What are people smoking?

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by 33girl
I'm really old and have forgotten. I was an NMS "commended student" but not an actual Scholar eligible to receive anything. Do you have to do anything above and beyond your PSAT or is it all just based off of that? (Hope this makes sense, it's early)

I think it's above and beyond...the way it was explained to me was that it was based on other things (grades, extracurricular, etc.) They said I got to my level because of those other things in addition to PSAT scores.

I could be wrong though...the guidance counselors at my school weren't the best.

[ISUKappa]

Dammit. Too bad I didn't take the PSATs (or the SATs for that matter). Otherwise I could have been a NMS and helped skew the statistics in favor of ISU. I was all about the extracurriculars in high school. And if Mindy W. wouldn't have been such a lazy beeyotch, I would have held my rightful place as salutitorian.

Not that I'm bitter about that or anything.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by KSigkid
I think it's above and beyond...the way it was explained to me was that it was based on other things (grades, extracurricular, etc.) They said I got to my level because of those other things in addition to PSAT scores.

I could be wrong though...the guidance counselors at my school weren't the best.

This is correct IIRC - you make a preliminary cut w/ your PSAT scores, then the 'final' cut is an application-based process. I was a NMS, but my PSAT score barely made the semifinal cut (again if i recall).

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by KSig RC
This is correct IIRC - you make a preliminary cut w/ your PSAT scores, then the 'final' cut is an application-based process. I was a NMS, but my PSAT score barely made the semifinal cut (again if i recall).

I don't think it was ever properly explained to me...I just got letters letting me know when I moved on in the process, and a letter letting me know when i didn't move on

[FAB*SpiceySpice]

I wanted to go to Iowa State b/c all my older high school friends had gone there and lots of girls in my high school class were going there.

Then we went down there for a fraternity's date party one weekend and I ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning....

Needless to say my mother tossed my acceptance letter from them in the trash when it came.

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by FAB*SpiceySpice
Then we went down there for a fraternity's date party one weekend and I ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning....

Unfortunate but not surprising given some of my own experiences at date parties.

I did know quite a few people from Omaha while I was there.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by KSigkid
I don't think it was ever properly explained to me...I just got letters letting me know when I moved on in the process, and a letter letting me know when i didn't move on

yeah, sounds about right - i think my high school guidance counselor would have trouble guiding me to the crapper after burrito day

[sugar and spice]

Like Rob said -- the semi-finalists were based solely on PSAT scores. The finalists had more stuff (SAT scores, grades, recommendation I think -- I know my guidance counselor wrote them something about me). My best friend was a semi-finalist but not a finalist because his PSAT score met the cut-off but his SAT score wasn't high enough. Things like that.

I think that the NM program is -- thank god -- based mostly on stuff your guidance counselors put together for you rather than stuff you had to put together yourself. Which was a relief considering all the other scholarship and college applications that had to get done.