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Following are the qualifying indices for 2005 National Merit Program (Juniors who took PSAT in 2003). The cutoff index for commended students was 200. About 1.33 million students took the test in 2005 and 2005.

2005 Cutoff index, #of semi. finalist, # commended::::2004 cutoff index, # semi, # Commended

AL,210,233,226::::208,247,201,
AK,211,40,51::::210,39,43,
AZ,211,271,339::::212,222,375,
AR,202,158,16,

CA,216,1869,4338::::216,1913,4509,
CO,213,234,448::::211,243,430,
CT,220,184,821::::219,207,904,

DE,220,184,821::::217,40,120,

FL,214,688,1390::::214,690,1457,
GA,217,378,1076::::214,398,904,
HA,216,68,191::::214,73,156,

ID,208,96,72::::204,92,46,
IL,216,694,1752::::214,726,1676,
IN,212,344,577::::211,339,518,
IA,209,208,212::::207,206,179,

KS,214,177,354::::212,191,274,
KE,210,234,231::::210,231,255,

LA,209,254,217::::209,274,266,
ME,214,83,172::::211,79,134,
MD,222,331,1677::::222,325,1486,
MA,222,333,1668::::222,337,1771
MI,210,591,632::::209,557,636,
MN,215,321,746::::212,366,606
MS,203,154,21::::200,165,0,
MO,213,344,532::::212,353,511,
MT,207,67,56::::206,64,58,

NB,208,125,87::::205,125,98,
NV,207,89,57::::204,87,36,
NH,215,75,167::::213,71,150,
NJ,221,480,2170::::221,492,2275,
NM,209,108,92::::208,108,84,
NY,218,955,2901::::218,956,3069,
NC,216,387,955::::213,361,760,
ND,204,50,16::::202,53,10,

OH,214,675,1303::::212,723,1233,
OK,208,224,162::::206,222,141,
OR,214,184,368::::213,176,393,

PA,215,757,1603::::215,722,1840,
RI,211,55,94::::213,61,122,
SC,213,190,354::::211,206,296,
SD,205,54,26::::206,60,35,

TN,216,258,569::::213,273,520
TX,216,1273,2810::::216,1248,2936,
UT,204,181,49::::200,196,0
VA,219,413,1462::::219
VT,213,42,97::::213,41,107,

WA,216,313,853::::214,350,755,
WV,202,108,9::::201,114,8,
WI,211,378,475::::209,373,419,
WY,203,35,10::::200,37,0,

D.C,222,85,215::::222,80,243,
Territories,202,30,3::::200,27,0
Outside US,222,49,337::::222,45,344,

Total semifinalist:
2005: 16,146, Total commended: 35,985
2004: 16,326. Total commended: 35,489.

By Mr_Sanguine (Mr_Sanguine) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 04:36 pm: Edit

hmm, so i think for the most part, they went up?

By Kewlkiwi102 (Kewlkiwi102) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 05:08 pm: Edit

Actually I was told today that MD's cutoff for semi-finalist was 224 (by my college guidance counselur)

By Ubercollegeman (Ubercollegeman) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 05:16 pm: Edit

May I ask, what is the source for this information?

By Musicbuster007 (Musicbuster007) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Can one get to be Semifinalist with a score that is equal to the "cutoff". For example, if I got a 216 in TX, would I qualify for cutoff even though they are the same number? thanks

By Brettjrob (Brettjrob) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 06:25 pm: Edit

Simba, thanks for posting this information.

I live in VA and have yet to start school, so of course I have not been able to find out my status yet. Can anyone in VA confirm that their score has met the cutoff? Thanks.

By Phantom (Phantom) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 08:54 pm: Edit

This is wrong. First of all, the cutoff index for commended students was 201! When I called Nat'l Merit for the cutoff scores, they said that they would not be released until September 15th...

By Kknudsen (Kknudsen) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 09:15 pm: Edit

I know I'm sure hoping they're wrong!!! I had a 214 in MN, and according to this I missed it by one point. So I'm really hoping these scores aren't correct, even though they probably are.

By Razorbackron (Razorbackron) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 09:27 pm: Edit

we live in Arkansas and my daughter was informed on Monday, Aug 30th, that she is a semi-finalist. The offical announcement by the NMS board is Sept 15th. My daughter has to have her application back to the school by Sept 13th. Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear.

