National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this just irritates me. my kid would qualify if in Florida, but we're in California

Locally, DC is one of the hardest too because it’s lumped in with Maryland.

As noted above, DC is the same cutoff as whatever state has the highest cutoff. It was the same as MD last year, because MD had the highest cutoff in the nation with 224.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this just irritates me. my kid would qualify if in Florida, but we're in California

Yep, can't understand why it's not determined nationwide.

Seriously? You want to see 99% of NMSF from a few states from east and CA? I understand your frustration but I think the current way is the right way.

+1 Better to spread the wealth than add another 'coastal elite' conspiracy to the list.

[Anonymous]

223 in MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:223 in MD

How did you find out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:223 in MD

How did you find out?

School counselor
Many predicted that the 224 score in MD last year was an aberration due to alternate entry. I guess that is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:223 in MD

How did you find out?

I'm not the PP, but the school is notified and then the school notifies the student.

So this tells us that cutoff in MD is 223 or lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:223 in MD

How did you find out?

I'm not the PP, but the school is notified and then the school notifies the student.

So this tells us that cutoff in MD is 223 or lower.

Yup. I’m betting 221 but who knows.
Application is due 10/5 so counselors should be notifying the students ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this just irritates me. my kid would qualify if in Florida, but we're in California

It irritates (and baffles) me that this is a DC website and you're posting from California. So we're even.

[Anonymous]

Letter to my student was dated 8/23

[Anonymous]

In addition to each state having different cutoffs, it’s annoying that the verbal score counts twice but math only once. It will in many cases lead to two kids who have the same PSAT score with one being semi finalist and the other commended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In addition to each state having different cutoffs, it’s annoying that the verbal score counts twice but math only once. It will in many cases lead to two kids who have the same PSAT score with one being semi finalist and the other commended.

So many strange things about this process. I don't get why they don't just post the score cutoffs for each state now that letters have gone out. Or why not send the letters directly to students instead of the to the schools who have to relay that info to students? Seems very inefficient and stressful for no apparent reason.

[Anonymous]

My son scored a 1560 on the SAT at age 14. I didn't realize he could submit that and he missed national merit by a point based on his 11th grade PSAT. Don't be him. Know the loopholes.

Also agree, this is just stupid that the qualifying score varies by state. Totally unfair for an exam that is supposed to "level the playing field" and provide an :objective assessment".

I cannot deal with the stupidity of college admissions anymore!

[Anonymous]

Anyone else have numbers to report ?

[Anonymous]

DD got 226 in MD and haven’t heard anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD got 226 in MD and haven’t heard anything

Considering 228 is perfect I would venture to say you're okay.