What are PSAT Commended Scholarships?

Hi all! I've heard people talking about something called 'PSAT Commended Scholarships,' but I'm not exactly sure what they are. Can someone give me a quick explanation of what these scholarships are and any requirements needed to be eligible for them?

Hi there! The term "PSAT Commended Scholarships" is actually a bit of a misnomer. The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a standardized test taken by high school students to assess their academic skills and is also used to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP). While there isn't a specific "commended scholarship," there is a designation called "commended student," which I believe is what you're referring to.

"Commended students" are those who score highly on the PSAT but don't quite meet the cutoff to become National Merit Semifinalists. Each year, around 34,000 students receive this designation, which places them in the top 3-4% of test-takers. While commended students don't directly receive scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the recognition itself can still be a meaningful addition to one's college application and may lead to other scholarship opportunities.

To be eligible for consideration, you simply need to be a high school junior when taking the PSAT and be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident intending to become a citizen (there are also some specific eligibility requirements for international students). The exact score needed to become a commended student varies from year to year and is determined by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. It's important to note that becoming a commended student is not the same as earning a National Merit Scholarship, which begins with advancing to Semifinalist status and then potentially becoming a Finalist and Scholar.

So while there's no direct "PSAT Commended Scholarship," the recognition that comes with being a commended student could be beneficial when it comes to college applications and potential other scholarship opportunities. It's also a good indication that you are academically competitive and may guide you towards preparing for the SAT or ACT and overall college admissions.

While the exact cutoffs for various PSAT-related accolades can vary slightly from year to year, you can check out each state's National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs from last year on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/national-merit-cutoffs/. The cutoff for being named a commended student would likely be just below these markers, potentially 20-40 points lower, although that is just an estimate.

I hope this information helps clear up your confusion!