SAT I - ARE COLLEGES USING THE 2400 SCALE?

SAT I - ARE COLLEGES USING THE 2400 SCALE? NO, MOST COLLEGES ARE STILL USING THE OLD 1600 SCORING SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USING THE WRITING SECTION FOR ADMISSIONS!! VERY SELECTIVE COLLEGES MAY BE USING THE WRITING SECTION (SUCH AS YALE, HARVARD, MIT, ETC.). AGAIN, ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

ACT - HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED OUTSIDE HELP IN PREPARING FOR THE ACT?

ACT - HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED OUTSIDE HELP IN PREPARING FOR THE ACT? SOME SCHOOLS GIVE THE PLAN TEST WHICH IS THE PRE ACT TEST. IF YOUR COMPOSITE SCORE IS BELOW 22 I WOULD SAY YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET SOME OUTSIDE HELP. IF ANY OF YOUR SECTION SCORES ARE BELOW 22 YOU MIGHT NEED SOME HELP IN THOSE AREAS FOR SURE. IF YOUR SCHOOL DOES NOT GIVE THE PLAN TEST YOU WILL NEED TO EITHER TAKE A PRACTICE ACT YOURSELF (YOU CAN SEE THE BOOKS I RECOMMEND FOR ACT STUDYING ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BLOG UNDER THE APPROPRIATE SECTION TITLE). ALSO SOME TUTORING SERVICES WILL OFFER A PRACTICE ACT THAT YOU CAN COME IN AND TAKE AND GET AN EVALUATION.

SAT I - ARE COLLEGES USING THE WRITING SECTION FOR ADMISSIONS?

SAT I - ARE COLLEGES USING THE WRITING SECTION FOR ADMISSIONS? GOOD NEWS HERE. MOST COLLEGES ARE NOT USING THE WRITING SECTION FOR ADMISSIONS. SO BASICALLY MOST COLLEGES ARE STILL USING THE OLD 1600 SCALE WHICH IS YOUR MATH PLUS YOUR VERBAL SCORE. ONLY THE MOST HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES ARE USING THE 2400 SCALE (MATH + READING + WRITING). OF COURSE CHECK WITH YOUR PARTICULAR SCHOOLS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TO BE SURE. THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS THOUGH. WHEN TUTORING STUDENTS I RARELY IF EVER HAVE TO TUTOR THE WRITING. I THINK MOST COLLEGES WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NEW SAT I WHEN THEY ADDED THE WRITING SECTION BECAUSE STUDENT'S SCORES STARTED TO COME DOWN VS. THE OLD SAT I AND THE COLLEGE BOARD PROMISED THE COLLEGES THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN.

SAT I - HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED SOME OUTSIDE HELP FOR THE SAT I?

SAT I - HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED SOME OUTSIDE HELP FOR THE SAT I? THIS IS A VERY PRACTICAL QUESTION. AS STATED IN ANOTHER POST, I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU GET BELOW A 40 IN EITHER THE MATH OR THE VERBAL SECTIONS ON YOUR SOPHOMORE OR ESPECIALLY YOUR JUNIOR YEAR PSAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER GETTING SOME OUTSIDE HELP. MANY TUTORING SERVICES WILL LET YOU COME IN AND TAKE A PRACTICE SAT I AND SEE WHAT YOU GET. THEY WILL ADVISE YOU ON YOUR NEEDS. OF COURSE, IT'S BEST IF YOU KNOW WHAT COLLEGES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN BUT WHO KNOWS THAT WHEN YOUR A JUNIOR OR SOPHOMORE? REMEMBER, A SCORE OF 1100 OR ABOVE ON THE SAT I WILL GET YOU IN A LOT OF GOOD COLLEGES (ASSUMING YOU HAVE GOOD GRADES - PLEASE SEE POST ON WHAT IS A GOOD SAT I SCORE). IDEALLY ITS BEST TO SHOOT FOR A 1200 (MATH + VERBAL SCORE).

SAT - HOW COME SOME KIDS DO WELL ON THE SAT WITHOUT TUTORING?

