I’m curious to know if the digital test is easier, or if kids are just getting smarter, lol – I know the cutoffs were higher this year.
In my D26’s class of 118, there were 5 semifinalists and 6 commended students.
I know it’s based on the index. Is the index a set number of kids per state? Is the total number of kids always the same or does it fluctuate?
It’s the top 1 percent of test takers for semifinalist, which is about 16,000 students. And then an additional 34,000 for commended, totaling 50,000.
I think they set indexes to hit that number, but I’m not sure exactly how it’s divided among the states.
The commended are the top ~3% and SF the top 1%. Commended is a national cutoff and SF by state. Our school had 6 SF this year, not sure yet how many commended. The number of SF is down from the past couple of years (9-10) - the cutoff rose of course for CA. Past 2 years were 24-27 commended. When they do the commended certificate ceremony should find out how many- C26 is one of those. Class sizes are a little under 300 so commended + SF usually a bit over 10% of the class. I’m interested to see if the number of commended rose as that of SF fell.
D26 is very busy with cheer season- the football team is undefeated this season which is exciting. The cheer team has competitions beginning next weekend. She is also participating in powder puff which is a fundraiser they do every year against the senior girls from our town rival. It is always the weekend before Thanksgiving. Practices for that begin this week in the evenings after cheer practice. She has today off because of PSAT- seniors can either visit a college, work on their applications or in her case have a free day since she is done with everything. It is much needed. She has been “talking” to this boy and he is taking her to lunch today which is fun 
They have Team Dinner coming up, senior night on 10/31…it is flying by. She has surgery coming up in December so will lay low for a bit over the holidays. Then really I think not too much- she is not a winter sport kid so will likely have a much more mellow winter season.
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At our NJ public there were 12 SF and 56 commended in a class of 396. Number was pretty much the same as in the past.
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This is exactly my D26 right now (other than the applications part since she committed to Auburn already). I don’t know what I will do with myself next fall with no cheer 
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Wait, she committed to Auburn? Congrats!!! So you guys are DONE done – yay! 
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From what I understand, the test is actually slightly easier. I do think what we’re seeing here is probably not indicative of the class as a whole. While maybe less so than some other college forums, this board is still self selecting for higher performing kids from “better” school districts, so you’ll naturally see more people posting about NMSF and Commended on here.
As for what’s going on other than apps here, it’s basically all cheer all the time. The (thankfully short) competition season for HS cheer kicks off this weekend and then the allstar season kicks into high gear after that. No rest for the weary (me, not her). First quarter of the school year ends soon, so there’s been a bunch of tests and projects due as well.
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Wait, I’m new here (been lurking for a while, but just started joining in the comments). Are you in MA? My daughter is doing powderpuff too, but their practices have been before school at like 6:30 am which no one is a fan of. I’m just over here wondering why they actually have to have practices (plural) for the powderpuff game.
True, but I was more wondering about the digital vs. paper test. My D26 got NMSF – and she said the key was learning every tip and trick about Desmos (the provided online calculator), because it made the math section so much easier. But she’s a strong test taker anyway, so maybe she would have aced the paper test, who knows.
My older kid took the paper test in 2020 and missed NMSF by one point – and the cutoffs were a couple points lower then, too, I think?
So, just ruminating in general, lol.
Hard to say whether it’s the test in general or the digital test, maybe a combination? We will never know. My cynical take is that the College Board does whatever it needs to do to the test to keep people taking it so they can make as much $$ as possible.
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One of my D24’s friends is from northern Jersey and she said it is insanely competitive. She said compared to her peers, she was a slightly above avg student.
This is a girl who’s now at Georgetown.
She did! She is very excited and we are happy to be done with this process. She will now spend the spring applying for local scholarships- a couple of her friends last year got around $8K in random local scholarships which would be hugely helpful so she def has some more work to do!
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Haha yes, in MA. Hers are later at night because so many of the girls do fall sports- MUCH better than 6:30 am!!! Honestly I think the main goal is so they all at least know how to play/know the rules. So many of the girls have no idea how to play.
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6:30 am was chosen because they couldn’t find another time when all the girls and the coaches (aka the football players) could be available. Take it as a bonding experience, I guess, lol.
Our seniors are being measured for and ordering their graduation gowns 
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Is there an award for first college commitment on the board? And if so, did @coastal2024 ‘s kid get it? Congratulations! First commitment I’ve seen. Seems great to be done so early and just enjoy the rest of senior year
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At our school the football players are NOT allowed to coach. Only non football athletes can coach.
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Thanks! I am thrilled for her as she fell in love with the school as a freshman accompanying her junior brother on a tour. I so clearly remember her saying “I’m totally coming here for college” as soon as she set foot on campus.
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