PSAT more important than SAT for some scholarships
Many students start SAT prep their junior year–but are they missing out on crucial prep for a test that’s even MORE important? The answer’s often yes. Although the PSAT might seem like a “practice test,” it’s essentially FAR more important than the SAT when it comes to securing generous college scholarships. In fact, it might be the most important test a high school student takes, if he or she is able to score high enough to receive National Merit.
Yes, your SAT scores are what colleges consider when deciding whether or not to offer you ADMISSION, but the PSAT has the potential to net you a full ride to college. The College Board confers upon top PSAT scorers the title of National Merit Scholar, and that’s a title you want when applying to college. It comes with scholarships much more generous than any SAT-based scholarship.
And achieving the status of National Merit Scholar isn’t as difficult as you might think. You don’t need to get a perfect score! You just need to make the cut-off, which the College Board seems to be lowering each year. With a few weeks of PSAT prep, you’ll be well on your way to achieving National Merit status and reaping the financial benefits associated with that status.
Start PSAT prep early to reap scholarship benefits and avoid an uphill SAT climb
What if you prep for the PSAT and narrowly miss the National Merit threshold? All is not lost! You’ve gained valuable SAT prep practice and will face a far less difficult SAT prep journey than your peers who start their SAT prep journeys in their junior (or, God help them) in their senior year.
As USA Today notes, a score of 2200 on the old SAT gains students a $20,000 scholarship from the University of Oklahoma, while the SAME score of 220 on the PSAT gains them a $100,000 scholarships over four years!
The bottom line? Start test prep EARLY, in your freshman or sophomore year. That way you’ll be prepped for the PSAT, which leads to hefty scholarships, and you’ll have a head start on the SAT, which helps you gain admission to college.
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That’s it! Are you surprised the PSAT isn’t just a silly practice test? Then sign up for PSAT prep lessons with us! We can’t wait to work with you.