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The PSAT and National Merit Scholarships
from: Kyle BesserIn your sophomore or junior year of high school, you will take a series of tests called the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). These tests will measure your critical reading skills, math ability and writing skills. One purpose of the PSAT is to give students a taste of what it would be like to take the actual Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) test in their senior high school year. The SAT is a college admissions test that often determines whether or not a student gets accepted into a college. The higher the score, the more likely one will be accepted into the school of choice.
There is a tendency to disregard the PSAT as a practice run when it can in fact have a massive impact on your future in terms of scholarships and other financial awards. The SAT might determine which college you go to in accordance with all around school performance, but it is the PSAT that may give you the head start you need via National Merit Scholarships.
The PSAT is there to gauge the level you are at in terms of your peers but can be more useful than just a practice run for the actual SAT. The PSAT is marked for a point value out of 80 in each of three sections, meaning a total of 240 points available. If an individual were to score over 200 points, he or she would be placed in the 99th percentile and would be one step closer to being chosen for a National Merit Scholarship. Individuals who place in that percentile are recognized for outstanding academic achievement, but it is the chance of a scholarship that makes it all worthwhile. Doing well on the PSAT could ultimately save help later on when it comes time to apply for various scholarships.
If you are fortunate enough to progress to the semi-final stage, you can actually apply for a National Merit Scholarship. This is done by filling out an application consisting of a regular scholarships form, an essay about yourself, a list of your achievements, and a list of the activities that you have taken part in, both inside and out of school. The application is then reviewed along with your academic record. A panel of judges choose the winners of the scholarships, which can be used at any college.
The money for the Nation Merit Scholarships comes from various large American corporations. Many corporations offer their own scholarships, but usually they are smaller amounts.
A National Merit Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships to be awarded because you are competing with other students your age across the entire country. A National Merit Scholarship could most definitely help you when it comes to affording college, and the prestige that comes along with it could actually help you to get into the college of your choice.
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