As little as 3 years ago (when this thread was written), I thought it did a lot.
It does not matter that much. I also think the PSAT/NMSQT is a corrupt test when compared to real SAT.
- No Essay Section, which drastically changes scores. Also, essay is one of most important parts of application!
- Shorter Test: 1 minor error can knock you down 50 points. That's sad.
- Insane grammar curve: This year, as 11th grade, I got 710W which I though was bad, but I only got 2 questions wrong, none of which I have learned the rules for.
- Some people just get lucky (or unlucky) on PSAT. There is someone in my school with 2250 PSAT but 2130 SAT 6 months later after studying. How is that possible? She must have gotten lucky on PSAT. BTW, she qualified for NMSF. My scores were opposite (2130 PSAT, 2250 SAT, essay helped a lot), Commended Scholar
On the other hand, last years Salutatorian got 2140 PSAT, 2330 SAT, and got into UPENN.
- It is just one of thousands of companies (but unfortunately one of the best known) giving out merit scholarship money. Find another company that actually bases scholarship on real SAT.
I think this should be the process:
- October: Students take full 10 section SAT.
- September: Students with above 2100 automatically qualify for NMSF (about 30000)
- December: Students with good SAT, GPA, EC, move on to NMF (About 14000)
- March: 8500 get scholarship.