FAQ for the PSAT/SAT NMSF/NMF process.... :)

JBStillFlying
Fri, 25 May 2018 11:15:17 +0000

Most of the criteria for getting one of those “elusive” $2500 awards is going to be baked into the cake by the time the student applies for NMF. Even if you could - or wanted to - take the SAT multiple times in order to send your highest one-time confirming score (NMSC doesn’t superscore) you can’t really change your GPA, your courseload, EC’s or what sort of recommendation you’ll receive from your school. Or your original PSAT/NMSQT score (something else that’s considered). As for essay - that should be something that reads well simply because you want to do your best for this prestigious competition (and if you are re-tooling the Common Ap. essay, that should be in good shape already since it’s going to colleges . . .).

If you have extra time, work on other aspects of your college application rather than re-sit the SAT, unless you are concerned that your score won’t hit the “confirming” threshold to begin with. Any improvement to the college ap. will naturally be something you can include on your NMF application as well.

A whole lot of amazing NMF’s won’t get the $2500 scholarship simply because NMSC (claims to) allocate this one on a state representational basis, meaning that some fantastic applicants from highly competitive states/selection units will be passed over for slightly less fantastic applicants from slightly less competitive states/selection units. That’s why it’s so important to pore over that list of college sponsors