SAT - HOW COME SOME KIDS DO WELL ON THE SAT WITHOUT TUTORING? WELL SOME STUDENTS JUST SEEM TO HAVE A NATURAL ABILITY IN THAT AREA. OTHERS HAVE THINKING PROCESSES THAT ARE SIMILIAR TO THE ONES USED BY THE TEST MAKERS. SOME STUDENTS JUST INTUITIVELY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE TEST QUESTOINS. IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER TOO MUCH WHY A STUDENT DOES NOT NEED HELP. WHAT YOU NEED TO BE MORE INTERESTED IN IS DO YOU NEED HELP AND IF YOU DO WHERE AND WHEN TO GET IT. YOUR PSAT SCORE CAN HELP DETERMINE IF YOU NEED TUTORING. I WOULD SAY THAT ON YOUR JUNIOR YEAR PSAT IF YOUR SCORES IN THE READING AND THE MATH ARE BELOW 40 YOU MAY NEED SOME OUTSIDE HELP IN PREPARING FOR THE SAT I. YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE AN SAT I AND SEE HOW YOU DO, BUT IF YOU DO IT THAT WAY YOU ARE PROBABLY WAITING TOO LATE. ITS BEST TO GET HELP SUMMER BEFORE YOUR JUNIOR YEAR (THAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL TIME). THE NEXT BEST TIME WOULD BE SUMMER BEFORE YOUR SENIOR YEAR.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG TEENAGERS - WHAT DOES A PARENT DO IF THAT IS SUSPECTED?

SOME WEBSITES ON DRUG ABUSE IN TEENAGERS:

http://www.focusas.com/SubstanceAbuse.html

http://teendrugabuse.us/

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/teendruguse/

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/teens/Teens_and_Substance_Abuse.htm

WEBSITES FOR HELP GROUPS FOR ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, AND FAMILIES THEREOF:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/ (ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS)

http://www.na.org/ (NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS)

http://www.al-anonfamilygroups.org/meetings/meeting.html (ALANON - FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF ALCOHOLICS)

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ (ALATEEN IS FOR TEENAGERS!)

http://nar-anon.org/index.html (NARANON IS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF ADDICTS)

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG TEENAGERS - ONE OF THE FIRST SYMPTOMS OF DRUG AND OR ALCOHOL ABUSE IS NOT DOING WELL IN SCHOOL. OF COURSE THERE ARE ALSO DOZENS OF OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT CAN HELP YOU IDENTIFY DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE. IT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS STUDENTS DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. WHAT DOES A PARENT DO IF THAT IS SUSPECTED? AGAIN I AM NOT A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, BUT I HAVE RUN INTO SEVERAL CLIENTS OVER THE YEARS WHOM I SUSPECTED OF DRUG ABUSE AND IT WAS LATER CONFIRMED (THESE STUDENTS WENT TO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND CAME OUT WONDERFULLY). THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE, AND AS A TUTOR I WOULD NEVER FEEL COMFORTABLE SUGGESTING TO A PARENT THAT THEIR STUDENT IS ABUSING DRUGS UNLESS I WAS ALMOST 100% SURE. TOO MANY PARENTS WOULD TAKE THIS AS AN INSULT. DRUG ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES IS A GIVEN, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNGER POPULATIONS. IN FACT, I BELIEVE IT IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND THIS SITE IS NOT FOR THAT. HOWEVER, SUFFICE TO SAY THAT IF YOU AS A PARENT ARE NOTICING A DECLINE IN YOUR CHILD'S GRADES DO NOT RULE OUT DRUG ABUSE. THERE ARE DEFINITE SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE. MARIJUANA IS NOT AT ALL HARMLESS. IT IS A DEADLY, ILLEGAL DRUG THAT IS ALWAYS A GATEWAY DRUG TO WORSE DRUGS. I WOULD INCLUDE ALCOHOL ABUSE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF DRUG ABUSE.

