AKTranz

I have a 224 for a PSAT score (80 for reading, 74 for math, and 70 for writing) which, according to last year's minimum score in Texas, should make me a semi-finalist. What I don't understand after reading the entry requirements to make finalist, is the part that states SAT scores should match/verify your PSAT scores. I have a 2100 for SAT: 780 reading, 690 math, and 630 writing. Will this be sufficient or will I have to retake it?

tommykirkpatrick

anything over 2000 is good. i don't know what it was for this past year but the year before it was like 1960. i got a 2070 and i was okay.

atomom

2100 will be fine. You do not need to "match" your PSAT score. You only need to get a score that confirms that your PSAT score wasn't some sort of fluke. The confirming score cutoff varies a bit, but it is usually around 2000.

mom2collegekids

SAT scores should match

the info does NOT say that your SAT should "match" your PSAT. There is no expectation of that. All that is asked is that the score verify....and that just means that your SAT score be at least the minimum req'd...which is about a 1960...so anything 2000+ is safe.

Once someone makes NMSF, their PSAT score is irrelevant. At that point, all are NMSF and everyone has the same benchmarks to meet.

blaaamo

Though it appears that the SAT score is much more important in actually getting the $2,500 national scholarship. So, yes, a lower score will get you to be a finalist, but IF you are hoping for the national scholarship, then a better SAT is somewhere between helpful to needed.

Descartesz

Although I admit to a limited set of case histories in this regard, I have not seen that this is true at all. I know of a few NMF's who did quite well on their SAT's and failed to get an NM scholarship and the self-reported stats here on CC of scholarship winners don't seem to support this, either. Additionally, I have never seen anything from the NMSC that specifies what qualifies an NMF for a NM scholarship. I believe the final selection process remains mysterious to outsiders.

mom2collegekids

$2500 recipients...please post stats...


We had a thread where people who rec'd the one time 2500 awards posted their stats. Having a high SAT seemed to be the tipping point.

BobWallace

My take on the $2500 scholarship winners was that high GPA was the most notable trend for the winners. The SAT scores were as low as 2210, but the GPA's were all very high.

atomom

If I'm not mistaken, the only one of 9 finalists in S's class who got the $2500 NM one-time award was the girl who had the best PSAT score (239). Not sure what her SAT was, but I assume 2300+ as well as top GPA.

However, the "lower scoring finalists" who took college-sponsored awards actually collected way more $$.

mom2collegekids

I don't think it's the high GPA that is the hook. There are far too many NMFs with perfect GPAs these days. While 2210 may seem lowish when compared to others, since each state wants an equal number of males and females, maybe that state had to go that "low" in order to award enough?

BobWallace

It does seem in many cases that "winning" the $2500 award is actually losing, since the college awards can be as large as $2000/year = $8000.

Three reasons the $2500 might be better: (1) it can be used at any college, and there are many that don't give school-sponsored awards, (2) the amount of the college-sponsored awards is usually need-based, so a high EFC student is slightly better off with the $2500 than the minimum $500/year college-sponsored award, and (3) if you get a large merit scholarship from your school, it normally includes the college-sponsored portion, but the college will likely allow you to take the $2500 NMSC-sponsored portion in addition, since it's an outside scholarship.

BobWallace

Perhaps high GPA is merely a filter, and then SAT score is the ranking criterion? They may use the essays as a filter also - that's a factor where we have no data.

atomom

Yes, for those top-scoring students who choose colleges that offer no merit aid, the one-time $2500 is better than nothing.

But students who are shopping for big merit aid can choose a college that gives as much as a full ride to NM finalists. The official National Merit portion of the college-sponsored scholarship can be (and is, in my S's case) added to the school's own merit scholarship. I have no evidence that the amount of S's "official" award is "need based." (Did not file FAFSA, do not qualify for aid.) Check with your school for details.

The big money is in the unofficial merit scholarships offered to finalists directly from colleges/universities--not in what comes through NM Corp. (Many students get both.) Some of these scholarships are worth over 100K.

MarylandMomOf3

Atomom - do you know how I can find out which colleges offer those big merit-based scholarships? And, what do we have to do to be considered? My daughter has done extremely well on the PSAT, SAT, and GPA, so she is likely to be selected. But on paper, my income will disqualify us from need-based aid even though we are not in a good position to pay for her school -and she's the oldest of three. So I'm *very* interested in learning where she might be eligible for a full ride. I know Duke has the A.B.Duke scholarship; I'm interested in learning about more like that one.

mom2collegekids

Duke's award is HIGHLY competitve so no one can count on winning one. That's the problem with top schools' awards. They only offer a small number, so it's a crapshoot to win one.

Since it sounds like you need assured merit, then have your child apply to some schools that will FOR SURE give her large merit based on her stats.

You need to determine how much you CAN pay so that you'll know how much merit you need. If you can pay about $15k per year, then your child needs AT LEAST a full tuition scholarship so that YOUR money can pay for room, board, books, fees, etc.

Here"s a NMF scholarship list
NMF Scholarships: An Updated Compilation

Here's a list for full tuition scholarship as well...
Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships