch of essays to designate 2000 to your public safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:224

I don't get the 224. What's that on the scale to 1600?

Around 1480 I think

Can someone explain please? If 1480 was Semifinalist, I don't undertand how my son isn't on the list. He had a 1530. In Maryland.

If you are referring to OP’s list, it is because it was “DC” NMSF, not “DC-metro area” NMSF. Presumably MD has its own list.

You either had to have a 224+ on the PSAT, OR register the SAT alternative in April and submit scores that had the equivalent.

If your kid didn't register in April OR took the PSAT then their SAT score would not be counted.

Sorry -- what do you mean register the SAT alternative? If DC took the SAT and scored a 1530, did he also have to register for something?

https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

Yes, I am sorry but he also needed to register with NMSC, for using SAT instead of PSAT. It was called Alternate Entry to NMS. The unfortunate thing was that this was not well publicized by schools, counselors, school district etc. Also, since PSAT is conducted by NMSC (National Merit Scholarship Corporation) and not CollegeBoard (that conducts the SAT), if they don't publicize these Alternate Entry information, most students won't know.

Another thing - even if schools inform the students (Hey, if you want to participate in NMS this year, there is an alternate route to PSAT. Please register before April 1st)...most students don't understand what that one line means. Usually the most important info is buried under a whole lot of BS info and so students won't even understand what it means.


The NMS recognitions - commended scholar, semifinalist, finalist - is based on how well you do on PSAT NMSQT taken in your Junior year. PSAT should have been offered in your own school, either in October 2020 or Jan 2021. Since many schools cancelled 11th grade PSAT NMSQT (NMS Qualifying Test), these students needed to go on to the NMSC (NMS Corporation) website and basically register their names before April 1st, 2021 to say that since they were not able to take PSAT, their SAT scores should be considered for NMS.

Then they needed to take an SAT before July 2021 (people could take multiple SATs in the period and submit their best scores for NMSC), and then pay the fees to CollegeBoard and get their SAT scores sent to NMSC. So to use the SAT in place of PSAT for the purpose of National Merit Scholarship the students needed to do the following

1) Register at NMSC website to be using the SAT as a proxy for PSAT for NMS before April, 1st
2) Take the SAT between Dec to June (I am not 100% sure, but you have multiple chances to take SAT.
3) Go to CollegeBoard website, pay the fees, and send your best SAT scores to NMSC, by some specified date.

Alternate route to PSAT is always available to students if the following happens -
1) Their school cancels PSAT. (Unlike SAT, it is hard to find PSAT centers)
2) They are sick.

The hardship had to be properly documented for NMSC to accept AE (alternate entry) SAT in previous years. Also, if you have taken PSAT, you cannot use AE SAT.

Sorry that your son missed his chance, but in reality if you are not looking for the scholarship money (of 2.5K), the SAT score of your DC is very impressive and the colleges are aware that with the score you would have been an NMS scholar. Don't fret. All the best to your kid for his application process. 1530 is very good score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WJ has many more NMSFs

Lol WJ has also 10x more kids.

[Anonymous]

My junior at a "big 3" is sitting the PSAT in October. College guidance has told them all not to study so that they can use the PSAT as a baseline for what they need to work on for SAT. I don't think anyone really cares about PSAT.
Sure some kids may prep for it, but I don't think it is representative of a school overall as it depends where kids direct their energies. There are many many smart kids across the DMV at public and private so this thread seems kind of silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior at a "big 3" is sitting the PSAT in October. College guidance has told them all not to study so that they can use the PSAT as a baseline for what they need to work on for SAT. I don't think anyone really cares about PSAT.
Sure some kids may prep for it, but I don't think it is representative of a school overall as it depends where kids direct their energies. There are many many smart kids across the DMV at public and private so this thread seems kind of silly.

+2 This is what they just told us at my DC’s big 3. Specifically, it is called “practice” for a reason and don’t start studying for college entrance exams until after winter break of 11th grade. I think they make a bigger deal of NMSF at public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WJ has many more NMSFs

Lol WJ has also 10x more kids.

What is WJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WJ has many more NMSFs

Lol WJ has also 10x more kids.

What is WJ?

Walter Johnson. Total students : 2,747

[Anonymous]

Alas, to the contrary, the public magnet schools do NOT make a big deal of NMSF since 50% of their graduating classes get this distinction. It is the private schools that make a big deal since so few get the distinction (exception rather than rule)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alas, to the contrary, the public magnet schools do NOT make a big deal of NMSF since 50% of their graduating classes get this distinction. It is the private schools that make a big deal since so few get the distinction (exception rather than rule)!

Not really but if it makes you feel better.
My kids’ private school keeps telling him to not prepare for the PSAT. No one he knows has even registered for SAT yet. He is a junior.

[Anonymous]

Our DC private school does not make a big deal about the PSAT at all. They say not to prep for it and treat it as practice. No one pays attention to the PSAT for college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alas, to the contrary, the public magnet schools do NOT make a big deal of NMSF since 50% of their graduating classes get this distinction. It is the private schools that make a big deal since so few get the distinction (exception rather than rule)!

Not really but if it makes you feel better.
My kids’ private school keeps telling him to not prepare for the PSAT. No one he knows has even registered for SAT yet. He is a junior.

Ok ok. So for the record nobody is trying to do well on the PSAT but the magnets schools are still kicking butt. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alas, to the contrary, the public magnet schools do NOT make a big deal of NMSF since 50% of their graduating classes get this distinction. It is the private schools that make a big deal since so few get the distinction (exception rather than rule)!

Not really but if it makes you feel better.
My kids’ private school keeps telling him to not prepare for the PSAT. No one he knows has even registered for SAT yet. He is a junior.

Ok ok. So for the record nobody is trying to do well on the PSAT but the magnets schools are still kicking butt. Got it.

Given "test optional" there is decreasing need to take the PSAT or SAT. Bottom line, no one cares. At our school, other than what gets published by the media, no one would know at all, who is a semi-finalist or commended.