National Merit Finalist Score: How to find out if I qualify?

Hey guys! I was wondering how I can check if my PSAT score qualifies me for National Merit Finalist status. Do they publish the qualifying scores online? If so, where can I find that information? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! National Merit Finalist status is determined based on your PSAT/NMSQT score. While the process takes some time, the first step is to figure out if your score qualifies as a National Merit Semifinalist. The qualifying scores vary by state and change each year, so there isn't a set score, but it's generally around the 99th percentile for your state.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) will inform your high school in September of your senior year if you qualify as a Semifinalist. If you meet the Semifinalist cutoff, your school will receive a notification, and they'll provide you with further details on how to move forward in the competition.

To get an idea of whether your score might qualify, you can look for previous years' cutoff scores by doing a quick search online. Keep in mind that these historical scores are not 100% accurate indicators of the current year's cutoff, as they can change annually. However, they can help you get a rough idea of the qualifying score range for your state.

As for becoming a Finalist, once you've been selected as a Semifinalist, the NMSC requires additional documentation (like teacher recommendations, transcript information, and a personal essay) to consider you for Finalist status. Around 15,000 students are chosen as Finalists from the initial 50,000 high scorers (which includes Commended Students and Semifinalists).

As the process unfolds, the best course of action is to stay informed and collaborate with your high school counselor, who can provide more guidance on the competition and any associated deadlines. Good luck!