tomatoe

Just a quick question about National Merit. Semifinalists have to report SAT scores in order to qualify as Finalists. I've looked online, and couldn't find anything about the matter of Score-Choice for National Merit. I'd rather not send my older, lower, scores if I don't have to.

Does anyone know if Semfinalists should send all scores or if they can use Score-Choice?

R124687

There is another big thread that addresses this, in part. I myself called to ask them and they were NASTY! THey just didn't really understand my question, since this is the first year for score choice. They said "That's the SAT, we use the PSAT!". Then I explained further that I was talking about sending in the confirming SAT score...and she yelled "We're not a college, we don't judge, just send your score".

Anyway...on the other thread, a few people said they did use score choice. I know I did it when I sent my daughters, but it was just to knock of the SAT IIs, since they don't require those. I can't imagine they can argue...since they haven't addressed the question in writing anywhere that I've seen.

alamemom

I do not think it will matter either way. The National Merit program is, at least partially, a promotion for the PSAT/SAT. (It is a beneficial promotion in that some students get scholarships, but a promotion never the less.) They WANT you to take the SAT. Even better if you take it a number of times, because that is more money for them - oh, I mean, more money for the scholarships, of course!

bluebayou

^^concur with alamemom. It' really doesn't matter. The confirming score just has to be somewhat similar (+/- 100 points) so that they can ensure that the psat score is representative (and you were not a one-shot wonder or cheated). The test totals don't matter for Finalist since nearly everyone makes it. Those that don't make Finalist have low gpa's and/or "problems" in HS such that the GC will not recommend them.

tomatoe

Thanks, I guess I'll just use score shoice to remove SAT II's. I was being a little nitpicky because my first SAT and my most recent one differ by over 200 points.

bluebayou

Trust me, NMC will not care one bit about your subject test scores. They only want to see a representative SAT score that is not too significantly different than the psat.

Something like 95% of Semis move to Finalist. Those that don't have other issues than Subject test scores.

R124687

On that other long thread I mentioned...someone actually had National Merit TELL them what score they wanted. I'm too lazy to go look for it, but search 2010 psat national merit college confidential and it will come up. It's 50 pages long! But search and you'll find it. I THINK (do NOT quote me) that someone said they only wanted to see a 1960 or something. But I'm NOT sure of that. So, if ONE of yours was below that...I don't know. For ME I'd probably send only the higher. Supposedly the report send does not say "partial" or anything anyway. Who knows yet, that's just what I've heard. So they won't know you sent only one of several scores. I just wouldn't want to put a lower score and risk their saying "oh, yeah, see...in 9th grade he didn't get a high enough score"...or something stupid like that. Finalist is too important if one is trying to get one of the schools that offers a full ride.