SO IF YOU IN ANYWAY SUSPECT DRUG/ALCOHOL ABUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO. YOU CAN GET A URINE TEST. HOWEVER, URINE TESTS ARE VERY POOR AT DETECTING ALCOHOL USE AND THEY CAN BE DEFEATED. THE BEST TEST TO USE IS A HAIR TEST. THIS IS SOMETHING QUITE NEW. YOU CAN GO TO ANY LOCAL PHARMACY AND PURCHASE A HAIR DRUG TEST KIT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COLLECT A SAMPLE OF THE SUSPECT'S HAIR (YOU CAN GET THIS FROM THEIR COMB) AND MAIL IT IN. HAIR TESTS CANNOT BE FOOLED EASILY AT ALL AND THEY GO BACK 6 MONTHS IN TIME!! THIS IS GREAT. THEY WILL GIVE YOU A DETAILED PICTURE OF ANY DRUG USE GOING BACK 6 MONTHS! THERE ARE MANY THINGS ONE CAN DO TO GET HELP. ALMOST EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE USA HAS SOME TYPE OF DRUG TREATMENT ABILITY. IF YOU FIND THAT YOUR CHILD HAS USED DRUGS YOU CAN ALWAYS TRY AND HANDLE IT ALONE. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT! DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IS A VERY COMPLEX PHENOMENON. YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST GET PROFESSIONAL HELP. YOU CAN GO TO A COUNSELOR OR PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS AND GET HELP THROUGH THEM. YOU CAN ALSO GO TO ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) OR NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA). THEY HAVE PROGRAMS FOR THE USER AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS (ALANON OR NORANON ARE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.

BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT IF YOU SUSPECT ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE IN THE SLIGHTEST MANNER DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! AT LEAST CHECK THEM WITH A HAIR TEST (YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE SO IF YOUR WRONG NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!). YOU WILL BE TERRIBLY SORRY LATER ON IF YOU WERE RIGHT BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT EARLY. CATCHING THIS PROBLEM EARLY IS A KEY INGREDIENT IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM! PLEASE GET YOUR EGO'S OUT OF THE WAY. SAVE YOUR CHILD. ALSO CHECK THE ABOVE WEBSITE FOR SYMPTOMS OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE.

DEPRESSION - WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS OF DEPRESSION IN STUDENTS?

HERE IS A GREAT WEBSITE ON DEPRESSION IN TEENAGERS:

http://www.aspeneducationgroup.com/depression/?gclid=CI7Fz-KMppACFRE_OAodACUEgA

OR

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/teens.htm

DEPRESSION - WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS OF DEPRESSION IN STUDENTS? MAKE NO MISTAKE HERE, I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND AM NO EXPERT ON DEPRESSION. I AM JUST SHARING SOME INFORMATION THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM TUTORING OVER 26 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN MANY STUDENTS OVER THOSE YEARS WHO WERE DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION, RECEIVED APPROPRIATE TREATMENT, AND STARTED TO DO MUCH BETTER. DEPRESSION CAN OCCUR ALONE OR WITH OTHER LEARNING ISSUES.

SOME SIGNS OF DEPRESSION WOULD BE:

WHEN YOU'RE DEPRESSED..
*You feel sad or cry a lot and it doesn't go away.
*You feel guilty for no real reason; you feel like you're no good; you've lost your confidence.
*Life seems meaningless or like nothing good is ever going to happen again.
*You have a negative attitude a lot of the time, or it seems like you have no feelings.
*You don't feel like doing a lot of the things you used to like-- like music, sports, being with friends, going out-- and you want to be left alone most of the time.
*It's hard to make up your mind. You forget lots of things, and it's hard to concentrate.
*You get irritated often. Little things make you lose your temper; you overreact.
*Your sleep pattern changes; you start sleeping a lot more or you have trouble falling asleep at night. Or you wake up really early most mornings and can't get back to sleep.
*Your eating habits change; you've lost your appetite or you eat a lot more.
*You feel restless and tired most of the time.
*You think about death, or feel like you're dying, or have thoughts about committing

THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIGNS TO LOOK FOR. THE ABOVE LIST WAS TAKEN FROM WWW.PSYCHOLOGYINFO.COM

SOME THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MYSELF AS SIGNS OF DEPRESSION WOULD BE:

*NOT BEING ABLE TO THINK CLEARLY

*NOT BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ANYMORE

*DROPPING GRADES

*LOTS OF FIGHTING AND ARGUING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS

*BOREDOM

*LACK OF PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL EVENTS

*CHANGE IN FRIENDS OR FEWER FRIENDS

*LACK OF COMMUNICATION (QUIET/WITHDRAWN/SOLITUDE)

