The Preliminary SAT (PSAT) and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) will be held at Heritage Oct. 24.
The National Merit program began in 1955 and has now developed to an annual academic competition for high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships.
High school students across the United States enter the National Merit Scholarship program by taking the PSAT, in which 50,000 of the highest scoring students get selected. Of the 50,000 semifinalists, fewer than one in three students go on to be chosen as finalists. The 7,500 finalists then receive the scholarship which grants them $2,500.
Throughout the month of October, juniors take the PSAT, which matters most to them because it determines their position in getting the scholarship. To qualify, students have to get a score within the top 0.5% throughout their state.
Students at Heritage are working hard to qualify in the 0.5% through their own way of studying, “Honestly the biggest thing is learning the basics of every concept first using Khan Academy or a book and then taking a ton of practice tests,” junior Camila Galicia said.
However, all this studying can lead to nerves, “It’s pretty stressful, but I’m just trying to push through until the exam date,” junior Sasha-Kay Lindo.
On the the other end of high school, freshmen and sophomores take the PSAT to get ready for junior year and the possibility of attaining national merit.
Heritage is the No. 1 school in Florida for National Merit Scholar Semifinalists with 57 in the class of 2025. One in seven seniors were recognized for their academic excellence. (Photo/Cady)
