National Merit Scholar question

jhupost
Sun, 17 Apr 2011 02:20:01 +0000

I am currently a sophomore and am planning on getting around a 225-235 on the PSAT as a junior. I’ve taken the SAT and got a 2310 and have done countless practice exercises since then (my main problem was Critical Reading, but I think I’ve pretty well corrected that). I really hope to become a National Merit Scholar, but I was wondering if my freshman grades would hurt my chances (my average was a B+). I’ve made extraordinary grades my sophomore year (with one AP class) in an attempt to make up for my freshman grades. If I score very highly on the PSAT, will the “people who decide the scholars” take my freshman grades into consideration, especially if I’ve made very, very good sophomore, junior, and senior grades with a rigorous course load? I really hope to become at least a semi-finalist! Anyway, thanks in advance!