THERE ARE MANY OF THESE. THE POINT IS THAT DEPRESSION CAUSES HUGE PROBLEMS. IT CAN EVEN RESULT IN SUICIDE. IF YOU EVEN IN THE SLIGHTEST SUSPECT DEPRESSION, GET TO A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. DEPRESSION CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED. IT IS A MAJOR REASON WHY STUDENT'S DO NOT PERFORM WELL IN SCHOOL. DEPRESSION CAN ALSO BE CAUSED FOR BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME BY EVENTS IN A CHILD'S LIFE SUCH AS DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, BREAKING UP WITH A GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND, MOVING CITIES, SWITCHING SCHOOLS, ETC. SO BOTTOM LINE, TAKE YOUR CHILD TO A DOCTOR, PSYCHIATRIST, OR COUNSELOR IF YOU SUSPECT DEPRESSION. EVEN IF YOU JUST THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG, IT CANNOT AT ALL HURT TO TAKE THEM TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL!

DEPRESSION - AFFECT OF DEPRESSION ON GRADES AND ABILITIES

DEPRESSION - AFFECT OF DEPRESSION ON GRADES AND ABILITIES. THIS IS A TOPIC I FEEL COMPELLED TO ADDRESS. DEPRESSION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IS ON THE RISE. IN FACT, IT IS AT EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. I HAVE SEEN STUDENT'S WITH SEVERE DEPRESSION PROBLEMS WHOSE GRADES WERE SEVERELY AFFECTED. THERE ARE MANY FINE MEDICATIONS OUT THERE FOR DEPRESSION. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS OF TEENAGE DEPRESSION - I WILL ADDRESS THAT IN THE NEXT POST. FOR NOW, IF YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL PERFORMANCE IS PLUMMETTING BE AWARE THAT IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF DEPRESSION. IF YOU SUSPECT THIS, YOU CAN BRING THIS UP WITH YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR, A PSYCHIATRIST, OR A GOOD COUNSELOR. A DEPRESSION PROBLEM CAN BE EASILY SOLVED. SOMETIMES DEPRESSION OCCURS CONCURRENTLY WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES. THAT IS COMMON. FOR NOW KNOW THAT DEPRESSION CAN ABSOLUTELY AFFECT A CHILD'S PERFORMANCE AND GRADES IN SCHOOL. IN FACT, IT CAN AFFECT ADVERSELY ALL ASPECTS OF ONE'S LIFE. IF DEPRESSION RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CHILD IS LIKELY TO INHERIT IT.

ADD MEDICATION - WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

ADD MEDICATION - WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE. I MUST REPORT THAT I HAVE SEEN DRAMATIC CASES OF INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENT WITH STUDENT'S TAKING THE APPROPRIATE MEDICATIONS. IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD OF ADD OR YOUR CHILD IS HAVING SCHOOL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO ANY HELP SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO OUTSIDE TUTORING, ETC. GET THEM TESTED. AN EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL SOMETIMES REVEAL THE NECESSITY FOR MEDICATION. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN AlSO DISCUSS WITH THE TESTER, THE NEED OR LACK THEREOF FOR MEDICATION USE. REMEMBER THOUGH, ONLY A DOCTOR CAN PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS. NOT A PSYCHOLOGIST. THE PSYCHOLOGIST CAN CERTAINLY HELP YOU DETERMINE IF YOUR CHILD WOULD BENEFIT FROM MEDICATIONS. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WHO WERE ON MEDICATION OR EITHER BEGAN TAKING THE MEDICATION DURING TUTORING. I HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENT WHEN THE CHILD GENUINELY NEEDED THE MEDICATION, AND THE CHILD WAS GIVEN THE APPROPRIATE MEDICATION. THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF ADD/ADHD MEDICATIONS OUT THERE SO GETTING THE BEST ONE FOR YOUR CHILD IS IMPERATIVE. IF THE FIRST ONE DOES NOT WORK WELL, THEN TRY ANOTHER. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. NOW I WOULD ADD THAT MEDICATION WITHOUT BEHAVIORAL CHANGES SUCH AS STUDY SKILLS IMPROVEMENT, ETC. IS NOT VERY POTENT. ONCE THE STUDENT GETS A MEDICATION THAT HELPS THEM PAY ATTENTION BETTER, THEY STILL MAY NEED TUTORING TO REPAIR THEIR STUDY METHODS OR WHAT I CALL ACADEMICALLY RETRAIN THEM.

