<p>D’s school does nothing really for the PSAT. They just send home a piece of paper encouraging the Juniors to take the test, and offering it to Sophomores if there is room. D has a friend at a neighboring school and they take it seriously. As early as freshman year, they identify the high-achieving kids and have after school prep sessions. They have been preparing now for years and had them come to school this past Sunday for a practice test. That would be nice!</p>
<p>SlackerMom…Regarding the URM student at your D’s school, they may have spoken with her if her scores might reach the cutoff for National Achievement (African Americans) or National Hispanic Recognition which are separate programs with lower cutoff scores than NM, and the cutoffs are done by region as opposed to state by state. Many schools that offer large NM scholarships also offer the same packages to NA or NHR students. </p>
<p>It never ceases to amaze me how wide the variance is on how informed schools are on the whole NM process and potential benefits. In our case, the school has had a few NMFs nearly every year for at least the last 10 years. They’re familiar with the process of doing the paperwork package, but know nothing about the potential scholarship opportunities other than the one-time $2500. Back when D1 was going through the process (Fall of 2010) I brought a listing (from CC of course!!) of the big $$ “unofficial” scholarships to the GC “in charge of” the NM program and offered to talk with the parents of the other SF (and future SFs) if they had any questions. He hasn’t passed the info on to anyone since then as far as I know.</p>
<p>I was just amazed that the GC didn’t even mention it. But that’s our school in a nutshell…teach to the middle and hope the top and bottom get where they need to be on their own.</p>
<p>They eliminates honors classes at the middle school level and accelerated everyone. This way, everyone has room for an AP math or an AP science senior year. S18’s class is the guinea pig class with this new setup. So far I’m not a fan. S spends more time helping others around him that sometimes I think he should be on the payroll.</p>
<p>*mihcal1: Would it be worse to have an obviously-below-the-NMSF-cutoff score, or a right-at-the-cutoff score and spend almost a whole year fretting? *</p>
<p>It will kill me if she’s right at the cuttoff, but I suppose it would still be better to be in the running. Does anybody know why they wait so darn long to release the cutoff numbers? Seems silly.</p>
<p>And Wolverine, thanks for the smile this morning. :)</p>
<p>In our school district, all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders take PSAT. I think the 9th and 10th graders take it for free and juniors pay $14. As far as I know, our district schools don’t offer PLANs. This is still very much SAT region. For D’s school, there’s good amount of (peer) pressure to make the NMSF cut.</p>
<p>Re: the PSAT cutoff. My S1 (class of 13) scored the exact cutoff number…talk about sweating it out for months! Looking at our state’s historical cutoff scores…they were all either 1 or two points above or below his score. We knew he had a chance if he was lucky…but it would be close.</p>
<p>The day his guidance counselor called to tell us that the cutoff was his actual score was a very happy one in our house! He did end up being a NMF. Although he didn’t end up attending one of the schools that offered significant scholarships, it was fun to receive the mail from schools offering him free rides or full tuition+ and transportation to visit.</p>
<p>S2 will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday. All sophomores and juniors take it at our high school. They never really articulate to the kids the importance of doing well for NM consideration…it’s really too bad. When S2 took the PSAT as a sophomore, he was well above the cutoff…fingers crossed that he does just as well this year as a junior. If not, it’s not the end of the world!</p>
<p>Oh people, consider yourselves lucky that all you have to worry about is that cutoff number. My kid will be (1) certain that she didn’t do well right after the test and (2) certain that she didn’t do well if she scores anything less than 240, which of course she’s bound to do. I’m dreading the outcome no matter what. The only hint of positive is that she wants to do something “fun” this weekend. Maybe she’s softening a bit.</p>
<p>My middle D did not score in NMF range and knew going in she wouldn’t and I have to say it was a relief. She didn’t stress over the test and treated it purely as practice. Eldest D scored well above the cutoff so we knew she’d make NM as soon as we saw the scores. That too was a relief, except of course that this was the kid who couldn’t have cared less about it and resisted filling out the paperwork to advance to finalist. </p>
