I just need reassurance that a mediocre PSAT score will not hurt my chances of getting into a good college. Do colleges even see these scores or does it only matter for national merit?
Psat means absolutely nothing to colleges. I’m applying to top schools with a 34 on my ACT and only a 1080 on my psat.
National merit doesn’t even mean that much to colleges and the actual amount of money you can get from the scholarship is not a lot. Therefore, PSAT means absolutely nothing.
I got commended, but never scored high enough to be a finalist. It might be a good award to list on your app, but it probably doesn’t mean much compared to other factors.
Don’t stress about the PSAT, but definitely put in work when it comes to the SAT/ACT. Those scores basically decide your fate when it comes to college admissions.
I never took the PSAT and I go to a T20. Colleges don’t care.
PSAT only matters for national merit. SAT/ACT are the only scores colleges need on your application. If you didn’t do well on your PSAT, make sure you study hard for the SAT and ACT in order to improve your chances of getting into a good school.
I know tons of people who didn’t even take the PSAT and did extremely well on the SAT and got into top schools. PSAT doesn’t matter, but you could definitely use it as a guide to help you study for the SAT.
Thanks that’s reassuring haha
My advice would be to just start studying for the SAT now. That way you can improve your PSAT score if you’re interested in national merit and also do well on your SATs when the time comes to take those. They are significantly more important anyway.
I got a 1060 on my psat and a 1460 sat and 33 act so I don’t think they matter.
All the Psat is good for is merit scholarships. That could be a perk on a college application, but it won’t make or break your chances of getting in. Focus on the real standardized tests and you will be fine!
Yeah I can’t decide if I want to try for the money or not. I am only a sophomore so I can take it again next year.
You don’t need national merit to get money. Tons of schools give out money and there are scholarship opportunities all over the place.
There were two NMSF at my school last year and they got into John’s Hopkins and Cal Tech. The kids who didn’t make the cut got into Penn, Yale, Columbia and Stanford. PSAT is not a deciding factor in a college app. Just make sure you can improve your SAT/ACT scores and make sure you have solid EC’s.
I slept through the PSAT both years and still scored 1490 on the SAT. I’m applying to top schools (who knows if I will get in but I’m telling you this to prove that the PSAT means nothing in the long run).