national merit semifinalist 2023 essay

National Merit Scholarship Program Explained

Below we cover the the most frequently asked questions about the National Merit Scholarship Program. Please see our National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs page for the latest information on actual and projected Selection Index cutoffs by state.

What is the National Merit Scholarship Program and how do you enter? The NMSP is a program administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in cooperation with the College Board to recognize high achieving high school seniors. Some recognition levels are based purely on junior PSAT/NMSQT scores, while other levels have additional qualifications (explained below). The NMSC gives out approximately $50 million in scholarships each year, and some colleges provide lowered —or even free —tuition to recognized students, multiplying the net impact of National Merit severalfold.

You must take the PSAT/NMSQT as a high school junior and either attend high school in the United States or U.S. Territories or be a U.S. student studying abroad. On your PSAT score report, you will see a section with your Selection Index and how you answered the questions about your entry eligibility. If there is an asterisk next to your Selection Index, it means that NMSC believes that you are ineligible.

What if I couldn’t take the PSAT? Every year students miss the PSAT for legitimate reasons such as illness. To allow those students the opportunity to compete in National Merit, NMSC has a process known as alternate entry . Students must make a written request to NMSC for an alternate entry application form. The application itself must be signed off on by your principal or counselor and postmarked no later than April 1 after the missed PSAT/NMSQT.

What is the Selection Index? The Selection Index is a weighting of your PSAT component scores to determines the level of your recognition within the initial stages of the National Merit program.

How is the Selection Index calculated? The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216.

Why is the Reading and Writing twice as important as the Math? The emphasis on “verbal” skills has a long history with the NMSP. The digital PSAT no longer has separate Reading and Writing scores, but the RW score is still doubled.

I’ve already received my PSAT scores; how can I find out whether I will qualify for recognition? Although you can use the Compass projections to estimate whether you are likely to qualify as a Commended Student or Semifinalist, there is no way of knowing your official status until high schools are notified by NMSC in early September of your senior year (sometimes schools hear by late August). Compass has published the cutoffs for the class of 2024 and estimates for the class of 2025 . An historical archive dating back more than 15 years can be found here . The Commended cutoff for future classes becomes unofficially known in the April after the PSAT. Compass will report this score and how it may impact Semifinalist cutoffs on our regularly updated cutoffs post.

Will I qualify as a Semifinalist if I am in the 99th percentile for Selection Index according to my score report? Although approximately 1% of test takers will become Semifinalists, there are a number of reasons why percentile scores are far too inaccurate to determine eligibility. Even the state percentiles that are now on the digital SAT report do not have enough information, because they are actually based on the prior 3 years of scores. Further, the percentile is rounded, and not accurate enough to determine cutoffs.

Why do some states have more Semifinalists and Finalists than other states? Although Commended Scholars are honored based on a single, national cutoff, NMSC distributes Semifinalists proportionally to states (and District of Columbia and U.S. Territories) based on the number of graduating students in the state. For example, California sees approximately 2,100 Semifinalists each year—the most in the country. It gets 13% of Semifinalists because it produces approximately 13% of high school graduates. Mississippi, on the other hand, typically sees about 135 National Merit Semifinalists, because the state produces a bit more than 0.8% of U.S. graduates. The distribution is completely unrelated to the number of students taking the PSAT in the state.

Why are Semifinalist cutoffs so much higher in some states than in others? Two things that have impact on cutoffs are participation rates and demographics. In some states, ACT is the dominant test and not as many students take the PSAT. This leaves some students out of the competition and will tend to produce lower cutoffs. Some states have large pockets of extremely qualified students and are particularly competitive. For example, Massachusetts and New Jersey have class of 2024 cutoffs of 222 and 223, respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming had NMSF cutoffs of 207 for the class of 2024. The minimum Semifinalist cutoff for a state is the national Commended level. If, for example, the Commended cutoff is at 210, no state can have a Semifinalist cutoff less than 210.

How are Semifinalists set for homeschoolers, boarding school students, or U.S. students studying abroad? Homeschoolers are treated no differently than other students in a state. U.S. students studying abroad will have to meet the highest state cutoff in the country. For the class of 2024, that was 223. Boarding school cutoffs are the most complex to calculate. Instead of being set at the state level, they are determined regionally. A Northeast boarding school student, for example, must meet the highest cutoff of any state within the Northeast region. NMSC defines boarding schools as schools with predominantly out-of-state students. NMSC considers your state to be where you went to school when you took the PSAT, not your state of residency or the state of your new school.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to participate? NMSC has made this part of the process easier to understand than it was in the past. Students at high school in the U.S. or in U.S. Territories are eligible. Period. Students studying abroad are eligible as long as they are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (“green card”) or or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become U.S. citizens at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

Will NMSC notify me if I become a Semifinalist? No. NMSC provides information only to schools until a student becomes a Finalist. Homeschoolers are the exception.

When will my school tell me? NMSC mails information to schools in late August. Some schools let students know their status in early September. Many schools wait until NMSC officially releases student names to the press in the second week of September. Compass will track all of the latest news on our Semifinalists cutoff page.

Will being a Semifinalist help get me into my first-choice college? While Semifinalist status is a nice award to list on your application, you should not expect it alone to have a significant impact on your admission chances at most colleges. The recognition tells college that you did well on the PSAT. Your SAT and ACT scores are far more important to colleges; your National Merit status does not add much new information. However, having a high number of enrolled Semifinalists is seen as a badge of honor at some colleges and will factor in their admission decisions. Some colleges have programs specifically to attract National Merit Finalists and offer large merit awards.

Do I need to take the SAT to become a Semifinalist? No. Commended Student and Semifinalist recognition are based only on your Selection Index and your entry eligibility.

What happens after I am named a Semifinalist? Semifinalists will receive login credentials for the Finalist application portal. You will need to provide background information and an essay. Your school will need to provide its recommendation and electronically submit your application in the second week of October,

What is the National Merit Finalist essay prompt? NMSC may change the prompt in future years, but it has been the same for many years. It is broad enough that most students are able to use or slightly rework their Common App essay. For the class of 2024, the prompt was:

“To help the reviewers get to know you, describe an experience you have had, a person who has influenced you, or an obstacle you have overcome. Explain why this is meaningful to you. Use your own words and limit your response to the space provided.”

There is not a word limit specified, but the essay must fit within the provided space (approximately 3500 characters). Expect to keep your essay to 600 – 650 words.

Do I need to take the SAT or ACT to become a Finalist? Among the requirements to proceed from Semifinalist to Finalist is that you receive a “confirming score.” This score helps validate that you can, on an official SAT or ACT test date, achieve a high score and confirm your testing skill.

Can a high ACT score be a confirming score? Yes, the ACT can be used to confirm PSAT results.

How high of an SAT score do I need for a confirming score? The confirming score is determined each year by NMSC and is calculated in the same way as the PSAT Selection Index. The confirming score is set nationally, so it does not matter what Semifinalist cutoff you met. The confirming SAT Selection Index (SSI) generally falls at or near the Commended cutoff.

