National Merit Scholarship Finalist Bryan Tran (’16). Photo by Edward Fahmanby Christine Cao, Staff Writer and Photographer
Next Wednesday, juniors at Fountain Valley High School will have the opportunity to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) for free.
The school day is scheduled in order to provided 3 and a half hours from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. for testing in all grade levels. Freshman and sophomores will take the new SAT challenge while seniors assess for the Career Occupational Preference System (COPS) to look into career inventory. In addition to providing practice for the actual SAT, students have the opportunity to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship as a result of how they score on the exam.
Across the country, it is estimated that 1.5 million juniors take the PSAT and have the opportunity to earn the scholarship. The students who score in the ninety-sixth percentile or higher are considered National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Up to fifty thousand participants are selected as semifinalists and approximately sixteen thousand are selected as finalists. To become a finalist, semifinalists must apply to the scholarship, including a submitted school record, teacher recommendation, and SAT score.
Although the chances seem slight, nine of the finalists from last year are seniors here at FVHS.
“Before I took the PSAT I already knew there was the option of receiving a National Merit scholarship, though I had no idea I was going to come anywhere close to getting it because I heard the competition was really tough,” said National Merit Scholarship finalist Bryan Tran (‘16).
Tran advises to study for the SAT, since both tests are similar in context.
“Also, the score you get doesn’t determine your future, so don’t stress out.” said Tran.
