@plotinus we don’t yet. We do know that up to one million additional testers sat the PSAT this year (4.5 million vs. about 3.5 last year). Last year’s junior pool was around 1.6 million. If ALL of the increase went to the junior NM eligible pool (highly unlikely, btw) that implies a smaller percentage for, say, commended scholars and higher than if the number had stayed at 1.6 mill. I get about top 3% - 2% when I crunch those numbers (I’m assuming the 50,000 qualifiers who are commended at the very least stays the same). Given all the hoopla about this test, I would doubt the junior pool would actually be a SMALLER number than last year so top 2% - 3% is probably a reasonable guesstimate of commended and the lowest NM cut-offs. So that’s around 200 - 202. Not very insightful analysis but at least we know that the commended # can’t really start at 210 or 195 or something.
My conclusion - in order to qualify for NMF in Texas- based “top third group in 99%tile, next to the lowest group in 99+%tile”. One should have SI at 210 up to 213
Again, Please, do not take my opinions or conclusions seriously since I am junior in HS and if you follow my posts you would see things like “my methods or my ways of estimate have many flaws” or " an estimate is an estimate. My Guess is as good as or as bad as anybody’s". I am not a CB official
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Last year Sept 2015, my friend got Commended (he scored 206) based on 2014 PSAT data table http://www.bernardsboe.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3096886/File/Jill Shadis/Ridge Counseling/Standardized Testing/Understanding 2014 PSAT-NMSQT Scores.pdf
SI of 206 is bottom 3rd of 98%tile
I came across this post and was amazed at how much energy is expended on the topic of PSAT scores, even by parents. PSAT scores mean nothing in the big scheme of things. Kids…go out, have some fun and enjoy the last 1-2 years you have in high school. Try to become an interesting person and learn to fail gracefully once in a while. It will get you a lot further in life than high PSAT scores, SAT scores and stellar grades.
@braxjax …true to a point. But there are quite a few kids who will get a full ride to college worth $150K plus. For them it just might mean a LOT in the “big scheme of things.” I would dare say that is life changing for some people, wouldn’t you agree?
@carachel2@braxjax I would agree. Making the cutoff in my state = 120K in college merit money.
As a parent, I agree with @braxjax on how kids should be out and enjoying their last 2 years of high school instead of hanging out on this forum, though! Work hard, play hard.
@braxjax, Sir, you just came across this CC and your comments are thoughtful and understandable, Here we are not talking about scores in general. We are discussing the extreme end or the very top scores in order to win a scholarship to a college of choice and at no cost to parents. I am in Texas, if i ever win this reward - it would mean my parents do not need to borrow $$$$$K for 4 years for me going to private Rice, SMU, TCU or public like UT Austin, Texas A&M, TX Tech. That mean my parents do not need to work harder, do not worry to make payments to banks while I am in college. This is how I repay my parents for taking care of me for the last 18 years. Money is hard to find at this time, especially to my family. The following link will explain more in details http://blog.prepscholar.com/psat-score-needed-for-national-merit-scholarship
Hi! Can someone please tell me how to convert your score to a NMSQT index? I don’t think I’m going to qualify, but I would like to know my index number. I would really appreciate it! Thank you!
@dallaspiano I totally agree with you! I’m a parent & I certainly would love it if my child scored a full ride or half ride scholarship! That would mean less debt when she graduates from college! What is the average debt that a millennium now owed when he/she is out of college? As much as I love my child I want her to be independent, free of debt & not live with me after college because she owes too much debt after college! Work hard now & play later is what we always tell our daughter!
@tryingforharvard you can see it on your score report if you poke around the website a little, or you can just add your three reading, math, and writing subscores out of 38 together.
@nillupa Why do you care about commended? It doesn’t give you anything. Anyway, you have answered your own question in about 10 posts, and asked it over and over again in about 10 posts. Stop asking the same question over and over.
@dallaspiano While NMF scholarships are awesome and definitely life changer, not all schools give scholarships. I am pretty sure Rice does not. I have no idea about the others you mentioned. The full-tuition scholarships are limited to a few schools. The full-ride to even fewer.
@carachel2 For the few kids that can’t pay for college any other way it absolutely could be life changing. It could also be life-changing for a kid to work while in college or learn to make the most out of attending a less expensive state school or junior college. If the NMS is a student’s only shot at paying for their college education there is something wrong. There’s so much more money out there that has nothing to do with their PSAT score.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek. You are right when say “not all schools give scholarships”. Did I mention “all”? No I did not. This is the latest update
http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf,
The above link will help you to have some ideas which colleges would offer NMF scholarships (page 20 to page 22). Just go to their websites, they would provide you more info with details