<p>I used to stress about this but have come to accept S didn’t make the cutoff in our state and probably missed by one question.</p>
<p>It’s very arbitrary as it must be-a cutoff has to be established at some score. It is also not a national test-if we lived in 30+ other states he would make the state cutoff and from what I know of the process now he would get the whole thing-SAT scores are great, grades are great, EC are great etc. However, because he on one test missed one question he doesn’t get into the party-and that’s just the way it is.</p>
<p>Why it takes so long I have no idea-I would think with all the computerization of everything they could have this figured out months ago. </p>
<p>The only thing I have learned from this process is now I know the importance of a “practice test”. I have a friend whose S goes to a well regarded Catholic school here and all of his friends are going to be Juniors and they all are taking a 13 week, 3 hour per week prep class for the PSAT-how do you compete with that if you walk in off the street thinking it’s a practice test? Yes, when they give you the results in Sophomore year from CB they say the Junior test is used as a qualifying test for NMSF but really, unless you have been through it before or go to a school who stresses their stats on this and gets their kids prepped you just don’t know.</p>
<p>My daughter will surely be prepared, that much I do know. </p>
<p>I told my S if he likes a school and they give scholarships based on NMF status the only thing he can do is talk to them about why they would rule out giving him him the same amount of aid and just giving it a different name-for all intents and purposes he is just as “worthy” as the winners. If the school wants him they’ll work with him-if not we move on.</p>
<p>You are penalized for living in Va as he is for living in RI-hard to figure that out and explain to him why on a “National” test.</p>
<p>The more I see of this process and the tests the less I think these are true measures of anything but either natural ability to take tests well, preparation to take the tests, or a combination of both. One thing I am sure of is it is a big business.</p>
<p>Please don’t take this post as an indictment of those kids fortunate enough to be moving on to the next step. I am truly happy for you and it is a great accomplishment and I would be thrilled if my S was going to be part of it. </p>
<p>This is just one opinion, admittedly with more than a trace of disgust at the whole subject.</p>