THUS OVERALL YES MEDICATION IS VERY HELPFUL WHEN USED IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE AND USING THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE TELLING A PARENT THAT THEY SHOULD DO THIS FOR THE LONG RUN. LONG TERM USE OF THESE POWERFUL MEDICATIONS (MOST ADD MEDICATION IS SCHEDULE II) CANNOT BE VERY GOOD FOR A CHILD'S HEALTH. THEY SHOULD BE USED ONLY WHEN NEEDED. WHEN THE CHILD IS OFF SCHOOL IN THE SUMMER THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE NEEDED. ALSO USING THE SMALLEST DOSE OF THE MEDICATION TO GET THE DESIRED RESULT IS ALWAYS BEST. MOST DOCTORS UNDERSTAND THIS. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT ADD/ADHD MEDICATIONS ARE ACADEMIC CAREER SAVERS. THEY ARE A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP YOUR CHILD.

PSAT - SHOULD MY CHILD EVEN STUDY FOR THE PSAT?

PSAT - SHOULD MY CHILD EVEN STUDY FOR THE PSAT? IT WOULD NOT AT ALL HURT TO STUDY FOR THE PSAT, BUT I WOULD NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT. MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THE SAT NOT THE PSAT!

PSAT - WHAT IS THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP?

PSAT - WHAT IS THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP? THIS IS A SCHOLARSHIP THAT IS GIVEN TO THE VERY, VERY TOP PERFORMERS ON THE PSAT.

HERE IS THEIR WEBSITE:

http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php

HERE IS A QUOTE FROM THEIR WEBSITE WHICH I THINK SUMMARIZES THE INFORMATION WELL:
The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.4 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.Of the 1.4 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. In April following the fall test administration, high-scoring participants from every state are invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by NMSC. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.
Commended Students
In late September, more than two-thirds or about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for Merit Scholarship® awards, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
Semifinalists
In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically able young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the materials provided to each Semifinalist. Click here to learn about requirements for becoming a Finalist in the 2008 National Merit® Scholarship Program. (Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or above is required.)
Finalists
In February, some 15,000 Semifinalists are notified by mail at their home addresses that they have advanced to Finalist standing. High school principals are notified and provided with a certificate to present to each Finalist.
Winner Selection
All winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) are chosen from the Finalist group, based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments–without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluate–the Finalist's academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's own essay.
Types of Merit Scholarship® Awards
Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 8,200 Finalists at their home addresses that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award. Merit Scholarship awards are of three types:
National Merit® $2500 Scholarships Every Finalist competes for these single payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans.
Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awardsCorporate sponsors designate their awards for children of their employees or members, for residents of a community where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.
College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awardsOfficials of each sponsor college select winners of their awards from Finalists who have been accepted for admission and have informed NMSC by the published deadlines that the sponsor college or university is their first choice. These awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. The published deadlines for reporting a sponsor college as first choice can be viewed on page 3 of the leaflet Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the 2008 National Merit® Scholarship Program. (Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or above is required.)
Merit Scholarship awards are supported by some 500 independent sponsors and by NMSC's own funds. Sponsor organizations include corporations and businesses, company foundations, professional associations, and colleges and universities.
Special Scholarships
Every year, some 1,500 National Merit® Program participants, who are outstanding but not Finalists, are awarded Special Scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations for students who meet the sponsor's criteria. To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and entry requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Program. They also must submit an entry form to the sponsor organization. Subsequently, NMSC contacts a pool of high-scoring candidates through their respective high schools. These students and their school officials submit detailed scholarship applications. A committee of NMSC professional staff evaluates information about candidates' abilities, skills, and accomplishments and chooses winners of the sponsor's Special Scholarships. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.
A list of corporate organizations that sponsor Merit Scholarship® awards and/or Special Scholarships is given in the PSAT/NMSQT® Official Student Guide.

