Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of this, but today my daughter received a letter in the mail informing her of her eligibility for this award. Upon a bit of research, it looks like a new program where they recognize the top 10% of scorers in the PSAT for each school. Anyone else know more about this?

That's it. You're all caught up. No one cares about that award. Colleges see your actual SAT score.

It's just a gimmick to sell more PSATs.

Actually, my daughter didn't take the SAT. She took ACT and scored 35. So getting this award plus scoring high on the ACT is a good indication of her versatility in test taking and just being an all around smart girl. Now you're all caught up.

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of this, but today my daughter received a letter in the mail informing her of her eligibility for this award. Upon a bit of research, it looks like a new program where they recognize the top 10% of scorers in the PSAT for each school. Anyone else know more about this?

That's it. You're all caught up. No one cares about that award. Colleges see your actual SAT score.

It's just a gimmick to sell more PSATs.

Anonymous wrote:looked up DC's school's location on the map on National Center for Education Statistic's website and it has a rural designation so DC checked that box when accepting the award. Is that helpful? The other box was first gen but couldn't check that one.

The rural and first-gen awards are separate from the school award, though all part of the same program. A first-gen student in the top 10% of their rural school could get all three.

looked up DC's school's location on the map on National Center for Education Statistic's website and it has a rural designation so DC checked that box when accepting the award. Is that helpful? The other box was first gen but couldn't check that one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is cute.
- At high-powered suburban public schools, the two-APs aspect means that it will feel like “everyone” gets this award.
- At rural and majority-URM schools, where APs are much rarer, it functions as a race-neutral way to help colleges identify students who stand out in their high school context.
- It will also help colleges identify the top 10% of students at all those snooty private schools that dropped AP courses and refuse to rank.

Actually, my daughter got the letter but only took her first AP courses this year at her private, which doesn't offer AP until 11th. So her qualification is getting a PSAT score at the top 10%, which only amounts to about 10 people. She will stand out among her peers because the only way to get the award is through the PSAT as no APs were taken in 9th or 10th grade.

DP, but I’m not sure that’s an “actually” as if you are refuting PP’s point. That was PP’s point.

Anonymous wrote:This is cute.
- At high-powered suburban public schools, the two-APs aspect means that it will feel like “everyone” gets this award.
- At rural and majority-URM schools, where APs are much rarer, it functions as a race-neutral way to help colleges identify students who stand out in their high school context.
- It will also help colleges identify the top 10% of students at all those snooty private schools that dropped AP courses and refuse to rank.

Actually, my daughter got the letter but only took her first AP courses this year at her private, which doesn't offer AP until 11th. So her qualification is getting a PSAT score at the top 10%, which only amounts to about 10 people. She will stand out among her peers because the only way to get the award is through the PSAT as no APs were taken in 9th or 10th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So annoyed our private school in DC strongly discouraged kids from taking the PSAT and made it optional this year. Said the National Merit cut off in DC is so high it is a waste of time.

WTF? This is crazy. Your private school is doing a huge disservice to its students - basically not allowing students to qualify for certain merit scholarships. This would be enough reason for me to withdraw younger kids from that school.

How many private school parents do you think want their kids to attend UT Dallas or U Alabama?

Of, you've ready one article!

Or $28K at USC, or something between $2K-$10K at a lot of places. Also, $2K is nothing to sneeze at! Plus, it's still an honor. Won't get you into Yale, but will help most students and hurt no one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that college board can't get student data automatically now with digital tests so they are sending out this and students and self reporting their info that college board can turn around and sell.

What data are they getting that they aren’t already getting when the student registers for and takes a CB exam?

My DC got the letter and filled out the form a couple of days ago. The extra info was: asking if DC is rural/small town, asking if first gen, GPA, school counselor contact info.

This makes sense as there are three opportunities to receive the award. Here is an explanation from a recent CB press release:

This is cute.
- At high-powered suburban public schools, the two-APs aspect means that it will feel like “everyone” gets this award.
- At rural and majority-URM schools, where APs are much rarer, it functions as a race-neutral way to help colleges identify students who stand out in their high school context.
- It will also help colleges identify the top 10% of students at all those snooty private schools that dropped AP courses and refuse to rank.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if there is a way to tell if your kid got this off PSAT or AP scores?

When you fill out the form, you verify the score(s) for which you are getting the award

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if there is a way to tell if your kid got this off PSAT or AP scores?

"There are 2 ways to qualify: Score in the top 10% on the PSAT/NMSQT (10th or 11th) or PSAT 10 among your high school's test takers, your state's first generation test takers, or your state's rural or small town test takers OR earn a 3+ on 2 or more AP Exams in the 8th, 9th and/or 10th grade."


"Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87% − 89%) by the time of submission."

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/communities-events/national-recognition-programs

Anyone know if there is a way to tell if your kid got this off PSAT or AP scores?

Anonymous wrote:Without hooks, top 10% in a school is not that impressive for any private college in the T25 or any of the T5 publics. It will be used as a proxy to figure out top students in low-performing majority-URM high schools

top 10% of a top private HS is very good, no? like if you were top 10% at Dalton etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that college board can't get student data automatically now with digital tests so they are sending out this and students and self reporting their info that college board can turn around and sell.

What data are they getting that they aren’t already getting when the student registers for and takes a CB exam?

My DC got the letter and filled out the form a couple of days ago. The extra info was: asking if DC is rural/small town, asking if first gen, GPA, school counselor contact info.

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that college board can't get student data automatically now with digital tests so they are sending out this and students and self reporting their info that college board can turn around and sell.

What data are they getting that they aren’t already getting when the student registers for and takes a CB exam?