By Razorbackron (Razorbackron) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 09:29 pm: Edit

ooops...forgot to post, that the qualifying score and the number of students who made NMS semi-finalist above matches exactly what my daughter was told. It looks like the info above is correct....at least for ARK it is.

By Brettjrob (Brettjrob) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 11:21 pm: Edit

One more question for any and all confirmed semi-finalists who have received their packets... is there anything on the application indicating a national due date? I am getting increasingly worried that if I made the cut, I won't find out until sometime next week when school starts here, which, if the deadline is really September 13 as someone else indicated, would give me less than a week to get everything together!

By Pebbles (Pebbles) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 11:37 pm: Edit

According to this... I made the cut... but I never received anythign in the mail, at least not yet. If the deadline is the 13th and they haven't even informed me yet, it's a little rushed and unfair, isn't it?

By Pebbles (Pebbles) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 11:38 pm: Edit

And my, was the CT cut hard to make this year, AND went up...

By Razorbackron (Razorbackron) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

From what I understand, the actual deadline for forms to be turned in to the NMS board is something like Oct 15th. My daughter's school has a deadline of Sept 13th becuase the school GT couselor goes over every form with a fine tooth comb to be sure everything is filled out correctly. They also have 2-3 pages of the form that have to fill out with the students transcript of grades, grades, recommendations and such. Our school has 9 semi-finalists so the counselor needs this much time to be sure that all forms are completely filled out and correct. The dates may be different for each school. Again, good luck to everyone out there.

By Justwannahelp (Justwannahelp) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 02:44 am: Edit

do you all think the cutoff scores will go down for this year's juniors because of the new test format/content?

By Ubercollegeman (Ubercollegeman) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 03:28 am: Edit

May I ask again, what the source of this information is? Thanks.

By Sarasote (Sarasote) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 10:21 am: Edit

both arizona's this year and last years are correct

By Tjmom (Tjmom) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 04:44 pm: Edit

I asked at TJ this morning and got confirmation that the Virginia number listed here (219) is correct.

By Smkumar0 (Smkumar0) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Hi everyone. Does anyone know if the Florida semifinalist cutoff of 214 is correct? Thanks.

By Jess13 (Jess13) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 05:44 pm: Edit

can anyone confirm NY?

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 06:17 pm: Edit

Simba's information is correct unfortunately. I can't believe I missed the cut by one point.

By Simba (Simba) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 06:39 pm: Edit

I hear you

By Tsunashima1 (Tsunashima1) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 07:07 pm: Edit

Simba, what's your source?

By Brettjrob (Brettjrob) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 08:05 pm: Edit

TJmom,

Thanks for the confirmation. I bet they had a large boxful of Semi-finalist notifications at TJHSST. ;-)

By Irock1ce (Irock1ce) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 09:15 pm: Edit

missed by one point in cali... goddamnit.

By Jess13 (Jess13) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 09:36 pm: Edit

so if we scored above the cutoff index, we're semifinalists?

By Nlkrueger (Nlkrueger) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 10:08 pm: Edit

I hear you Irock1ce. We, apparently, both got a 215. I missed the 216 cutoff for Texas. I was hoping that Gov. Perry's poor work here since George W. Bush left might let the index slip back to 215, but apparently it didn't.
And I've been bugged by University of Houston people for a couple weeks, telling me about their free ride for NMS Finalists. I was hoping that they knew something that I didn't.

Ah, well. At least I'm commended.

By Daria1000 (Daria1000) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 10:09 pm: Edit

The due date is October 12th.
Does anyone know how the cutoffs are decided? I feel really bad for people in Massachusetts, Maryland, Conneticut and other places with really high indexes.

By Pinkearmufs (Pinkearmufs) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 10:26 pm: Edit

when do we receive our commended letters? anybody know?

By Maud (Maud) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 10:34 pm: Edit

Is Maryland's cutoff really 222? or 224? I'd like to know because I got 222...so i'm really hoping that Simba's sources are correct...

thanks.

By Simba (Simba) on Friday, September 03, 2004 - 11:16 pm: Edit

Maud you made it.

By Theali00 (Theali00) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 12:49 pm: Edit

what if i live in new jersey but go to a school in new york, would i have to make jersey's cutoff or ny's

By Tanman (Tanman) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 04:09 pm: Edit

I'm guessing this is the list given to counselors at each school? Simba, how many semifinalists were there at S's school?

By Tsunashima1 (Tsunashima1) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 04:36 pm: Edit

Simba, what's your source?

