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I am currently a junior and have a GPA slightly over 4.0. I am at the top of my class (school comes VERY easy to me). I am also in track, NHS, and had been in football for a while. My current classes include AP Bio, AP History, AP Statistics, Chem, and Trig.

I have not taken the PSAT because of some current school occurrences, a school shooting, and some miscommunication. Our teachers announced it the first time on the day before the testing date, and I didn't have the $10 so sign up that day.....)

I live in the Midwest, so the ACT is our schools priority. I plan on taking the ACT in the spring, and possibly the SAT sometime this year. I assume I will do very well on both.

Has skipping the PSAT ruined my chances of getting into a collage like MIT and\or shattered my hopes of receiving scholarships?

By Jakemmx (Jakemmx) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 01:57 am: Edit

BTW, I'm a white male (doesn't help)

By Televelis (Televelis) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 02:01 am: Edit

No, but you can't get any national merit money, now.

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:16 am: Edit

It hasn't ruined your chances. You won't get a National Merit scholarship, but you can still qualify for lots of other scholarships and get into any school you want without a PSAT score. It's not a required thing

By Rubenizm (Rubenizm) on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 06:07 pm: Edit

oh shut up

By Jakemmx (Jakemmx) on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:16 am: Edit

Thanks Clickspring, one less thing to worry about.

By Dreadpirate (Dreadpirate) on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:28 am: Edit

The top schools pay no attention to PSAT scores and very little attention to National Merit semi-finalist status. So don't fret the small stuff. Just go get a 1550+ on your SAT's so your MIT app will get a good look.

By Spyrey (Spyrey) on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 01:06 pm: Edit

The PSAT means nothing. Heck,I got a 1060 on the PSAT, and got a 1330 on the SAT.

By Giovanni (Giovanni) on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 02:23 pm: Edit

No.... no no. Calm down. You can't screw yourself over with one little (pre) test

I can't believe some of these posts. I think (hope) they are psuedo-panicky, so that it looks like they're worried about the rat race.

Spelling "college" COLLAGE might hurt you.

By Dkm (Dkm) on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 03:39 pm: Edit

i got 840 on psat and like 1400+ on sat...psat is like the most usless thing they ever invented..

By Vsage3 (Vsage3) on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 03:47 pm: Edit

PSAT and SAT I + SATII writing have the same type of questions, how could you do so radically different? Either one or both of your scores you listed is bunk. Personally id say the SAT I is the most useless test ever because people study and retake and retake but PSAT you have a very limited opportunity and is therefore a better indicator of your actual abilities. However, this is coming from a national merit semifinalist, so you can choose not to believe me if you want. But to answer the thread's question, no PSAT is pretty much worthless as far as college admissions go.

By Jakemmx (Jakemmx) on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 07:01 pm: Edit

Thanks again for the replies.

I guess I am a little "pseudo-panicky,” but then again I don't really know what to expect when it comes time to apply for a college.

(Yea, I should not be misspelling a word like college. I have to start proofreading, or watching what I type.)

BTW, I believe its spelled PSEUDO.

By Vsage3 (Vsage3) on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 07:34 pm: Edit

Noobdy rely cares how u speel unles its in an esay on here :p. We all make mistakes.

By Vtoodler (Vtoodler) on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 04:30 pm: Edit

you could still make arrangements with PSAT/NMSQT people to take the PSAT at some other time if you were unable to take it the day assigned.

By Bucki (Bucki) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 12:39 pm: Edit

Note: PSAT includes the writing section. SAT does not. Might explain some discrepancies in scoring. However, very shortly, the SAT will in fact resemble the PSAT in this writing component. Those who are not happy, thank the UCAL system for that!

By Pacman (Pacman) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 02:58 pm: Edit

Jakemmx, you totally messed yourself up by not taking the PSAT. Some prestigious colleges like Harvard and UPenn will ask you for your PSAT scores and if you don't have it it'll work against you. To them, the PSAT sometimes weigh more than the SAT since the PSAT is harder.

If I would you, I would call the CollegeBoard and see if you can take it next year. But definately try to sneak into a PSAT session next year and do well on it if you want to have any chance at the Ivy Leagues.

By Jakemmx (Jakemmx) on Wednesday, November 05, 2003 - 08:40 pm: Edit

Ok, Ok....., ill try to get it in if possible, though I really have to get ready for a much more important test, the ACT. (My school does not even talk about the SAT)

Have any of you schools prepared you for the PSAT? No teacher has ever mentioned it to me.

(I doubt that I am going to go to Harvard anyway, too much money and competition. I just would like to keep some of my options open.)