Hey everyone, I'm curious about how competitive the National Merit Scholarship Program is. Does anyone know what the cutoff was for the class of 2024? Thanks!
The National Merit Scholarship Program is indeed competitive, with only a small percentage of test-takers advancing to become Semifinalists. For the class of 2024, the cutoff scores varied by state, as each state has its own cutoff based on the top 1% of test-takers within the state.
While I don't have the specific cutoffs for all states, they generally ranged from the low-200s in less competitive states to the mid- to high-220s in the most competitive states. Keep in mind that these cutoffs are based on the Selection Index, which is derived from your PSAT scores (your total PSAT score is multiplied by 2 and then divided by 10 to get the Selection Index).
To have the best chance at qualifying for National Merit, it's important to prepare well for the PSAT and aim for as high a score as possible. Good luck!
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