National merit 2026?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will these unusually high cut offs make the new college board recognition for “top 10% psat score in your school” mean more? I had thought it was fairly meaningless, but I also thought my 223 kid in Md had a shot of NMSF(!). FWIW her CC says this new “recognition” is worth putting on application.

It’s the same recognition for getting 2 or more APs with scores of 3 or higher. Meaning that it’s unclear which achievement you got it for, or both. I can’t imagine that it’s worth anything at all.

You have to take the 2 AP exams by the end of 10th grade to qualify for the award. Which is rare at virtually every rural, urban, and independent high school in the country. So at all those schools, the award is helpful. At powerhouse suburban high schools where everyone takes 65 APs the award is less of a differentiator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will these unusually high cut offs make the new college board recognition for “top 10% psat score in your school” mean more? I had thought it was fairly meaningless, but I also thought my 223 kid in Md had a shot of NMSF(!). FWIW her CC says this new “recognition” is worth putting on application.

It’s the same recognition for getting 2 or more APs with scores of 3 or higher. Meaning that it’s unclear which achievement you got it for, or both. I can’t imagine that it’s worth anything at all.

You have to take the 2 AP exams by the end of 10th grade to qualify for the award. Which is rare at virtually every rural, urban, and independent high school in the country. So at all those schools, the award is helpful. At powerhouse suburban high schools where everyone takes 65 APs the award is less of a differentiator.

That is incorrect. My child received the award and only took one AP class in tenth grade and none in ninth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will these unusually high cut offs make the new college board recognition for “top 10% psat score in your school” mean more? I had thought it was fairly meaningless, but I also thought my 223 kid in Md had a shot of NMSF(!). FWIW her CC says this new “recognition” is worth putting on application.

It’s the same recognition for getting 2 or more APs with scores of 3 or higher. Meaning that it’s unclear which achievement you got it for, or both. I can’t imagine that it’s worth anything at all.

You have to take the 2 AP exams by the end of 10th grade to qualify for the award. Which is rare at virtually every rural, urban, and independent high school in the country. So at all those schools, the award is helpful. At powerhouse suburban high schools where everyone takes 65 APs the award is less of a differentiator.

That is incorrect. My child received the award and only took one AP class in tenth grade and none in ninth

Sorry, my statement was incomplete. To get the award, you need to either (a) score in the top 10% of your high school on the 11th grade PSAT or (b) score 3+ on two AP exams by the end of 10th grade. Your kid is in the top 10% of their class by PSAT score. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anyone’s child receive their NMSF notification from FCPS schools?

[Anonymous]

226 was incorrect for Maryland! It's 224, which is still a record high

[Anonymous]

Someone shared this cutoff list in the comments on Compass Prep:

Alabama 214, Alaska 215, Arizona 218, Arkansas 215, California 224, Colorado 219, Connecticut 223, Delaware 220, Florida 219, Georgia 220, Hawaii 219, Idaho 215, Illinois 222, Indiana 218, Iowa 214, Kansas 216, Kentucky 214, Louisiana 216, Maine 217, Maryland 224, Massachusetts 225, Michigan 220, Minnesota 219, Mississippi 213, Missouri 217, Montana 213, Nebraska 214, Nevada 214, New Hampshire 219, New Jersey 225, New Mexico 210, New York 223, North Carolina 220, North Dakota 210, Ohio 219, Oklahoma 212, Oregon 219, Pennsylvania 221, Rhode Island 219, South Carolina 215, South Dakota 211, Tennessee 219, Texas 222, Utah 213, Vermont 216, Virginia 224, Washington 224, West Virginia 210, Wisconsin 215, Wyoming 210, District of Columbia 225, U.S. boarding schools ***, U.S. territories 210, Outside the U.S. 225

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has a 225 in MD and to be honest the idea that it jumped to 226 is totally throwing me off here. It’s making me re-think if we are being too optimistic about his chances at safeties, targets, and reaches. This just feels so unexpected and outside what we imagined was possible.

It isn’t so much about NMSF, although it would have been nice, but this has shaken our confident in his chances overall even at schools that should be easy safeties. A 225 score felt totally safe for MD NMSF but wasn’t.

MD cutoff is 224 this year. This is the official info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:226 was incorrect for Maryland! It's 224, which is still a record high

That makes more sense. MD wouldn't be higher than Mass or NJ.

[Anonymous]

Is there a list somewhere for Virginia? My niece made it in NYC and the media there is reporting the full list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone’s child receive their NMSF notification from FCPS schools?

Nothing

[Anonymous]

I am so disappointed my child didn't qualify in VA with a 223. Their first choice school gives a small scholarship for finalists, and I know it the scheme of college costs it's just a drop in the bucket, but it's so disheartening and a blow to the ego, which is stalling the whole application process.

I know this is a first world problem. I'm still disappointed

[Anonymous]

Do you know if/when kids are notified as Commended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know if/when kids are notified as Commended?

At the end of month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you know if/when kids are notified as Commended?

At the end of month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so disappointed my child didn't qualify in VA with a 223. Their first choice school gives a small scholarship for finalists, and I know it the scheme of college costs it's just a drop in the bucket, but it's so disheartening and a blow to the ego, which is stalling the whole application process.

I know this is a first world problem. I'm still disappointed

I’m so sorry PP. They should still be very proud of their score. Any other year, they would have made it.