<p>Our school has a good number of semifinalists each year so you’d think there would be at least some talk about the PSAT and national merit, right? Not only haven’t I heard anything, I have heard misinformation. The counselors are pushing the ACT over the SAT, saying the kids seem to do better on the ACT. I asked once, in a public forum, about the need to take the SAT in order to attain a corroborating score for National Merit purposes and I was told, “no, it’s not necessary to take the SAT at all.” One counselor thought I didn’t know the difference between the SAT and the PSAT and the others seemed to think the ACT would be sufficient.</p>
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<p>One of the schools in our district is all about test prep – Saturday cram sessions every weekend in the fall, etc. In a typical year they have scores of NMSFs. Our school barely mentions the tests, and only produces a handful of NMSFs each year. But our school teams regularly beat theirs at academic competitions.</p>
<p>Their school does rank higher in USNWR. They also consistently place more kids into elite colleges. I’m convinced that a fair portion of that difference can be explained by legacy preference. Interestingly, the kids from both their school and ours that tend to get into the super-elites aren’t necessarily the NMSFs.</p>
<p>Since I’ve sort of been bashing our school of late, I would like to point out that an email just came through informing parents of the upcoming in-school PSAT and mentioning how there are scholarship opportunities with the exam. And Geneseo was at the college fair today and D had a long discussion with the person who tried to convince her it’s not in the middle of nowhere. Ok, I can go back to bashing now ;)…</p>
<p>Keepme- Geneseo is a great school but if you are from the down state area it absolutely is in the middle of nowhere. It does have a cute town, however. I would love my daughter to put it on her list but right now it’s wishful thinking. </p>
<p>Right now I am trying to convince a friend of mine that kids with 3.7 GPAs and 29 ACTs do not generally get huge merit awards to popular schools that require 3.7 GPAs and 29 ACTs. The two year old in me is becoming frustrated so I need to step back- my advice is falling on deaf ears. This kid is a great kid but to get any money she really has to do some research, but she wants the " popular" schools. Time for me to just " smile and nod" ( where is that thread?).</p>
<p>My D’s school doesn’t pay any attention to NMSF. Nobody ever got it, nobody ever will. There are a couple of seniors now who are really good. Somehow they didn’t do so well last year in PSAT. I remember last year my D. got the highest score in the whole school (212). But I’ve heard several seniors took the ACT and got very good scores, and they’re trying to get into top colleges. I really hope they do. That’ll give our school board a shock. They need it.</p>
<p>What is a ‘popular’ school? Where I live (Badgerland,) kids applying to the state flagship with 29/3.7 sweat and hold their breath until Jan., while mom and dad pace, just praying they can get in. No thoughts of scholarships, only of safety schools. The students with perfect records don’t anticipate merit either, since our school gives practically none and it is common knowledge.</p>
<p>There is a tendency to overestimate your kid’s chances of getting merit aid, until you go through the process once and see how it is. It’s natural, loving your kid and thinking they are so special that everyone else should think so too. They are in for some disappointment. Poor kid. Kids usually believe what parents say about college apps as all but the most savvy(those CC superstars) have no other way to judge. They can talk to GC about it, but I don’t know how many do.</p>
<p>Don’t give up. Try again. Consider it community service. Think of that sorry kid, maybe left with no acceptances, much less merit. Do they have money to pay? Any viable options? Are they applying to any schools where she is in at least the top 50% of applicants, or better, top 25%?</p>
<p>Here on our suburban privilege farm, the school doesn’t do much about the PSAT other than require all juniors to take it. But I think a lot of families prep their kids extensively starting over the summer for the PSAT/SAT double, and we typically see 12-15 NMSFs per graduating class at a non-magnet school. </p>
<p>You can just about smell the stress, so it’s time for this one. </p>
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<p>This years senior class has two NMF and about 10 commended ( 219). I told my daughter to do her best and do not worry about it. Honestly, it’s nice to do well but I can’t stress. </p>
<p>Last weekend was Homecoming. My daughter went to the pictures, went to the dance, and came home by 11:00. She was going to go out to eat with her friend but changed her mind. She chose not to attend any of the “after party” events because the things that go on are not for her. </p>
