Thirty-One FCPS Students Win National Merit Scholarships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

Maybe you mean they were named semifinalists.

[Anonymous]

About 85% of the winners are from TJ. No wonder it's considered the best high school in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

"The scholarship awards are decided by a panel of high school counselors and college admission officers who look at the difficulty of courses students took, their grades, their standardized test scores, an essay they write, their track record of leadership and community service and a recommendation from someone at their school."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

"The scholarship awards are decided by a panel of high school counselors and college admission officers who look at the difficulty of courses students took, their grades, their standardized test scores, an essay they write, their track record of leadership and community service and a recommendation from someone at their school."

Yes, but kids become semi finalists, and thus eligible for scholarship consideration, solely based on their PSAT score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

"The scholarship awards are decided by a panel of high school counselors and college admission officers who look at the difficulty of courses students took, their grades, their standardized test scores, an essay they write, their track record of leadership and community service and a recommendation from someone at their school."

Yes, but kids become semi finalists, and thus eligible for scholarship consideration, solely based on their PSAT score.

You can't expect these panels to evaluate millions of kids. They have to make the initial cut somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

"The scholarship awards are decided by a panel of high school counselors and college admission officers who look at the difficulty of courses students took, their grades, their standardized test scores, an essay they write, their track record of leadership and community service and a recommendation from someone at their school."

Yes, but kids become semi finalists, and thus eligible for scholarship consideration, solely based on their PSAT score.

You can't expect these panels to evaluate millions of kids. They have to make the initial cut somewhere.

Of course not, but as PP noted, for whatever reasons not every kid does well on the PSAT. Back in the day my PSAT's were okay, my SAT's were great. Who knows what the difference was as nobody prepped back then.

[Anonymous]

PSAT is supposedly easier than SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

Where did they end up going to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

I think the initial PSAT cut off score for Virginia was 221 which is lower than many other states and DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

I think the initial PSAT cut off score for Virginia was 221 which is lower than many other states and DC.

VA was 219 (Class of 2015), for the class of 2016 it won't be known for a few more months. MD was 219 and DC was 224, I think which was the highest. VA's 219 is actually on a high side. A few states above it and many below 219.

@13:18 - all 3 to a state school - 2 with full ride and 1 with full tuition. One out, one currently in, the last starts this fall.

[Anonymous]

^sorry, I meant to say MD was 221, not 219.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About 85% of the winners are from TJ. No wonder it's considered the best high school in the country.

Maybe there is some validity to the claim that an average kid at TJ would be in the top 5% at a typical base school. Many fairfax high schools had no students represented on the 2 lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these kids the top 1% of the FCPS graduating seniors?

More like top .3%.

Just for this particular test.

You may have missed this part about the selection criteria:

"Each scholarship winner was evaluated on his or her academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and a recommendation from a high school official."

No, I didn't. All 3 of my kids won so I am familiar with the process.

So, the winners were not selected from a particular test.

I don't want to side track this thread but I think you mis-read my previous "just for this particular test" post. What I meant was the NMSF/NMF/NMS process is mostly based on one test - PSAT. There are very smart/capable kids who don't make the cuts - for whatever reasons.

I think the initial PSAT cut off score for Virginia was 221 which is lower than many other states and DC.

VA was 219 (Class of 2015), for the class of 2016 it won't be known for a few more months. MD was 219 and DC was 224, I think which was the highest. VA's 219 is actually on a high side. A few states above it and many below 219.

@13:18 - all 3 to a state school - 2 with full ride and 1 with full tuition. One out, one currently in, the last starts this fall.

Did any of them forego "Elite Universities" to take advantage of "full ride or full tuition" at Public Universities? It seems some students must turn down top schools to attend lower ranked schools to receive significant merit based scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Did any of them forego "Elite Universities" to take advantage of "full ride or full tuition" at Public Universities? It seems some students must turn down top schools to attend lower ranked schools to receive significant merit based scholarships.

Yes and many do. If you are not rank and prestige crazy, it's not a bad option. Top tier schools don't give much merit aid, most are need-based. We are in the middle - make too much for FA and not enough for full pay. So, 60k x 4 years x 3 kids vs. almost free. It wasn't a difficult decision. We are continuing to fund 529 to support post college education to make sure they don't have any student loans when they start their career. I also don't think being NMF/NMS was a huge factor in kids getting their scholarships. It helped but I don't know how much. All three had strong stats/EC that made them good candidate for the merit $.