The easiest calculation of the SSI is from your section scores. Drop a zero, double your RW, and add your Math score. For example, Student X might have a total score of 1450, with section scores of 720 RW and 730 M. Student X’s SSI would be 2(72) + 73 = 217. It’s possible for a student with a lower total score to have a higher SSI. Student Y has a total score of 1430, with section scores of 750 ERW and 690 M. Student Y’s SSI would be 2(75) + 69 = 219.

You cannot determine your SSI directly from your total score. One student scoring 1400 might have a high enough SSI, whereas another student with a 1400 might fall short. You must know your RW and Math scores.

How high of an ACT score do I need for a confirming score? NMSC wants to have a level playing field, so it converts components of the ACT score into an SAT Selection Index. In order to do that, you need to use the official concordance tables published by ACT/College Board. There is no SAT Science, so NMSC does not look at ACT Science. So discard that score.

Step 1: Add your ACT English and ACT Reading scores Step 2: Use the ACT E+R to SAT RW concordance table to find the concordant SAT RW score based on the sum in step 1. Be sure that you are going in the correct direction when using the concordance tables. ACT E+R to SAT RW is not always the same as SAT RW to ACT E+R. Step 3: Use the ACT M to SAT M table to find the concordant SAT M score based on your ACT Math score. Step 4: Calculate your SAT SI: drop the last zeros (i.e. divide by 10), double your RW, and add your Math score. You want this number to be at least as high as your class year’s Commended Student score.

Example: A student has ACT scores of 32E, 34M, 33R, and 31S. Science is not used. The sum of E and R is 65. In the concordance tables, this is equivalent to a 700 RW. The 34 Math is concordant to a 760. This student’s SAT Selection Index is 70×2 + 76 = 216.

When do I have to take the SAT or ACT for the score to be ‘confirmed’? You can use any SAT or ACT score from the fall of your sophomore year to December of your senior year. This means that you could have received an SAT confirming score even before taking the PSAT/NMSQT. NMSC recommends that you not wait until the December test date.

How do I submit scores to NMSC? NMSC does not automatically know your SAT and ACT scores. You must submit them just as you would to a college. The College Board code for NMSC is 0085. The ACT code is 7984. Please verify these codes before submitting. Since NMSC will use your highest scores, there is no penalty for choosing them as one of your free score recipients when you register for the SAT or ACT.

Can I superscore SAT or ACT dates in order to reach the confirming score cutoff? No. NMSC will use your highest scores, but will not superscore across test dates.

If I have achieved a confirming score, is there any reason to shoot for a higher score? The requirement for a confirming score is simply true or false when applying to become a Finalist. However, your test scores are used to evaluate you during the scholarship phase of the competition. Depending on your goals, you may want to optimize your score.

Can sophomores qualify for National Merit recognition? No. Even if your scores are high enough, you will not be eligible for National Merit as a sophomore unless you will be graduating a year early. In that case, you should contact NMSC or your principal about next steps as NMSC has no way of automatically knowing your eligibility.

Is it hard for a Semifinalist to become a Finalist? Of the 16,000 Semifinalists, 15,000 become Finalists. You must go through an application process to proceed to Finalist level and then to compete for National Merit Scholarships. As part of the application, you must meet citizenship requirements, have a satisfactory academic record, achieve a confirming score on the SAT or ACT (and submit the scores to NMSC!), write an essay, and receive a recommendation from your principal. More information can be found in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide . In the Semifinalist letter from your school (it will NOT come from NMSC unless you are homeschooled), NMSC will provide details about how to begin the process online.

When will I find out if I am a Finalist? You will be notified in February of senior year.

Do all Finalists receive scholarships? What is a National Merit Scholar? Only about half of Finalists become National Merit Scholars and receive a National Merit Scholarship. There are three types of scholarships for Finalists, each with its own criteria. A student can only receive one type of scholarship. Approximately 4,000 Finalists receive scholarships from sponsoring colleges with renewable stipends of $500–$2,500 per year. Students must be accepted by a sponsoring institution and list the college as first choice in order to receive a college-sponsored award. These awards are not transferable to another college. Corporations sponsor approximately 1,000 awards for Finalists each year with a minimum one-time value of $2,500 or $1,000 renewable. Most of these awards are to Finalists who are the children of employees. Approximately 2,500 students receive awards of $2,500 directly from National Merit. These awards are highly competitive and are allocated proportionally by state. A list of sponsoring colleges and corporations can be found in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide .

I’ve heard about colleges that provide full-ride awards. Why are college-sponsored awards only listed as $500–$2,500 per year? Colleges can also choose to provide additional awards to National Merit Finalists. These are not technically National Merit Scholarships, but they can be the most important awards for many students. Which colleges offer these awards and how much they offer can change from year to year. In recent years, Florida has had a generous scholarship program for National Merit Finalists, and schools such as UT-Dallas and Texas A&M also provide substantial awards. Compass does not maintain a database of scholarships. The National Merit forum at collegeconfidential.com is a useful resource.

Are scholarships available to Commended Students and Semifinalists? Technically, these students cannot be National Merit Scholars, but approximately 1,100 of them will receive Special Scholarships from sponsoring corporations. As with other corporate-sponsored awards, these are predominantly for the children of employees, although companies can also identify students in a particular region or field of study.

When will I find out if I receive a scholarship? You will be notified of scholarship status sometime between March and June of your senior year. In order to receive a college-sponsored scholarship, you must note the college as your first choice on the National Merit application. It can be to your advantage not to immediately choose a first-choice college—you can leave it as “Undecided.” You do not want to miss out on a large scholarship because you have listed the wrong college. There is no reason to list a college that does not provide National Merit Scholarships. List your first-choice among college that do provide scholarships. You can update your choice via the Online Scholarship Application portal.

About Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

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Next post national merit semifinalist cutoffs class of 2024 - archived, 458 comments.

Hello! I had a question about Alternative Entry. If a student took the PSAT/NMSQT as a 10th grader (as practice, with the rest of his class), would this then disqualify him from using the “Alternative Entry” method in 11th grade? I realize that to do Alternative Entry you can’t already taken the PSAT– but I wasn’t sure if that applied to just PSATs in junior year, when kids are eligible for entering the National Merit competition. [For clarification- I’m sure the test that the kids took was the PSAT/NMSQT, and NOT the PSAT 10.] Thank you!

Steph, Only the junior year PSAT/NMSQT serves as a qualifier for National Merit. The sophomore year test your student took is, therefore, irrelevant. The Alternate Entry process specifically applies to students who are unable to take the 11th grade PSAT.

Hi Art, For a 10th grader, would you recommend taking PSAT/NMSQT or SAT given that to qualify for NMSC, the child would have to re-take PSAT/NMSQT again in junior year.