SO LETS SEE 8250 FINALISTS OUT OF 1.4 MILLION STUDENTS. HMMM. THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 33 STUDENTS OUT OF EVERY 5,600 STUDENTS OR ROUGHLY 5 STUDENTS OUT OF EVERY 1000. PRETTY SMALL ODDS. SOME HIGH SCHOOLS WILL HAVE NO FINALISTS, OTHERS MAY HAVE ONE AND OTHERS MAY HAVE SEVERAL. BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT IT IS VERY HARD TO GET. MOST STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GET IT USE IT ONLY FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS AND ARE NOT FROM FAMILIES WHO TRULY NEED THE MONEY. SUPER BOTTOM LINE IS YOU WOULD BE BETTER OFF GETTING AN AWESOME SCORE ON YOUR REAL SAT AND USING ANY TUTORING MONEY FOR TUTORING OF THE REAL SAT. DOING GOOD ON THE REAL SAT I CAN GET YOU INTO AN AWESOME COLLEGE AND GET YOU A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY.

PSAT - HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PSAT?

PSAT - HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PSAT? HOW ABOUT LITTLE OR NOT AT ALL. LET'S FACE IT FOLKS, COLLEGES DO NOT DO NOT USE PSAT SCORES IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THEY USE REAL SAT SCORES. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. IN MY OPINION, THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT THE PSAT IS USED FOR IS IF YOU GET A REALLY, REALLY POOR SCORE YOU KNOW THAT YOU MAY NEED TO GET SOME OUTSIDE HELP SUCH AS TUTORING. YES OF COURSE THERE IS THE NATIONAL MERIT DEAL. THAT APPLIES TO A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THOUGH SO YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT. EVEN IF YOU DO GET THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP YOU STILL MUST TAKE THE SAT AND PERFORM WELL ON IT! PSAT HAS NO BEARING ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.

PSAT - SHOULD I TAKE MY PSAT EXTENDED TIME?

PSAT - SHOULD I TAKE MY PSAT EXTENDED TIME? YES ABSOLUTELY IF YOU HAVE THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION PLEASE TAKE YOUR PSAT WITH THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF EXTRA TIME. YOU SHOULD MODEL YOUR PSAT AS CLOSELY AS YOU CAN TO THE REAL SAT. IT JUST MAKES GOOD SENSE, AND YOUR SCORE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE MEANING TO YOU. NOT ALL SCHOOLS WILL ALLOW YOU TO TAKE A PSAT WITH EXTENDED TIME EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION. DON'T ASK ME WHY. JUST FIND OUT WHAT YOUR SCHOOL DOES AND IF YOU DO HAVE THE OPTION DO TAKE IT WITH THE PROPER AMOUNT OF EXTENDED TIME AND OR ANY OTHER ACCOMODATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO YOU.

PSAT - MY PSAT SCORE IS NOT AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?

I HAVE HEARD THIS LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES. I CAN ANSWER THIS EASILY. THE PSAT IS JUST THAT - A PRE SAT. IT HAS QUESTIONS ON IT THAT THEY ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH OR TESTING. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT USE THESE QUESTIONS ON A REAL SAT. I MYSELF HAVE REWORKED DOZENS OF PAST REAL PSAT'S AND I CAN CERTAINLY SAY THAT ON SOME OF THE PSAT'S THAT I REDID MYSELF, I ENCOUNTERED SOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ON THEM THAT WERE AS HARD OR HARDER THAN QUESTIONS ONE WOULD FIND ON THE REAL SAT. THE PLAN TEST OR PRE ACT TEST IS A MUCH EASIER TEST. IT IS TRULY A PRE ACT TEST. I THINK THE PSAT HAS VERY MUCH BECOME A MONEY MAKING DEVICE FOR THE SAT. THEY ARE NOW GIVING IT TO FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORES, AND JUNIORS AT SOME SCHOOLS. ISN'T THAT OVERKILL? YES IT IS. I WOULD SAY THAT FOR OVER 50% OF THE STUDENTS THAT TAKE THE PSAT THERE IS LITTLE OR NO CORRELATION VS. THE REAL SAT. ALSO THE YOUNGER YOU TAKE THE PSAT, THE HARDER IT IS GOING TO APPEAR. FURTHERMORE, MANY STUDENTS KNOW THAT THE PSAT IS NOT WORTH A THING SO THEY AUTOMATICALLY DO NOT TRY THEIR BEST NO MATTER WHAT THEY MAY CLAIM. SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR PSAT SCORE. COLLEGES RARELY IF EVER SEE THE PSAT! IN FACT, I HAVE YET TO SEE A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PACKET THAT ASKS YOU WHAT YOU MADE ON YOUR PSAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY JUST WANT THE REAL SCORE ON YOUR SAT.