WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES TO BECOMING A PSAT NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR?
The advantages of becoming a PSAT national merit scholar are numerous:
Special recognition on college applications. Most college applications have a spot to specially mark if you are a national merit scholar. Additionally, most of your peers will not have the same distinction as you setting you apart from them.
Scholarship opportunity from NMSC (National Merit Scholarship Corporation). Becoming a finalist will automatically enroll in a special scholarship opportunity offered by the corporation itself and corporate-sponsored scholarships which you can look for on their website: http://www.nationalmerit.org/.
Scholarship opportunity from colleges. Many colleges will prefer applicants with PSAT national merit status. Some colleges will even offer a full ride to applicants with such achievement. For example, in the past, Wayne State has offered all PSAT national merits full or half rides for achieving such standing.
Preferred admission to some specialized programs. There are programs in the country that strongly prefer national merit applicants and will invite them more than any others to interview or attend their school. For example, Alabama Straight Medical program will invite PSAT national merit applicants over any other to interview for their accelerated medicine program.