Vivek, There is not a right or wrong answer here. Normally I would recommend that a student go ahead and take the PSAT. It’s convenient; it’s very similar to the digital SAT. That last part is important. If the student’s testing career is going to extend beyond this December (and that’s true for virtually all sophomores), they will be taking the digital SAT. If your student wants to get in a paper SAT, they have until December. For all but a very small number of sophomores, that seems like overkill. A fall sophomore is unlikely to be at a point where they’ll get a final score (the exception would be students already well into the 1500s). And it doesn’t have a practice benefit because the paper SAT is almost gone. So my soft recommendation would be to go ahead and take the PSAT.

1. For the students who got selected to semi-finalists, they need to submit only one school of their choice (one of the questions) in the NMSQT finalist application – does the public/private school choice make a difference in getting the Corporate/NMSQT awards? 2. Do the parents need to be an employee of the Corporate Sponsors to receive any awards under the corporate awards category?

Thank you in advance. Best,

Neelahm, If a Semifinalist becomes a Finalist and has listed a school that sponsors National Merit, NMSC will generally match the student with a school award. If the student’s first choice is not a sponsor, then they will be eligible for a corporate or NMSC award. The student’s first choice school can be updated through April, I believe, but the matching process starts in March.

Most corporate awards are for the children of employees. You can find more info here on page 10 of the Student Guide .

English Learners cannot take the NMSQT w/accommodations such as “extended time”; the system does not allow them. Is this a true statement?

Synde, That is a true statement. There is no accommodation specifically for English Learners on the PSAT, SAT, or ACT as far as I am aware.

Hello Art If my ACT is 35 & translates to 228/230 ( twice taken ) and SAT is (229) , which do you think should I submit? Also if I do ACT should I just submit the superscore as it will include both. Would you also be able to chime in with regards to colleges which would be a better option to send SAT ( 1530 ) or ACT (35 both times) ?

As always thank you so much for your time & help Best MaryAnn

Mary Ann, Both your SAT and ACT are so strong that it doesn’t matter for National Merit which one you provide. Those scores are only used as a minimum qualifying standard — the “confirming score.” They are not used in the competition itself.

It’s very much a toss-up for colleges. As a single point to point concordance, a 35 is equivalent to a 1540. In the other direction, a 1530 is concordant with a 35. You might say that the ACT is ever so slightly stronger.

Thank you so much for your kind help and time! Best !

My son is in his junior year and he has an SAT score of 1570 and a PSAT score of 1460. Do you think he has a chance to qualify to become a semi finalist for NMSQT Scholarship? Please let us know.

Thanks, Usha

Usha, Only his PSAT score matters for qualification as a Semifinalist. Actually, it’s the Selection Index that matters, not so much his 1460. The SI puts twice the weight on the Reading and Writing score. You’ll find his Selection Index on his score report. The cutoffs are determined by state. In some places he would probably qualify easily. In other states he might miss out. See our estimates in my other post here .

I wanted to ask if you know what the typical cutoffs for the National Merit African American, Hispanic recognition, Rural recognition typically are? I know they’ve been making some changes the past few years? I’m a tutor who’s going to be doing some pro bono work at a Title I school in our county for some of their top sophs this coming fall and the admin asked if i knew what the typical cutoffs are for those programs!

Love your blog!

MG, I wish I could be more helpful here, but College Board doesn’t release the figures — at least not en masse. The cutoffs are set by state, and student must be in the top 10% of scores (they can also qualify via AP scores). You might want to call College Board and ask about your state.

Thank you for the kind words, and thank you for helping students in your local area!

My son got a 226 composite score, so we are most certain he will make the semi-finalist list. But, he only has a 1480 in SAT (770 r/w, 710 math). Will that be sufficient to move from semi-finalist to finalist? Are there any red flags he should watchout for during the application process?

Walker, Not sure how I missed your post from December! Congratulations to your son! Yes, the 770/710 is more than high enough to serve as a confirming score. It basically needs to be at the Commended level and otherwise doesn’t impact his Finalist application. The process is straightforward. His grades are his grades. He will fill out a short application, write an essay (the hardest part, although it is a general topic where students can often rework other essays), and get a recommendation from the school. No red flags, just deadlines to hit. Your son will get login information to the application portal with his Semifinalist letter in September.

How to Become a National Merit Scholarship Finalist

Earning a top PSAT/NMSQT score and winning a National Merit® Scholarship can mean thousands of dollars each year of college, which can make a big dent in tuition. There are a few steps to qualify to become a National Merit Scholarship finalist, and you must meet certain criteria. In this article, we break down everything you need to know about the annual National Merit Scholarship competition. Find out how to enter as well as what PSAT score you need to become a National Merit Scholarship finalist.

What is the National Merit Scholarship?

The National Merit Scholarship is offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Almost 10,000 students receive scholarships each year based on their PSAT scores and other accomplishments. The NMSC notifies winners of the scholarships beginning in March and continuing into mid-June.

What are the different types of National Merit Scholarships?

There are three types of National Merit Scholarships:

National Merit $2,500 Scholarships: All National Merit Scholarship finalists compete for these single-payment $2,500 scholarships. They are awarded on a state-representational basis and without consideration of financial circumstances, college choice, major, or career plans. There are 2,500 National Merit Scholarships offered each year.
Corporate-sponsored Scholarships: Corporate sponsors offer scholarships to children of their employees, residents of a community where the corporation has operations, or to National Merit Scholarship Finalists with career plans the sponsor wants to encourage. Each year, sponsors announce their programs, determine eligibility, and pay scholarship costs. The number of scholarships a business or foundation offers ranges from one to more than a hundred. These scholarships can be one-time awards or renewable for four years of undergraduate study.
College-sponsored Merit Scholarships: Winners of college-sponsored merit scholarships are National Merit Scholarship Finalists who have been admitted to the college or university and have informed NMSC that the sponsor college is their first choice by the deadlines. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. Each year, colleges and universities offer about 3,800 Merit Scholarships to eligible Finalists.

Requirements for the National Merit Scholarship Competition

The first step is to take the PSAT no later than your junior year of high school. You must also be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident intending to become a citizen as soon as you can. Your scores are automatically sent to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, the National Scholarship Service, and the Telluride Seminar Scholarships.

In addition, College Board, which creates and administers the PSAT, partners with groups such as the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, the Cobell Scholarship (awarded by Indigenous Education, Inc.), and The Jackie Robinson Foundation to connect test takers with scholarships based on their test scores. You can find more information about these programs on College Board’s website .

[ RELATED: What is the PSAT? ]

How do you get a National Merit Scholarship?

If you think you might make it to Semifinalist status, congrats. There are a few more steps you will need to go through to become a Finalist. First, National Merit Scholarship Corporation will contact you if you make it that far. In order to become a Finalist, you must then:

complete the National Merit Scholarship Application, which includes writing an essay
have a record of very high academic performance in all of grades 9 through 12 and in any college course work taken
be fully endorsed for Finalist standing and recommended for a National Merit Scholarship by your high school principal
take the SAT or ACT and earn scores comparable to your semifinalist PSAT score
provide any other documentation and information that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation requests

Each year, the top 50,000 PSAT get commendation letters from the National Merit program, and 16,000 of those students qualify as Semifinalists. The cutoff score for Semifinalists varies by state and by year. Semifinalists are invited to complete the National Merit Scholarship Application, which includes writing an essay.