By Simba (Simba) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 05:31 pm: Edit

one - your mom must have told you.

By Simba (Simba) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 05:42 pm: Edit

Tsunashima1: I am not ignoring you, but I can't tell you that.

By Mr_Sanguine (Mr_Sanguine) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 05:42 pm: Edit

why are you not telling us where you got this from?

By Mr_Sanguine (Mr_Sanguine) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 05:42 pm: Edit

why are you not telling us where you got this from?

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 07:15 pm: Edit

Guys, Simba has the right info, at least for Texas. I checked it against my counselor's stats, and it matches.

By Phantom (Phantom) on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 11:05 pm: Edit

maybe he knows someone on the inside...

ok, i believe him now...I was just suspicious at first because National Merit denied me the information when I called and because he got the commended score wrong, which is probably only a typo. Also, I guess I was in denial because I missed the cutoff by ONE STUPID POINT!!

I'm surprised that so many ppl also missed by one point here. I think it stinks that so many scholarships out there are riding on this one test. I had a bad day on PSAT day! When I got my test back, all the questions I got wrong were the easy-level questions. I ended up getting a 1530 on my SAT I. I was really hoping for finalist status so that I could get merit aid for some of my safety schools.

By Lotuswoman (Lotuswoman) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 12:57 am: Edit

Could someone please clarify whether or not hitting the Selection Index number on the nose does the trick, or must you EXCEED it to be a semi-finalist? Daughter is sweating out a 215 here in Pennsylvania.
Thanks.

By Simba (Simba) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 01:05 am: Edit

it is at or above

By Lotuswoman (Lotuswoman) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 01:26 am: Edit

Thank you; needless to say, this is very good news for us. Daughter one step closer to dream school. Meanwhile, my husband refuses to let himself (or our daughter) believe your stats since they are not "official", but they look authentic to me, as far as confirming everything I know about last year's stats, the relative score cutoff differences between states (can't tell you how many times in the last year we've joked about wishing we lived half an hour to the south, in WV, where she would have been a semi-finalist for sure!), etc.
So, the schools have this information now, even though NMS Corp insists that they have not released it yet? I choose to believe your info is right on the money, but any idea why daughter hasn't heard anything, even though she's been in school for a week, and even met with her counselor on Friday?
Thanks again.

By Fwtl12 (Fwtl12) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 09:54 am: Edit

Simba, would you please check and possibly repost/correct the 2005 informationa for DE. The 2005 data you posted matches the data for CT (directly above) exactly and seems like a simple typo. Could the number of semifinalists from DE really jump from 40 to 184? Thanks a lot

By Simba (Simba) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 10:19 am: Edit

I think each schools get their 'packets' at different times, but before Sept. 15. S got his on Friday. There is a student part and school part. They all have to go to NMSC on October 12. It seems that school has to do more work than kids. There is an eassy - 500 words long. The prompt is - In your own words describe your personal characteristics, accomplishments, primary interest, plans and goals. What sets you apart

The other stuff on kids part is clerical and shouldn't take more than an hour.

By Sarasote (Sarasote) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 01:34 pm: Edit

Could someone please clarify whether or not hitting the Selection Index number on the nose does the trick, or must you EXCEED it to be a semi-finalist? Daughter is sweating out a 215 here in Pennsylvania.
Thanks.

I know in AZ if you MEET the cut off score you are a semi-finalist. im pretty sure thats how it is for all states

By Mr_Sanguine (Mr_Sanguine) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 02:31 pm: Edit

yeah, it doesn't have to be over.

By Simba (Simba) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 05:52 pm: Edit

FWtl: Delaware: 220 index, 45 semis, 26 commended.

sorry didn't respond soon. The new message thing for this thread doesn't seem to work. I double checked the indices, but missed the other numbers.

By Tallyrand (Tallyrand) on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 02:38 am: Edit

Uh...I live overseas, but I wrote down the address of my family's P.O. Box in New York on my PSAT test. I wonder whether they'll count me as being from New York or from overseas? I HOPE NEW YORK! LOL, my score's 221.

By Marymary (Marymary) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 01:45 pm: Edit

so what decides whether a semi-finalist becomes a finalist or not? Is it true that almost all semi-finalists become finalists?

By Tabby (Tabby) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 02:31 pm: Edit

Marymary, go to http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.html

By Redhare317 (Redhare317) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 09:59 pm: Edit

Why did i get no indiction as to whether i was commended or semifinalist? I thought I should have by now.

