Good thoughts for my little bro please...

[SoonerTexan]

He finds out his PSAT score early tomorrow morning. I know it may not seem like a big deal, but if he gets above a certain score, he is pretty much guaranteed a National Merit Scholarship, which=full ride to OU (where he wants to go) with all the trimmings.

He just called me completely panicked and I didn't know what to tell him. He's been studying his butt off for over a year and this his been his goal since middle school (when DH and I got it). I'm a little afraid of how it will affect him if he doesn't get it--he's a "tough guy" but he has low self-esteem. My sister missed it by one little point (one point=60k in students loans) and is still bitter, but she does better with this stuff than he does. He's really panicked about paying for college (we have some help from our parents and grandparents, but probably only enough to cover 1/3) and I'm afraid he'll make up his mind to join the military and wont budge (nothing against the military, but trust me, I'm not sure he would do well and it wouldn't be for the right reasons--think first person shooter games)

[scarlett09]

ITA w/ everything Cassy said. There are a lot of different ways to make up the gap between what the family can offer and what the cost of tuition is. Other scholarships and grants would be offered, hopefully not putting as much emphasis on the score of a test taken on one day, but rather on grades, extracurricular activities, community service, leadership positions, etc. I think that is a lot of pressure riding on a teenager to achieve a certain score. I don't remember much emphasis being put on the PSAT when I was in high school; there was more emphasis on having a certain SAT score and being in the top 10% of the class to be a state scholar, which still only got you $1K/year if you stayed in-state. I hope that things turn out well for your brother.

[v-girl]

I'll be praying for a good score.

[SoonerTexan]

It really is ridiculous to base it all on one score (and of course the score differs by state, you only have to get a 208 in Oklahoma, but you need a 216+ in Texas), but unfortunately that's the way it is. ITA about scholarships, etc. It's just really really nice to not have to worry about it and get the perks of being National Merit. There still isn't a whole lot of emphasis placed on this test, but his district has caught on. They had something like 50 NM finalists last year due to their "boot camp" like class. Most schools are lucky to get one.

[SoonerTexan]

WAHOO HE DID IT! And with points to spare, so there is not question he will get it as long as he keeps his grades up! I'm so proud and he sounded so happy!

[scrub-jay]

That is great news!!

[MarissaNicole]

Awesome!

[v-girl]

Woohoo!

[ladymoreta]

Yay!!! National Merit is golden at OU. So glad there'll be another good Sooner in the world!

[SoonerTexan]

Crazy, but if my youngest sister goes there too, my parents will have a child at OU for 14 consecutive years. Crazy.

[Meenah]

Congratulations to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[MDPhDWife]

Yay!

[Deebs]

Congrats to him. (and wow, do we live in the wrong state. National Merit got me a sum that didn't even cover the cost of books)

[SoonerTexan]

Congrats to him. (and wow, do we live in the wrong state. National Merit got me a sum that didn't even cover the cost of books)

Actually, it's not a state thing, it's a where-you-go thing. Florida, Arizona State, and OU offer the big money to any in or out-of-state National Merit student who names them as their 1st choice on the official form. He'll even get $1500 for a laptop. There may be schools that give large scholarship, but I don't know them. Texas just got rid of their National Merit program completely.

FYI to anyone who has kids approaching that age...

My mom has been making him do SAT prep questions since middle school

[Momo]

That is fantastic news! Way to go to your parents for raising a bunch of Smarty pants! : )