Of the 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 will be considered Finalists. About half of the Finalists will eventually be chosen as Merit Scholarship winners. According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, “scholarship recipients are the candidates judged to have the greatest potential for success in rigorous college studies and beyond.”

What score do you need to become a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist?

What score you need to become a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist depends on the state you live in. Each state has a preset number of Semifinalists, and once scores come in for students that determines the cutoff score for that year in that state. For example, if you live in California, you would need to have a Selection Index score of 220 in order to qualify as a Semifinalist. If you live in West Virginia, you would have to score a 207.

The Selection Index score is calculated by using your section scores and this formula: 2RW+M ÷ 10. In addition to varying by state, this number can vary by year. Regardless of the exact cutoff for your state, all of the students who qualify earn high scores—less than the top 1% of high school students advance to become Semifinalists.

The College Board includes this on your PSAT score report if you’re eligible.

2023 National Merit Semifinalist Cutoff Scores by State

Review the 2023 National Merit Semifinalist cutoff scores by state to help you set your PSAT score goals:

Alabama: 212
Alaska: 210
Arizona: 214
Arkansas: 210
California: 220
Colorado: 217
Connecticut: 221
Delaware: 218
Florida: 216
Georgia: 218
Hawaii: 215
Illinois: 219
Indiana 214
Kansas: 214
Kentucky: 212
Louisiana: 213
Maryland: 222
Massachusetts: 220
Michigan: 218
Minnesota: 216
Mississippi: 210
Missouri: 213
Montana: 207
Nebraska: 212
Nevada: 210
New Hampshire: 213
New Jersey: 223
New Mexico: 208
New York: 219
North Carolina: 217
North Dakota: 209
Oklahoma: 211
Oregon: 216
Pennsylvania: 218
Rhode Island: 216
South Carolina: 213
South Dakota: 212
Tennessee: 215
Vermont: 213
Virginia: 221
Washington: 220
West Virginia: 207
Wisconsin: 213
Wyoming: 207

Other cutoff scores:

U.S. citizens studying abroad: 223
U.S. territories: 207
Commended student (national score): 207

[ NEXT: What’s a Good PSAT score? ]

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22 Full-Ride Scholarships for National Merit Finalists

What’s covered:, how much are national merit scholarships, how many schools offer full rides to national merit scholars, full-tuition scholarships for national merit finalists, how does your psat score impact your college chances.

It’s no wonder why many colleges are excited to welcome National Merit Finalists to their campuses—they’re among the most sought-after students in the nation, having scored highly on standardized tests and having demonstrated academic excellence during their high school years.

Some colleges offer National Merit Finalists full-ride scholarships to entice them into attending their institution, and a few will even offer additional financial awards that can be applied to things like research, study abroad, and technology.

National Merit Finalists begin as National Merit Semifinalists—an honor earned by scoring highly on the PSAT/NMSQT. Just 16,000 students out of over 1.5 million test takers are recognized as Semifinalists! Semifinalists are selected by state, with each state having its own cutoff scores (which change annually) that a student must meet to become a semifinalist.

While being named a National Merit Semifinalist is a prestigious honor in its own right, such students are also given the opportunity to advance to the level of National Merit Finalist. Finalists can earn scholarship dollars through a process similar to completing a college application—earning a strong score on the SAT or ACT, getting great grades, receiving a persuasive recommendation, and composing a compelling essay.

At the completion of the process, over 15,000 students are named National Merit Finalists and become eligible to win one of three types of scholarships:

The National Merit Scholarship: This is a one-time award of $2,500 based largely on a student’s academic record, essays, and written recommendations.
Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards: These scholarships vary in multiple aspects, from value to length—some are one-time awards while others are renewable. They’re awarded to students who meet specific criteria, such as being children of the business’s employees, residing in a community where the business operates, or pursuing a particular career path.
College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards: Colleges and universities offer students renewable awards of varying values, provided that they’ve listed the school as their first choice and that they’ve gained admission.

It’s uncommon for National Merit Colleges to offer full-ride scholarships—it’s almost possible to count the number on your fingers and toes. Full-ride scholarships are the most generous award a student can receive—they cover the total expenses of college, including tuition, housing, meals, fees, and books. They also often include stipends that can be used on anything from covering other living expenses to studying abroad.

Full-ride scholarships are as rare as they are generous—the website Investopedia says that “unless a student is an elite athlete, in the top 1% academically, or has accomplished some other notable feat, the likelihood of getting a full-ride scholarship is slim to none.” Don’t be discouraged, though! One notable feat that can earn a student a full-ride scholarship at select schools is becoming a National Merit Finalist.

Numerous colleges offer full-ride scholarships to National Merit Finalists—a strong incentive to entice top students into applying to their programs.

1. Faulkner University

Freshman applicants who are National Merit Finalists and list Faulkner University as their first-choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation receive funding to cover full tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees. National Merit Semifinalists also receive an award—they’re given free tuition at the University.

2. Florida A&M University

Florida A&M will cover the total cost of attendance—which may include tuition, fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, travel, and other miscellaneous expenses—for in-state National Merit Finalists through the Benacquisto Scholarship Program.

3. Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) provides in-state National Merit Finalists with awards that cover up to the full cost of attendance through the Benacquisto Scholarship Program. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and enroll for 12 credit hours per semester to continue receiving the award.

4. Florida International University

National Merit Finalists will find tuition, fees, housing, and a meal plan covered at Florida International University (FIU). They will also receive a stipend for books and, if they demonstrate financial need, a laptop as well.

To qualify for the award, students must choose FIU as their top-choice university with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

5. Liberty University

Liberty University offers to cover the cost of tuition, as well as room and board, for up to four years for National Merit Semifinalists. Students must matriculate into Liberty University’s Honors Program to receive the award. National Merit Semifinalists also receive free tuition at Liberty University.

6. Louisiana Tech University

The National Merit Scholarship at Louisiana Tech University covers the cost of tuition, on-campus housing, and meals for four years for National Merit Finalists who list Louisiana Tech University as their first choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

To continue receiving the award, students must take a full-time course load and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

7. Murray State University

National Merit Finalists at Murray State receive four-year free tuition, on-campus housing, and meal plans. Recipients are required to maintain a 3.2 GPA, enroll full-time, and participate in the University’s Honors College.

8. New College of Florida

The New College of Florida offers to cover the full cost of attendance for National Merit Finalists who are residents of the Sunshine State through the Benacquisto Scholarship Program. To qualify, students must register the New College of Florida as their first choice institution with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

9. Oklahoma Christian University

Oklahoma Christian University (OC) National Merit Scholar Award covers up to 17 credit hours per semester of full tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and a meal plan for up to eight semesters. To qualify, students must list OC as their first-choice university with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and maintain a 3.0 GPA as an OC student.

