@absolutevalue you need to send SAT to NMSC also. This doesn’t have to be done by the October 11 deadline, but just don’t forget to do it. Must have been taken sometime between October 2015 and December 2017. Has to be high enough to confirm your PSAT score. We don’t know exactly how high it needs to be, but >=211 SI we know is ok for confirming score.
@sewin2music, did everything finally get resolved with your school for the NMF application? Are your principal and GC fully informed now about what they need to do for your application?
DD has had two sittings of SAT done earlier this year. First one was a 1550 (SI of 232) and second was 1530 (SI of 227). EBRW went down on the 2nd attempt but MATH improved making a super score of 1560 (SI of 233). I realize that both the scores are well above the commended cut-off and NMSC does not superscore, but am debating whether we should send both scores or just the first sitting - thinking further ahead after reaching Finals, whether the SAT score submitted has any bearing on being awarded a scholarship (e.g. higher the score, better the chances?)
@traveler98 Well the principal and GCs at my school actually really don’t know anything about the NM process or the school history of NMF, especially since the principal is new. It turns out that I was speaking with the wrong person; the career counselor is in charge and basically just tells the principal “sign here”. She’s very knowlegable about the process and has been doing this for more than a decade so I feel like I’m in good hands!
Thanks you for caring so much! I really love being part of such a wonderful group!
Edit: oops it posted twice…
I think your either scores will work. The first one is more than enough as you pointed it out it exceeds the SI index for commended by a large margin.
Question about PSAT… S21 tried to sign up to take PSAT at school today. Got turned away because he is a freshman and school only ordered enough tests for juniors and sophomores. D16 was NMF and took PSAT as freshman at this school. D18 is NMSF and took PSAT as a freshman at this school. S21 texted me and said he was almost in tears when they didn’t let him sign up. He really wants to practice as a freshman and as a sophomore to have the best chance as a junior to get to NMF. Does anyone know if he can take the PSAT at another school? Is there a way to sign up? Through college board?
Contact your local homeschool community and see if if your son can take it where they take the PSAT also call local private schools. If he takes the PSAT at a different school make sure he uses the homeschool code so his score are sent to you and not the other school.
btw @shelleee I know the presure your s21 feels, I also have a d16 NMF, a s18 NMSF and a S20 hopeful. None of my kids take the PSAT as freshmen and it’s works out for us.
Thanks @3scoutsmom. How do I contact local homeschool community? I don’t know anyone that is homeschooled. My S21 does feel pressure. D16 was valedictorian and D18 will either be valedictorian or maybe salutatorian so he feels extra pressure for that, too. I told him he can only do his best and I will love him no matter what. He doesn’t have to be number one, he just has to try hard and do all his work and be a good person. That’s what is most important.
Look here: https://www.hslda.org/orgs/Default.aspx
or google homeschool groups near me
@shelleee Have you tried asking the school if you could pay for the test yourself? We homeschool and signed our daughter up for the test at the local high school and had to pay for it ourselves. This was for her junior year (the one and only time she took it).
@shelleee There are free, official practice PSATs available, and about 8 official practice SATs. Your S can do one of those under timed conditions to simulate the testing experience, then he can use the practice SATs for prep.
The official practice SATs are actual tests that have been retired from further use. I’m not 100% sure about the practice PSATs, but they may well be retired tests, too.
@shelleee, taking PSAT as a freshman may not really add that much value to the overall scores and may end up having the side effect of turning them off if they don’t score well. The general rule of thumb is that each year their score will likely go up 100 points, but that is just a general rule of thumb as in YMMV. I have seen cases where students’ PSAT score stayed the same year over year and have also seen them go up as much as 120. Given that they may not take the actual SAT until the end of their Junior year, you wouldn’t want fatigue to set in by testing too early and too often. Also, since they may not be exposed to Algebra 2 until their freshman or even junior year, taking it early may be counterproductive, JMHO.
My kid got identical scores sophomore and junior years!
Yes we pay for the PSAT in our school district. It’s $15. I’ve already talked the the principal and the assistant superintendent. The room isn’t big enough to add any more seats. It’s not going to happen this year but it’s okay. They are going to talk it at the board next week and plan for next year so more students can take it so hopefully next year I’m making good change for other students in my district, just not for my son this year. It will be okay. Thank you to everyone for all the helpful advice. I looked into the homeschool option, but my son said no thank you, he didn’t like that idea. I’ll just work with him on practice test whenever he wants to. There’s no rush. He is only a freshman. I was just following up at his request but it looks like at least the option at his high school this year is now a dead end and I’m trying to ensure things are better for more kids at the high school for next year.
Oh my S21 is in algebra 2 this year as a freshman, but for my girls D16 and D18 scores went up maybe 10 SI points each year if I recall. I think for them it was just getting comfortable with the PSAT test.
@shelleee For your D18 taking it as a freshman probably didnt make much of a difference in her junior year score bc it was a different test then (old psat). So, she, like your son will, really only had one useful practice attempt before the real deal.
I was helping my son fill out the NMSC paperwork on OSA. One thing i noticed is the limited space for awards. It is fairly tight.
Also noticed there is no place where GPA or class rank etc are required in student/parent section. Is this all done by the school that we have no visibility to?
Also there seems to be no way of attaching a resume either :). I am hoping you all have some input. For our school this is due on Thursday :).
They just need a bit of info. about your son. No need to attach the resume! Choose the top five - I think my kid listed three or four last year and none was “high honor roll” because with her GPA that was assumed and it was recurring rather than a one-time.
GPA and class rank would be provided by GC.