What does it mean to be commended National Merit?

In the National Merit Scholarship Program in the United States, a "commended scholar" is a student who scored in the top 3-4% of PSAT/NMSQT test-takers in their state, but did not score high enough to become a semifinalist in the program.

Do colleges care about National Merit Commended?

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.

What score do you need to be a commended National Merit Scholar?

The number of top scorers is the most critical piece of information that we get this early in the process. There is a strong correlation between the 1400-1520 band of students and the Commended Student score. The Commended Student cutoff is likely to rise to 209 (above the 207 from the last 3 years).

Does commended on PSAT mean anything?

Commended Students:

This letter means they are not eligible to move on in the competition, but it still looks good to college admissions offices and may qualify them for special scholarships.

What is the difference between commended scholar and semifinalist?

Generally, the top 2%-3% of PSAT scorers receive commended student status, or about 34,000 students. This is certainly an accomplishment, but it means that these students did not receive high enough qualifying scores to be named a semifinalist this cycle, as usually semifinalists score in the top 1% of PSAT takers.

National Merit Scholarship Program: What Is It and How It Works?

Is being commended for National Merit good?

Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognizes these students as "commended scholars" for their outstanding academic achievements. Commended scholars receive a Letter of Commendation from the NMSC, which is considered an honor and may be included in college applications.

Is National Merit Commended an honor?

In mid-September, nmsc sends principals a list of their school's Commended Students with Letters of Commendation for presentation to the students. Although Commended Students are honored for their academic promise, they do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarship awards.

Is National Merit Commended Scholar impressive?

Congratulations on becoming a National Merit Commended Scholar! It's an amazing accomplishment that reflects your hard work and academic abilities. You should definitely include it in the honors and awards section of your college applications, as admissions officers will recognize the value of this achievement.

How many students get commended National Merit?

PARTICIPANTS WHO QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL MERIT PROGRAM RECOGNITION. 34,000 Commended Students.

What percent of students are National Merit Commended?

The top 3-4% of scorers are named Commended Scholar. The top 1%, usually about 16,000 students, are named National Merit Semifinalists. Semifinalists may go on to apply for Finalist status and potentially win scholarship money. As I mentioned above, NMSC uses its own Selection Index along with state percentiles.

How do you know if you are commended National Merit?

Students whose scores qualify them for recognition in the National Merit Program will be notified through their high schools in September following the test administration.

How are National Merit Commended students chosen?

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.

Does a 1400 PSAT qualify for National Merit?

3. Does a 1400 PSAT Qualify for National Merit? Based on the scores of real grade 11 students who took the PSAT, a score of 1400 puts you in the 97th percentile. You may not qualify for the National Merit Scholarship with this score: it also depends on the cut-off scores of your state.

Should I put National Merit Commended Scholar on resume?

You should list academic honors on your resume as long as they are relevant to the position you are applying for or demonstrate a significant achievement. Generally, if you have received academic honors in the past five to seven years, they can still be included on your resume.

Should I put commended Scholar on common app?

NMS Commended usually goes on the Awards/Honors section of the Common App, and it's relatively prestigious. Both.

Should I include Nmsqt commended in common app honors?

If you have fewer than five awards listed in your Honors section, feel free to include a National Merit designation here. Commended Student and Semifinalist should be listed at the state level, while Finalist and Scholar should be listed at the National level.

What is the National Merit Commended Cutoff for 2024?

Compass has now confirmed all of the National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs for the class of 2024. Eligible students who have a Selection Index at or above the cutoffs will be named Semifinalists. Students who miss the Semifinalist cutoff will be named Commended Students if they have Selection Indexes at or above 207.

What PSAT score do you need to be a commended student?

To become a Commended Student, you must achieve a minimum score set by NMSC on your PSAT/NMSQT. This score varies from year to year but typically falls between 200-220 out of 240 total points.

What is a 1490 PSAT National Merit?

If you're in 11th grade, anything between a 1490 and 1520 places you in the top 1%. About 1.5 million students in each grade take the PSAT each year, so the 99th percentile puts you among the top 15,000 test takers.

Should I put National Merit Commended Scholar on UC app?

I'd say, look at the honors section, rank student's awards, and list the best ones. If National Merit Commended makes the cut, absolutely include it. I certainly wouldn't hide it or leave a blank space.

Do Ivies care about National Merit?

Ivy League schools don't award any merit scholarships, which includes National Merit Scholarships. These schools have the highest achieving students applying to their institutions and would rather award need-based financial aid to assist the most students in a fair and equitable manner.

Is a 1400 PSAT bad?

If you score between a 1400 and a 1450 you should also be proud. This means you are still in a highly competitive percentile and eligible for entry to highly selective universities. Any score from 1300-1400 leaves some room for improvement, but is nonetheless optimistic!

Is 1300 a good PSAT score?

A good PSAT score is between 1210 and 1520, which would put you in the top 10% of test takers. The average score earned on the PSAT is about 920, and a “perfect” score on the PSAT would be the maximum score of 1520.

Is 1300 a good PSAT Nmsqt score?

If your child scored in the middle (1100 to 1300):

A score in this range means that your child is on par with or a little above the other students who took this test.

What is a top 1% PSAT score?

Each year, approximately 1.6 million juniors take the PSAT. The data above tells us that the top 1% of test takers—about 16,000 juniors—scored between 1460 and 1520. Contrary to what many believe, you do not need a perfect PSAT score to get into the 99th percentile.