10. Texas Tech University

The National Merit Finalist Scholarship from Texas Tech provides National Merit Finalists with funding to cover the full cost of attendance for four years of undergraduate study. To remain eligible to receive funding, scholarship recipients are required to enroll in 30 hours per academic year and maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA.

11. University of Alabama

The University of Alabama has an enticing offer for National Merit Finalists—free tuition and housing. The school also provides National Merit Finalists with a supplemental scholarship of $3,500 per year, a one-time $2,000 allowance for summer research or international study, and $500 annually for books.

12. University of Central Florida

Both in-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists have a good reason to put the University of Central Florida (UCF) at the top of their lists—in-state students have their total cost of attendance covered, while out-of-state students receive a waiver that allows them to pay the in-state tuition rate, and a UCF Merit Scholarship valued at $80,000.

National Merit Finalists also receive an expedited admissions decision, guaranteed admission into UCF’s Burnett Honors College, guaranteed on-campus housing, and a laptop.

13. University of Idaho

National Merit Finalists at the University of Idaho receive an institutional award that covers tuition, fees, and room and board if they enroll at the University for their first semester of undergraduate studies. National Merit Finalists are also directly admitted to the University Honors Program.

14. University of Maine

Maine residents who are National Merit Semifinalists are awarded the UMaine National Merit Award, which provides free tuition, as well as room and board, at the University of Maine for up to 15 credits per semester. Students must maintain full-time status—at least 12 credits per semester—to continue receiving the award.

15. University of Mississippi

National Merit Finalists with a minimum 3.0 GPA are eligible for the Academic Excellence National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist Scholarship at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The award covers the cost of tuition and housing—it also covers non-resident fees for out-of-state students. The award is renewable for up to four years.

16. University of New Mexico

In-state students who are National Merit Finalists qualify for free tuition, fees, and housing at the University of New Mexico. The award is renewable for four years, provided that recipients maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA and complete 15 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters.

17. University of North Texas

The saying goes “everything is bigger in Texas,” and that’s true for National Merit Finalist awards—at least at the University of North Texas, where scholarship packages include the total cost of attendance. Both residents and non-residents of Texas have the cost of tuition, housing, meals, and books covered, along with a generous stipend.

The total value of the award for Texas residents is $128,000, while the value for non-residents is $177,000!

18. University of South Florida

The University of South Florida (USF) provides National Merit Finalists with a strong incentive to attend the school. Both in-state and out-of-state students receive a scholarship covering 100% of the full cost of attendance along with a $2,000 scholarship for study abroad.

National Merit Finalists at USF also receive a tuition waiver for their first 30 credits of graduate study at the school if they immediately enter a graduate program at the University after earning a baccalaureate degree.

19. University of Texas at Arlington

In-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists receive exceptional financial support at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), including an award that covers tuition, fees, and on-campus housing. Students also receive stipends for books, supplies, and other educational expenses; research; and study abroad.

20. University of Tulsa

National Merit Finalists who designate the University of Tulsa (TU) as their first choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation are awarded free tuition, fees, room and board, and books at the school. Recipients are also given membership in Leadership TU (led by the University’s President), guaranteed admission into TU’s Honors Program, and a $6,000 annual monetary gift.

The award is renewable for up to five years or until an undergraduate degree is earned. Students must maintain a minimum of 15 hours of coursework per semester to continue receiving the award.

21. University of West Florida

National Merit Finalists who attend the University of West Florida (UWF) their first semester in college are awarded free tuition, fees, housing, and meal plan. Recipients are also given an $800 stipend per semester for books and a one-time stipend of up to $1,500 for research or study abroad.

22. Virginia Commonwealth University

National Merit Finalists are eligible for the Presidential Scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a four-year award that covers the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board. The total value of the award is approximately $114,356!

While a number of colleges offer full-ride scholarships to National Merit Finalists, numerous others provide National Merit Finalists with free tuition.

1. Harding University

National Merit Finalists who select Harding University as their first-choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation receive free tuition and a $2,000 annual stipend. Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA and live in campus housing.

2. Iowa State University

Iowa State University provides in-state National Merit Finalists with free tuition scholarships that are renewable for four years of undergraduate coursework. To receive the award, students must maintain full-time status at the University and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

3. Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University provides National Merit Finalists with free tuition and housing through its National Merit Finalist Scholarship, which is open to both in-state and out-of-state students. The award is worth approximately $40,000 over four years for Mississippi residents and $100,000 over four years for non-residents!

4. New Jersey Institute of Technology

National Merit Finalists are eligible to receive a four-year award covering the cost of tuition at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The award is renewable for four years, provided that recipients maintain full-time status and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

5. Oklahoma State University

Both in-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists qualify for a five-year tuition waiver at Oklahoma State University (OSU). The award is valued at up to $70,100 for in-state students and up to $147,700 for out-of-state students!

6. University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma (OU) won’t cover all the expenses of in-state and out-of-state National Merit Finalists; however, it does offer them particularly generous aid packages. OU waives tuition for National Merit Finalists and provides generous stipends to help offset the cost of room and board, books, technology, and fees. The University also awards stipends for study abroad and research.

7. University of Houston

The University of Houston (UH) offers National Merit Finalists a generous scholarship package if they attend the institution—they have the cost of tuition and fees covered. In addition, National Merit Scholars at UH receive a $2,000 stipend for study abroad and a $1,000 stipend for research.

8. University of Texas at Dallas

National Merit Finalists at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) get complete tuition coverage for up to eight semesters. They also receive a stipend of $4,000 per semester to offset the cost of books, supplies, and other expenses; a housing stipend of $1,500 per semester; and a one-time stipend of $6,000 study abroad.

National Merit Finalists at UT Dallas also receive admission into the Collegium V Honors program.

9. University of West Virginia

National Merit Finalists with a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 can receive free tuition at the University of West Virginia along with a one-time $3,500 stipend for study abroad.

PSAT scores aren’t evaluated in the college admissions process; however, a high PSAT score is a strong indicator that an applicant will earn a high score on the SAT, which impacts your chances significantly. Standardized test scores and grades are used to calculate an applicant’s Academic Index —a single numerical score that many highly selective colleges use to screen applicants. If an applicant fails to meet a college’s Academic Index threshold, their application is likely to not receive serious consideration.

As mentioned above, becoming a National Merit Semifinalist is an impressive achievement in itself, since just the top 1% of scorers in a given state receive that recognition. National Merit Semifinalists will want to make sure to include it in the Awards and Honors section of the Common App, as it may improve their odds of college admission.

CollegeVine can help add clarity to your college admission odds. Our free chancing engine uses a variety of factors—ranging from grades to test scores to extracurricular activities—to estimate your odds at hundreds of colleges across the country! Rather than merely predict what college you may or may not get into, this powerful tool can also illuminate strengths and weaknesses in your college profile, giving you a chance to address underwhelming areas and improve your college admission odds.

