| | |  | 
07-09-2008, 12:18 PM
|
#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 38
Posts: 164
| National Merit
So, I know that a PSAT score qualifies a person for a National Merit Award/ Scholarship, but I´ve heard that the SAT has something to do with it. I´ve taken the PSAT, I got the letter saying I am either a semifinalist or commended, and I want to know, do I need to take the SATs to better my chances? WIll I get a letter saying I should take them? I´m a bit confused in this area. | 
| | |
07-09-2008, 12:28 PM
|
#2 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy Gender: Male
Threads: 45
Posts: 380
| Your SAT score is used to verify the legitimacy of your PSAT score, along with grades, recommendations, etc. It is looked at in order to determine whether or bit you move up from semifinalship to finalship.
Not sure what happens if you opt to take the ACT instead though ;0 | |
| | |
07-09-2008, 01:48 PM
|
#3 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Threads: 6
Posts: 214
| What sort of SAT score do you need to move up to the next level (finalist?)? Is it about the same as the PSAT cutoffs? Like if you made semifinalist with a 224 PSAT is a 2240 SAT good enough for finalist? | |
| | |
07-09-2008, 02:01 PM
|
#4 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy Gender: Male
Threads: 45
Posts: 380
| It's not set (to my knowledge) but it has to be of a comparable quality, to outrule luck/shenanigans on the PSAT. I'd imagine that anything 2100 and up would suffice. | |
| | |
07-10-2008, 06:50 AM
|
#5 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 38
Posts: 164
| So... Do I have to take the SAT? If so, when? | |
| | |
07-10-2008, 01:25 PM
|
#6 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Threads: 4
Posts: 717
| "would BE suffice" relax1020? Hope you are not tutoring PSAT-SAT 
Last edited by J'adoube : 07-10-2008 at 01:34 PM.
| |
| | |
07-10-2008, 01:27 PM
|
#7 | | Member
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Gender: Male
Threads: 56
Posts: 540
| "would be suffice"? That's unimaginably stupid haha.
It's either: "That will suffice." OR "That will be sufficient." Read a book lmao | |
| | |
07-10-2008, 01:44 PM
|
#8 | | Member
Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Gender: Male
Threads: 56
Posts: 540
| I hereby pardon you from all aforementioned offenses on account of grogginess. Rise, Sir Relax! | |
| | |
07-10-2008, 02:14 PM
|
#9 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy Gender: Male
Threads: 45
Posts: 380
| Would suffice is a valid conjugation; suffice - Conjugation of the English verb suffice
Anywho, SAT isn't all that goes into consideration, they also look at GPA, your essay, your criminal record, and your teacher's recommendations... | |
| | |
07-13-2008, 05:34 AM
|
#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 38
Posts: 164
| Aside from the discussion of grammar, do I need to take the SAT? I have taken the PSAT. Gotten the letter. Will Collegeboard inform me that I should take the SAT or do I need to just have known that I should´ve? | |
| | |
07-13-2008, 09:01 AM
|
#11 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Threads: 4
Posts: 717
| Only if you want to qualify for NMSF. The National Merit Scholarship website has all the information for the year you would qualify for, including the date range when you could take/have taken the SAT for it to count. I think the last date is December of your Sr. year but don't quote me on that unless you check first at the website. As far as I know the ACT doesn't count no matter how high you score. | |
| | |
07-13-2008, 09:01 AM
|
#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: near Houston
Threads: 88
Posts: 3,190
| Taking the SAT will have nothing to do with whether you are commended or semifinalist - that is determined based on a state cutoff score. However, if you are a semifinalist then you must submit an SAT score (that is within a reasonable range of your PSAT score) in order to move up to finalist. If you are commended, you will be notified through your school in late September. If you are a semifinalist, you will be notified through your school in late August. You will be given an application to complete, including essay, and instructions for having your SAT score sent to NM. There is a deadline for submitting all this information, so if you think there is a possibility you will be semifinalist, you should sign up for the next SAT testing. Please note that in the past there have been "horror stories" posted about notification letters sitting around on someone's desk, neglected, for weeks. Watch these forums - people will be posting as soon as they start receiving these letters. | |
| | |
07-15-2008, 09:53 AM
|
#13 | | Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 38
Posts: 164
| Thanks! This clears things up. | |
| | All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:38 PM. |
College Confidential is dedicated to providing the best free college admissions information available on the Web, through our many articles and this discussion forum.
