{"id":3129,"date":"2026-10-19T13:20:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T18:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myredkite.com\/blog\/?p=3129"},"modified":"2026-10-19T13:37:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T18:37:08","slug":"how-the-psat-can-open-doors-to-scholarships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myredkite.com\/blog\/how-the-psat-can-open-doors-to-scholarships\/","title":{"rendered":"How the PSAT Can Open Doors to Scholarships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n The PSAT: The Little Test That Could Be Worth BIG Money\n <\/h2>\n\n

\n Practice for what\u2019s next. Discover what\u2019s possible.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n\n \n Practice\n <\/span>\n\n \n Scholarships\n <\/span>\n\n \n Next steps\n <\/span>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n

\n By Sherri Ross, Imagine Scholarships<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

\n Money Monday on Red Kite\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS\n <\/span>\n\n

\n MONEY MONDAY\n <\/p>\n\n

Let’s talk about the PSAT.<\/p>\n

I know. Try to contain your excitement.<\/p>\n\n

Of all the things happening in high school\u2014football games, homecoming, college visits, driver’s licenses and trying to figure out what on earth you’re going to do with your life\u2014the PSAT doesn’t exactly scream fun October activity.<\/p>\n\n

But if you’re a high school junior, I want you to pay attention to this one.<\/p>\n\n

Because this little practice test can potentially open some very big doors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

\n First: What exactly IS the PSAT?\n <\/h2>\n\n

Think of the PSAT as the SAT’s younger sibling.<\/p>\n\n

It gives students a chance to experience the types of reading, writing and math questions they’ll encounter on the SAT without an SAT score being sent to colleges.<\/p>\n\n

That’s valuable all by itself.<\/p>\n

But during junior year, there’s another reason this test matters.<\/p>\n\n

The PSAT\/NMSQT is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

And that’s where things get interesting.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n
\n Practice<\/strong>\n

Get familiar with SAT-style questions.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Opportunity<\/strong>\n

Understand the National Merit connection.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Next steps<\/strong>\n

Use your results to guide preparation.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

\n National Merit is a BIG deal.\n <\/h2>\n\n

I’m going to be very clear here:<\/p>\n

Becoming a National Merit Scholar is hard.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not impossible. But hard.<\/p>\n\n

I’ve worked with thousands of students over the years, and I’ve worked with only a handful of National Merit Scholars.<\/p>\n\n

These are students who perform exceptionally well on the PSAT\/NMSQT and then continue through additional steps in the National Merit competition.<\/p>\n\n

And being recognized through National Merit can open some pretty remarkable doors.<\/p>\n\n

There are National Merit-sponsored scholarships, corporate-sponsored awards and college-sponsored scholarships. Some universities also offer substantial merit packages to National Merit Finalists.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n A few hours. Potentially big opportunities.\n <\/strong>\n

A few hours taking the PSAT can potentially lead to some serious college money.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

That’s why I never want a strong test-taking junior to walk into the PSAT completely unaware of what’s at stake.<\/p>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

\n What\u2019s a \u201cqualifying score\u201d?\n <\/h2>\n\n

There isn’t one magic national PSAT score that automatically makes every student a National Merit Semifinalist.<\/p>\n\n

National Merit uses something called a Selection Index<\/strong>, which is calculated from your PSAT\/NMSQT section scores.<\/p>\n\n

Then things get even more interesting.<\/p>\n\n

The qualifying level for Semifinalist recognition can vary from year to year and from state to state.<\/p>\n\n

That means a score that qualified a student in one state or one graduating class doesn’t necessarily mean the same score will qualify another student the following year.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n There isn\u2019t one universal cutoff.\n <\/strong>\n

The qualifying level can vary by state and year. A past score from another student isn\u2019t a guarantee.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

So when someone tells you:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy cousin got a ___ and was National Merit!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s interesting.<\/p>\n

It just isn’t necessarily predictive of what you will need.<\/p>\n\n

National Merit recognition is extremely competitive, and the qualifying landscape can change.<\/p>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

\n So\u2026how should you prepare?\n <\/h2>\n\n

You do NOT need to turn your house into PSAT Boot Camp.<\/p>\n

But juniors who have historically tested well should absolutely spend some time preparing.<\/p>\n\n \n

\n 1<\/span>\n
\n

\n Take an official practice test.\n <\/h3>\n

Don’t make test day the first time you’ve seen the format.<\/p>\n

Use College Board’s official digital practice resources and become comfortable with the test itself.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n 2<\/span>\n
\n

\n Learn from what you miss.\n <\/h3>\n

Taking 400 practice questions isn’t nearly as useful if you keep making the same mistakes.<\/p>\n

After a practice test, ask: Why did I miss this?<\/strong><\/p>\n