Congratulations to BCPS Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) officials announced 40 Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) high school seniors as semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented students are among 216 semifinalists in Florida and more than 16,000 nationwide vying for one of the prestigious scholarships offered by the organization. The students will continue to compete for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

College Academy @ Broward College Daniel Fallon Sofia Guarisma Michael Jaccoma Micah Tam Olivia Zhang

Cooper City High School Samantha Carozzi Jared Garfinkel Trevor Overton

Coral Glades High School Olivia Schwartz

Cypress Bay High School Daphne Calin Atiksh Chandra Sebastian Correcha Gabriele Di Gianluca Daniel Garcia Erick Mondragon Sastha Rajamanikandan Emma Rose Xabier Sienra Sahana Thayagabalu Daniel Umarov Om Vaddi

Deerfield Beach High School Duncan Xie

Fort Lauderdale High School Brandon Fingal

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Choy Jason Nabeeha Haque Rushil Kothur Joshua Schwartz

Monarch High School Brooke Reynolds

Plantation High School Kylie King Jason Vadnos

Pompano Beach High School Jonah Bennett, Gabriel Demirza Riley Dion Kaitlyn Drew Samir Husain David Tran

West Broward High School Ryan Garcia Nikash Jakkidi Taylor Pierson

William T. McFatter Technical High School Marcus Secu

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2023. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 180 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS “Educating all students to reach their highest potential.” Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth largest school district in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962, serving more than 256,000 students and approximately 110,000 adult learners in 240 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 90 charter schools. BCPS supports a diverse student population representing 170 different countries and speaking 147 languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, follow us on Twitter @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, and download the free BCPS mobile app.

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How to Become a National Merit Semifinalist

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Every October, about 1.6 million juniors across the country take the PSAT . Those who score in the top 1% achieve the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist. Most of these students move on to become National Merit Finalists , with some winning scholarship money for college.

Being named a National Merit Semifinalist is a huge achievement along the path to college. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to become a National Merit Semifinalist.

Basic Entry Requirements for National Merit Semifinalists

To become a Semifinalist and be eligible for a National Merit Scholarship, you must meet the following four requirements set by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) :

Be enrolled as a high school student, progressing normally toward graduation. This just means that you’re taking and passing a normal number of classes and expect to graduate on time.

Plan to enroll full-time in college starting the fall following high school graduation. In other words, you can’t postpone college to spend a year abroad, work full-time, and so on.

Be a U.S. citizen or lawful U.S. permanent resident planning to become a U.S. citizen.

Earn a top PSAT score. The definition of a "top" score varies by state , but generally you'll need to score in the top 1% of juniors to qualify.

But what PSAT score do you need exactly? Keep reading because in the next section we explain exactly how high your PSAT score needs to be to qualify you for Semifinalist status.

National Merit Semifinalist Qualifying Scores

The NMSC uses its own Selection Index to determine which students qualify as Commended Students and Semifinalists. In general, students who score in the top 3-4% are named Commended Scholars, while students who score in the top 1% are deemed Semifinalists.

Students are compared on a state-by-state basis. The NMSC's Selection Index ranges from 48 to 228 and is based on PSAT section scores. There are two PSAT section scores (one for the Reading and Writing section and one for Math). Each section score ranges from 160-760.

To calculate your Selection Index, you simply double your Reading and Writing score, add that to your math score, and then divide the sum of those numbers by 10.

Let's say you got a 690 on Reading and Writing and 530 on Math. To find your Selection Index score, first multiple your Reading and Writing score: 690 x 2 = 1,380. Then, add this to your Math score: 1,380 + 530 = 1,910. Lastly, divide that sum by 10: 1,910 / 10 = 191. This gives you a Selection Index score of 191.

As you'll see in the chart below, a 191 Selection Index score isn't high enough to qualify for National Merit Semifinalist status. Instead, you'll need a Selection Index of 207 or higher, depending on where you take the test.

Based on reports from individuals around the country, we've put together a comprehensive list of qualifying PSAT Selection Index scores. Check out the most recent state cutoffs for National Merit Semifinalist in the chart below. These were used to pick out Semifinalists from the October 2021 administration of the PSAT.


Alabama	210
Alaska	209
Arizona	216
Arkansas	210
California	221
Colorado	216
Connecticut	221
Delaware	219
DC	223
Florida	216
Georgia	217
Hawaii	217
Idaho	212
Illinois	219
Indiana	216
Iowa	210
Kansas	214
Kentucky	212
Louisiana	214
Maine	213
Maryland	221
Massachusetts	222
Michigan	217
Minnesota	216
Mississippi	209
Missouri	214
Montana	209
Nebraska	210
Nevada	211
New Hampshire	215
New Jersey	223
New Mexico	207
New York	220
North Carolina	217
North Dakota	207
Ohio	216
Oklahoma	208
Oregon	216
Pennsylvania	219
Rhode Island	215
South Carolina	209
South Dakota	209
Tennessee	217
Texas	219
Utah	209
Vermont	212
Virginia	219
Washington	220
West Virginia	207
Wisconsin	213
Wyoming	207

As you can see, scores vary depending on where you take the test. Cutoffs regularly vary a few points between years, so if you haven't taken the PSAT yet and are aiming for National Merit , set your target Selection Index about 2-5 points higher than the predicted cutoff for your state.

After you take the PSAT, there's nothing more you can do to be named Semifinalist until the results are announced. The NMSC notifies eligible students in September the following school year.

Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must use to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

What Are the Steps to Becoming a National Merit Semifinalist?

You now know the requirements for becoming a National Merit Semifinalist, and you have a plan to get a top PSAT score. But what are the actual steps to becoming a Semifinalist? The process begins early in your junior year and can last all the way until the end of your senior year. Below is an outline of the key steps you'll need to take to become a Semifinalist.

Junior Year

October: take the psat.

You’ll take the PSAT in October of your junior year. Because you'll be competing with about 1.6 million juniors, it's important to study diligently for the PSAT (as you would for the SAT or ACT) by taking official PSAT practice tests and targeting your weaknesses in your prep. (We give you more PSAT prep tips in the next section.)

Remember, only the top 1% of juniors qualify for Semifinalist status, so you'll need to be at the top of your game on test day!

Aiming for a National Merit Scholarship but worried your score won't qualify? If you're not sure you can self-study your way to a qualifying PSAT score, you'll love our PrepScholar PSAT prep program. We designed our program to learn your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics and customize your prep to be as effective as possible for you. When you start with PrepScholar, you'll take a diagnostic that will determine your weaknesses in over forty PSAT skills. PrepScholar then creates a study program specifically customized for you. To improve each skill, you'll take focused lessons dedicated to each skill, with over 20 practice questions per skill. This will train you for your specific weaknesses, so your time is always spent most effectively to raise your score. We also force you to focus on understanding your mistakes and learning from them. If you make the same mistake over and over again, we'll call you out on it. There's no other prep system out there that does it this way, which is why we get better score results than any other program on the market. Check it out today with a 5-day free trial:

December: Receive PSAT Scores

You’ll typically get your PSAT scores in early December , about six weeks after you take the test. While you'll be able to see how well you scored and whether you meet your state's most recent National Merit Semifinalist cutoff, remember that these cutoffs can change slightly each year, so you won’t know for sure whether you're a Semifinalist until the beginning of your senior year.