By Socaldreamer (Socaldreamer) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:12 pm: Edit

so how do i actually get my info typed on the app?

By Nike1800 (Nike1800) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 03:34 pm: Edit

My school's giving the stuff this week, most likely on wednesday.

By Strick (Strick) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 03:49 pm: Edit

My S's school had a special ceremony for this and some other academic awards yesterday.

By Crazykidd (Crazykidd) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 03:57 pm: Edit

how many qualify for finalist standing...i heard they don't cut that many so who do they cut and for what reason

By Redhare317 (Redhare317) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 04:27 pm: Edit

do they have special ceremonies for commended students or semi finalists only

By Ubercollegeman (Ubercollegeman) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 11:12 pm: Edit

Our principal and counselors and stuff had a "special talk" for the twenty-whatever of us who got it. They called it "one of the greatest achievements of our lives." I hope the necessary LOLing is obvious :D.

Anyway, most semifinalists become finalists. As long as you don't have a horrible GPA, horrible SAT scores, and/or horrible work habits like suspension, you're pretty much good to go.

By Centimetre (Centimetre) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Edit

omg rofl rofl lol i would've made any of the cutoffs

yah our principal had a speshul twalk for us 20-something people too! and they kept it seclet by giving is slips of papers and say COME TO JOIN US AT LUNCH SHH IS SECRET rofl rofl rofl

ah well i has harrible GPA and harrible wark habit but my sat WIN! ROAWROFLLROFL mebe i get finalist status if i ashullay do my essey LOL ROFL

By Antique (Antique) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Someone please define "horrible SAT score". I got a 1390 (690V, 700M) and my PSAT was 75V, 69M, and 72W. Will my SAT score prevent me from becoming a finalist?

BTW, only one at my school to become semi out of some 500 juniors. I think it's the first they've had in like 10 years or so. Not kidding!! Oh, yeah, and no special talk/ceremony or whatever. My counselor just handed me the app and told me to fill out...

By Emilia (Emilia) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 07:27 pm: Edit

Antique - As long as you have a good GPA, extracurriculars and such, your SAT score is fine. I'd tend to think the 1,000 out of the 16,000 semifinalists get taken out before the finalist round because they're academic slackers and don't have the school record to back up their scores...so don't worry.

By Marymary (Marymary) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 11:30 pm: Edit

WHY HAVEN'T I GOTTEN MINE YET?!?!?! =(

I got a 222 in PA... i don't understand... I better get it tomorrow morning!

By Redhare317 (Redhare317) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 01:02 am: Edit

I hope a 217 in NJ means something at least.

By Aeg315 (Aeg315) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 09:56 pm: Edit

If a student receives a letter saying he or she is a "high-scoring" test-taker who is entering the competition (this was last year), does he or she automatically become at least a Commended Scholar?

By Riflesforwatie (Riflesforwatie) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 08:04 pm: Edit

So in Oklahoma you need a 208? I took it as a sophomore last year and got only 207... so I guess it really counts this year.

I only need one more point :'(

By Namronthedon71 (Namronthedon71) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 08:06 pm: Edit

i am from california and scored a 224. however, i have yet to receive notification through the mail or school. is something wrong (other than a lazy ass counselor)?

By Redhare317 (Redhare317) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 10:04 pm: Edit

go see your counselor. sometimes they know about things you don't. i didn't know i was commended until i saw the counselor. you are most likely a semi finalist

By Over30 (Over30) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:12 am: Edit

When I asked our GC about it today she said "oops, it is the 16th isn't it? I was supposed to notify the students yesterday." So, I would ask at your school.

By Nlkrueger (Nlkrueger) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:45 pm: Edit

So...the Commended people don't have to do anything, eh? Just get a letter that says you're in?
I hope so, I don't think I could throw myself down in front of the NM people after missing semi by one freakin' point.

Congrats to all the people who made Semi. Great job. In a class of near 800 people, I only know of one who actually made semi at my school.

By Mail4nrs (Mail4nrs) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 09:52 am: Edit

I have a question. My son's selection index is 199 and on his PSAT report, it says you are eligible for 55,000 high scoring students compete for NMS. What does that mean. I heard from CC that selection index is 200. I live in NJ. Can someone please reply because we never heard anything. I know his selection index is too low but just curious.

Thanks