<p>Today at the game I was asked what my kid did after the dance. I simply stated " nothing, she chose to come home." These people looked at me as though my kid is a freak. These kids took a bus into the city where they had all kinds of things planned. They got home at 5:30 am and my kid wanted no part of it. She really marches to her own drum. So I sat at the game knowing that these people think my kid is " odd." Oh well. Truth be told- she is not into taking " party buses" into the city. She prefers to go out to dinner and discuss literature. That’s my kid. </p>
<p>I am dealing with mothers who blame teachers for their kids grades. I find this to be a slap in the face to my kid who does well but puts in tons of work. </p>
<p>Ugh. Tonight my kid is happy and I am having the meltdown!! Bring on the wine.</p>
<p>Celeste the school is UConn. Naviance places it at a 3.75 with a 29 (? Or 28)) ACT. This kid has a 3.7 GPA with a 29 ACT. It’s a match school ( she is retaking her tests) right now and getting money OOS will be non-existent. Mom does not want to hear it even though she asked. Even if she raises her scores the odds of merit money are slim. </p>
<p>The mom also seems to think that " really really liking your major" and expressing it in an essay will lead to merit money. You are right- people doing this for the first time will be in for a rude awakening. I am trying to guide her but she is not hearing it so I need to stop. Hopefully her kid will apply to some safety schools. </p>
<p>My kid just said that stuff she learned in AP physics is helping with some of the SAT math questions. During the summer she did a practice science section from the ACT and discovered an earth science paragraph from 8th grade. </p>
<p>December will be an interesting month. SAT, ACT and PSAT scores roll in. Great. May need some more wine.</p>
<p>There is real lack of awareness of the PSAT where we live, and particularly that this is the path to become a NMF. Since it’s ACT country, D’s school gives PLAN on weekday for no charge. PSAT is on Saturday and the only mention of it is a general notice of date, how to sign up and cost. But then the school takes great pride in trumpeting their status as perennial king in the state in NMFs on its main page of website and elsewhere. To the point that last year, when for the first time another school (S’s, who similarly takes no interest in preparing kids or talking up the test) tied them in NMF’s, they changed their blurb to include NAFs.They had one and thus could still claim first place. Drives us all nuts. </p>
<p>Kids D went to school with jaws dropped when she told them the kind of scholarship offers she got simply for scoring well on a test many of the kids are not even aware of. I guess the GCs don’t like to overplay the NMF aspect since it’s out of reach for so many. I liked the idea of pulling selected kids into office to discuss, as someone mentioned is done at their school. They could have the info somewhere on their guidance page though. And other specific scholarship opportunities as well.</p>
<p>celesteroberts- you are so right about parents overestimating the amount of scholarships their kids will be offered, especially at competitive schools. It is a lot diffrent that it was years ago when we were attending. On the other hand, if they would just be willing to consider a wider range of schools, they may very well be able to secure some decent merit awards. If there is a chance you can help any of those parents realize this when their kids are Juniors, perhaps they will see the light and learn about what their options REALLY are!</p>
<p>@Maxwell - “Nobody ever got it, nobody ever will.” Well, sounds like your D may become the first one ever! When that happens, they should put your D’s framed picture by the front door… </p>
<p>Even with 223 cutoff for Maryland, D’s school had 41 NMSFs this year. Most, if not all, are from the school’s IB program of about 100 kids. 40 out of 100, pretty crazy… Kids are feeling the pressure because some kids think (including my D) it’s embarrassing if they don’t make it. Like they need more pressure… It’s a sad situation but it’s too late to get off the train.</p>
<p>I will second the framed picture. I went to a small rural HS in the Midwest that had framed photos of every NMF in school history on the wall outside the principal’s office. (All-state athletes got the same treatment.) I haven’t been back in years, so I don’t know if they reinstalled the photos in the new, unified K through 12 school building.</p>
<p>I stand corrected on UConn- ACT is 27. Mittentigger it is very very frustrating that these parents overestimate their kids odds of merit money. This one mom walks around town stating she hopes to get money from three schools that are MATCH schools. I am trying so hard to get her to realize that a safety school may throw some money at you ( no guarantees). If you go down a notch or two and cast a wide net you may be pleasantly surprised. I have to stop because at this point I am just getting aggravated and getting her mad. Hopefully the guidance counselor will convince her. This same mom walked around town stating that her kid made varsity. Guess what? She didn’t.</p>