Winter/Spring: NMSC Determines High Scorers

During this time, the NMSC determines the 50,000 high scorers who qualify for the National Merit program.

Senior Year

September: semifinalists announced.

In early September of your senior year, you’ll finally learn whether you’re officially a National Merit Semifinalist or not. Of the 50,000 high scorers determined, 16,000 will become Semifinalists, and the remaining 34,000 will be recognized as Commended Students (but won’t move forward with the National Merit Program).

Fall: Apply to Be a Finalist

After you’ve been recognized as a Semifinalist, you’ll begin the Finalist application process . To apply, you’ll need to submit the following materials:

High school transcript
SAT scores (must be received by December 31)
Information about your activities and leadership roles
A personal essay
A recommendation from your high school principal, or someone the principal designates as a school official
Information about your school’s curricula and grading system

There’s no official cutoff for SAT scores or GPA, but the NMSC is looking for strong grades and test scores to prove that your PSAT scores weren’t just a fluke.

February: Finalists Announced

In February, 15,000 of the 16,000 Semifinalists are named Finalists and can apply for National Merit Scholarships.

March: Scholarship Winners Announced

Finally, 7,250 of the finalists learn that they are National Merit Scholarship winners. Each winner receives a $2,500-a-year National Merit Scholarship, a corporate-sponsored scholarship, and/or a college-sponsored scholarship.

How Do You Get the PSAT Score You Need to Become a National Merit Semifinalist?

Alright, so you’re going to need an amazing score on the PSAT in order to meet the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff. Getting that score can be tough, but follow these three tips as you prepare in order to get your best PSAT score.

#1: Take Practice Tests

Doing well on the PSAT is all about preparation. Studying the content and format of the test is the best way to bring your score up.

Some people are natural test takers, while others stress under pressure. Regardless of how you react to timed tests, preparing with high quality, relevant materials is the best way to position yourself toward top scores.

Since the College Board makes the PSAT, its online practice questions are a great place to start. You can take full-length practice tests for free in the Bluebook App . This is the very best way to practice realistic testing conditions now that the PSAT is delivered digitally .

If you’re looking for a bit of off-screen practice, though, printing off official PSAT practice tests can still be great practice. Below is an official practice PSAT you can use for free. You can also find more free and official PSAT practice tests in our guide.

Official PSAT Practice Test 1 — Score Your Test — Answer Explanations

Older practice tests can be helpful for your prep, too! Just keep in mind that the format of the PSAT changed in 2023. Before, the test had three sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. Now there are only two sections—the Reading and Writing and the Math. These older, official practice tests are still a great way to prep for the PSAT, but keep those changes in mind.

Official PSAT Practice Test 2 — Score Your Test — Answer Explanations
Official PSAT Practice Test 3 — Score Your Test — Answer Explanations

Take these practice tests under typical test conditions: work in a quiet area with few distractions and time yourself in accordance with official PSAT time limits.

Taking timed tests is a skill, and practicing this skill will help you get better and better at the PSAT. Understanding the format of the test will also help you eliminate the potential for careless errors.

#2: Identify and Strengthen Your Weak Areas

It’s not enough, however, to take just one practice test and then immediately move on to the next one. As you’re studying and answering practice problems, try to identify your weaknesses. Are there any patterns in your mistakes? Do you need more practice with Reading questions? Grammar? Vocabulary? Algebra? Probability? Figure out where you need to focus your attention to really strengthen your overall PSAT score.

At the same, you might also be able to push up your overall score by playing to your strengths. The NMSC considers your composite score rather than your individual section scores. For example, if you scored 650 on the Math section of a practice test, it might be easy for you to push that up to 750+. Or if you’re stronger at Reading and Writing, you might be able to add more points to your composite score by focusing your energies on this section.

Just remember that, ultimately, you can’t have any low section scores on the PSAT if you want to become a National Merit Finalist. So try to stay strong across all areas of the test!

#3: Set Goals and Track Your Progress

Becoming a National Merit Semifinalist is a lofty goal, and in order to make sure you’re on track to meet it, you need to know early on what PSAT to aim for and how much progress you should be making.

First, use the above chart to figure out what the cutoff is for your state. You might want to add a point or two just to be safe and take into account any potential increases in the cutoff score.

Once you have your overall PSAT goal score, set smaller goals to accomplish throughout your studying. These can be monthly or weekly goals depending on what works best for your schedule. Some ideas could be to try to develop a better understanding of algebra questions by the end of the week, or to try to raise your total PSAT score 20 points by the end of the month.

No matter your goals, regularly check to see that you’re (on your way to) meeting them. If not, figure out what you can do to improve, such as studying more often or changing up your study methods. Setting regular goals will not only help you stay motivated but will also ensure that you’re making the progress you need to be making to get the score you want on test day.

How to Stay Motivated for the PSAT

In addition to planning how you'll prep for the PSAT, you should ask yourself another important question: how will you stay motivated? Staying motivated is key to sustaining your studying. Why do you want to do well on the PSAT? What drives you?

Some reasons students strive to become National Merit Semifinalists are academic recognition, scholarship money, and getting into college. What are your own personal reasons? Write down your ideas, and look back at this list for inspiration whenever you feel your motivation lagging.

Since the PSAT is closely linked to the SAT , any studying you do now will definitely pay off when you take the SAT. Plus, it’s probably easier for you to find free time now than when you’re immersed in college applications senior year.

Achieving a qualifying score or higher takes a lot of hard work. The benefits of this hard work don’t end when you get a certificate in the mail from the NMSC recognizing you as a semifinalist in September of your senior year.

You can prove to yourself and to others the depth of your commitment and drive by putting your hopes into action and your dreams into determination. After all, this focused, purposeful effort is the key to achieving success in anything you do!

What's Next?

Being named Semifinalist is just the first step. Learn what it takes to become a National Merit Finalist and how to increase your chances of winning a scholarship.

Did you know there are four kinds of National Merit Scholarships and more than 8,000 are awarded each year? Read all about the various scholarships here .

Want to score a perfect SAT score? Check out our easy-to-read guide on how to do just that, written by an expert 1600 scorer .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

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Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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16 Syosset High School Seniors Named 2023 National Merit Semifinalists

Syosset Central School District is proud to announce that 16 Syosset High School students have been named Semifinalists in the 68 th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The students qualified for this distinction by scoring among the highest in the state on the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Congratulations to seniors Shi Fang Chen, Imran K. Gangat, Sabrina Guo, Alan Q. Huang, Vatsal Kalola, Stella B. Kim, Mako Kobayashi, Maggie Liu, Maximus H. Lu, Colin Rosen, Jaydin T. Sharma, Vivek C. Turakhia, Alex L. Wang, Jonathan S. Wong, Abigail Wu, and Yiyu Zhang.

