Hello! I’m c/o 2018 and I’m wondering what the downsides of having a bad PSAT score are…I live in California and got a 211 index, which isn’t high enough to qualify for semifinalist (based on previous year data), but I think it makes commended. I received a 1600 SAT score on the Nov. SAT, so is the only thing I’m missing out on scholarships? Is your PSAT score used for anything else?
Thank you, and I hope you have a great day!
You may not get as much merit money as you would with a NMF tag. In Texas, many schools offer full tuition plus to Merit Scholars. It also looks good on your application, specially if you are applying to honors or other special programs. However, for admission, it’s not important at all unlike SAT/ACT.
No worries! You submit the SAT to colleges, not the PSAT. So congratulations on that beautiful 1600!
I second @WorryHurry411. Many colleges offer significant merit aid to National Merit Finalists and Scholars; some schools will even give you a full ride. But your 1600 is definitely more valuable for college admissions- good luck!
Unless you are looking at any schools which give money for NMS, it won’t matter too much. I am a semifinalist right now (senior) and the only benefits so far have been a nice honor on my app, a definite backup school I can afford (OU gives crazy money for it), and a small sum for the first year of college if I advance far enough. Most of the schools offering money for it will still give you incredible merit money for that 1600, probably about the same amount too (ex. Alabama).
Overall it’s nice but definitely not what I thought it was, so I wouldn’t sweat it.
psat is not used for anything else. there are no downsides besides no recognition
@ionicbondx, with a perfect 1600 on the SAT, why are you fretting over an ACT retake in another thread, and why have any concern over a “bad” PSAT? The Ivies you mentioned don’t offer merit scholarships simply because every applicant is the cream of the academic crop.