They are among the approximately 16,000 high school students nationwide who were named Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), representing less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors. Syosset High School Principal Dr. Giovanni Durante congratulated the students saying, “We are so proud of our National Merit Semifinalists for all of their accomplishments, both in their classrooms and in the Syosset community.” The Semifinalists have qualified to compete for approximately 7,500 National Merit scholarships totaling approximately $30 million. To advance as a finalist, the Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn qualifying SAT/ACT scores. Finalists will be announced in February 2023, with the National Merit Scholars to be named later in the spring.

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Class of 2023 National Merit discussion

October 2021 for the PSAT Test is coming up. Good luck to all.

Hi everyone! I have a few questions about National Merit.

Do I register on my own or do I have to do it through my school? The reason I ask is that my school has said nothing about it. If I have to do it through my school I’ll email my counselor.
What does a 1470-1500 SAT score translate to as a PSAT NMSQT score? I’m trying to gauge if I even have a shot at semi finalist. I’m in California so that doesn’t help.
Is it safe to say that I’ll at least get commended, most likely? If I’m consistently scoring 1470+ on SAT practice tests? Thanks.

@FatefulSphinx

Not sure about registration through the school, I would certainly contact your counselor ASAP and verify.
The formula for the Selection Index (SI) for the PSAT is double the sum of your Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test Scores - with the scaled score that everyone is most familiar with, this works out to be your (verbal score / 10) * 2 + (math/10). So a 1470 would be anywhere from a 218-223 (710 verbal + 760 math == SI of 218) to a (760 verbal + 710 math == 223)

A 1500 minimum SI would be 224 which guarantees you to be a semi finalist, even in CA

Yes, if you’re scoring in the mid 1400’s you can expect to be commended.

As the formula shows, working on your Reading and Writing score is most important since it is weighted twice that of the math score.

Highly recommend Art Sawyer’s awesome articles on the PSAT NMSQT: PSAT National Merit FAQ - Compass Education Group

Deleting my post as @603dad has it all covered

FYI to class of 2023: If your school uses Naviance, your PSAT scores may already be posted there. My son’s came up today (223 selection index, should be a NMSF in Illinois).

My daughter has 223 in Virginia. Should we get our hopes up? I am not familiar with this process. What is our next step, if so?

Hey Oglebee, Virginia usually comes in at 221-222. Art Sawyer believes it to be 222 again this year. You have a 1 point plus.

So we have to wait until next September to know for sure? I need a checklist or something to make sure we hit whatever deadlines are needed. Guidance counselor will not be a help for us.

Unless it has been waived again, she now needs a qualifying score on the ACT or SAT. She then also needs to be recommended by her school. She would also need a decent GPA which I always assume one has with that score of hers. Then it is a long wait until fall when they are announced.

Thank you! She took the SAT on Saturday. Her GPA is excellent. When does she reach out about getting a school recommendation?

Have her take the December ACT or SAT. Most schools want the notoriety of having a National Merit Scholar. Notify the school Principal she is in the NM competition and she has a qualifying score. Ask the Principal who is going to fill out the paperwork there. If she has a school recommendation, the SSI score, a qualifying score and the GPA, she is a shoo-in for NM Scholar.

I would wait until her SAT comes back from Saturday. Some schools aren’t aware of NMF because they never have them, believe it or not. You may have to school the principal on filling out the application once you have the Q score.

Wait till late Aug/Sept once schools get notified about NMSF. They will have to do their part of the NMSF, including the recommendation. I would suggest looking up the last year essay prompt ahead of time and writing a Common App essay that can be used for both NMF application and Common App. Have your daughter write the essay over the summer, so she is ready once the application opens up.

I suggest reading through the previous year thread or the one for those graduating in 2020 to see how the process works. It can be very confusing.

The good thing is that 223 is pretty much certain to qualify her for NMSF, and most NMSF become NMF.

In the meantime, you may also do a little bit of research on schools that give big NMF scholarships and see if any of them would be a good fit for your daughter.

Good luck and congratulations on a great score!

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If a student just received their PSAT score as a Junior, the semi-finalist status, application, need for a school recommendation, etc., does not happen until next September. There’s really no need to contact a school’s principal at this time.

A supporting ACT/SAT can be earned any time from Sophomore year through December of Senior Year. It need to have an index equal to that year’s Commended student cutoff, so rarely a problem

Exactly, but there are some schools in the USA who aren’t aware of the NM Corp. So if they haven’t made the student aware it may be a good idea to let them know what your student is up to. My S 2017 had to tell a NM scholar, he was orientating the 1st week her freshmen year, 2018 that she had a Full Cost Of Attendance at UF, (where she was attending.) Her HS never told her anything about it. She just applied and was accepted. He showed her on her college cell app. that she had a full ride. She then called home and told her parents. They had no idea.

Hi - will be keeping an eye on this thread as DS23 is likely NMSF (and one of his friends had a perfect score!)

We were one of those families that had no idea about National Merit with our 2020 grad until her name was published in the paper. (The high school has had very few NMSF.) Now we know, and have been able to share what I’ve learned here with others.

Keeping fingers crossed that there will still be some good auto merit options for class of 2023.

Congratulations to your kids! Did your oldest attend a school where she received a NM scholarship?

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National Merit 2023

hello! i would like to know around when rejection letters for the 2023 competition should be sent out. i don't want to stress over it, but i've had some B's and C's on my record during my sophomore year from covid (i tried my best explaining that in my essay), and i'm really worried that my grades alone ruin my chances to be a finalist.

i have a 35 on the act, 3.81 uw GPA, 4.57 weighted, 7 AP classes, and 1 dual enrollment. please be honest, am i being too hopeful? thank you in advance.

Elektrostal (Q198419)

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development .

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy , with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

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Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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Jewish Calendar 2023 Elektrostal’, Moscow Oblast, Russia

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National Merit Scholarship Corporation
2023 National Merit Semifinalists revealed
Semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Competition
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2023 National Merit Semifinalists revealed

COMMENTS

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
2023 National Merit Semifinalists NMSC is excited to announce the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit® Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered ...
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National Merit 2023 : r/psat
National Merit 2023. hello! i would like to know around when rejection letters for the 2023 competition should be sent out. i don't want to stress over it, but i've had some B's and C's on my record during my sophomore year from covid (i tried my best explaining that in my essay), and i'm really worried that my grades alone ruin my chances to ...
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Elektrostal
capital of. Elektrostal Urban Okrug. 1 reference. located in the administrative territorial entity. Moscow Oblast. start time. 14 January 1929 Gregorian. 1 reference. Elektrostal Urban Okrug.
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40 Facts About Elektrostal. Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to ...
Jewish Calendar 2023 Elektrostal', Moscow Oblast, Russia
This subscription is a 4-year perpetual calendar feed with events for the current year (2023) plus 3 future years. Step-by-step: iPhone / iPad or macOS. Download 2023 only. Use this download alternative if you prefer to manually import the calendar events and merge with your own calendar.