They actually listened and the testing schedule is officially changing to include the PSAT which is honestly wild because I really started to doubt we would get anywhere with this. I am still processing the news but thank you for sticking with me while we badgered the district until they …
September 21, 2020
Final supporters
While we were happy to learn that the SMUHSD is planning on administering the SAT on October 14th to all of its seniors, we were disappointed to learn that they do NOT plan on administering the PSAT/NMSQT to the sophomores and juniors this year. Superintendent Skelly explained this during the SMHS PTO General Meeting on August 25th (https://youtu.be/mqK7degH1-k?t=990).
The PSAT is a good practice for the SAT - historically, students who take the PSAT/NMSQT score higher on the SAT, on average, than those who don’t take the test.
More importantly, students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade may enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Other scholarships also use the PSAT/NMSQT to find students qualified to apply for their programs. These organizations give out over $255 million in combined awards every year. (At USC alone, a National Merit Scholar is GUARANTEED TO RECEIVE AT LEAST 1/2 tuition in scholarship money for all 4 years - worth nearly $120,000!) Our SMUHSD students will be completely ineligible for these scholarships without a PSAT score. Our students will also be ineligible for recognition via a National Merit Commendation without a PSAT score. Such recognition is a valuable asset as part of the college application process.
Unlike the SAT or ACT where a student can register at any test taking facility that has space, the PSAT is only offered at a student's home school. Therefore, if SMUHSD does not offer the PSAT, our students will NOT be able to take it elsewhere. Moreover, high schools across the nation and Bay Area DO plan on administering the PSAT, enabling their students to qualify for recognition and scholarships.
OUR STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED THIS OPPORTUNITY.
We ask that Superintendent Skelly reconsider and reinstate the PSAT/NMSQT at all SMUHSD schools. The College Board is being very flexible with PSAT administration, offering multiple dates this fall (10/14, 10/17, and 10/29), and also multiple offerings on each day (https://counselors.collegeboard.org/covid-19-updates). Based on information from the College Board (https://ordering.collegeboard.org/testordering/publicSearchCont), high schools in our area that are offering the PSAT/NMSQT in October to their students include (but are not limited to):
- Carlmont HS
- Sequoia HS
- Menlo-Atherton HS
- Woodside HS
- Nueva HS
- Serra HS
- Design Tech
- Notre Dame HS
- Saratoga HS
- Mission San Jose HS
- Leland HS
- Lynbrook HS
If the district feels it is safe to administer the 4+ hour SAT to all of its seniors, we believe it is safe to administer the PSAT (under 3 hours) to all sophomores and juniors. If numbers are an issue, sophomores and juniors can take the test on different days or, if necessary, juniors could get priority as their scores could qualify for scholarships (sophomore scores do not). Furthermore, administrators could make the test optional which would further reduce numbers.
If you agree with this, please sign our petition. Thank you.
Updates
August 27, 2020
I really never expected this much movement when I hit publish but it is honestly wild to see how many people care about these scholarships (and the stress of the application process in general). It actually feels like we might get someone in the district office to pause and think about what happens when they leave our juniors behind.
Reached 100 supporters
August 27, 2020
45 Comments
Please administer this test for our 10th and 11th grade students. This is a relatively easy way to bring more equity to a playing field that has become more inaccessible during pandemic times.
Please offer the PSAT opportunity to our Sophmore and Junior students. Standardized tests are known to be stressful and anxiety producing & students need the trial-run to get comfortable, know what to expect and have time to practice taking this type of assessment.
Since our district is already planning a socially distanced way to offer the SAT, and the fact that the College Board is being very flexible and providing multiple test dates, I would like our district to offer the PSAT as well and not deprive our Juniors of the opportunity for recognition, scholarships and most importantly, invaluable test practice in preparation for their SAT exam next year.
Please offer PSAT for at least the juniors. The students have already been affected by the cancellation of SAT. Some colleges may say these are optional, but talking to them they clearly mention, the students who have these scores and have done well will get preference. Thank you
SMHS alum. I took the PSAT in 2018 and I believe my score and the recognition I received helped me get into college. Please don't take this opportunity away from current students.
Please try to at least offer the PSAT to the Juniors.
The motive to withhold administering PSAT to eligible students should be carefully analyzed.
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They actually listened and the testing schedule is officially changing to include the PSAT which is honestly wild because I really started to doubt we would get anywhere with this. I am still processing the news but thank you for sticking with me while we badgered the district until they …
September 21, 2020
Final supporters
While we were happy to learn that the SMUHSD is planning on administering the SAT on October 14th to all of its seniors, we were disappointed to learn that they do NOT plan on administering the PSAT/NMSQT to the sophomores and juniors this year. Superintendent Skelly explained this during the SMHS PTO General Meeting on August 25th (https://youtu.be/mqK7degH1-k?t=990).
The PSAT is a good practice for the SAT - historically, students who take the PSAT/NMSQT score higher on the SAT, on average, than those who don’t take the test.
More importantly, students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade may enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Other scholarships also use the PSAT/NMSQT to find students qualified to apply for their programs. These organizations give out over $255 million in combined awards every year. (At USC alone, a National Merit Scholar is GUARANTEED TO RECEIVE AT LEAST 1/2 tuition in scholarship money for all 4 years - worth nearly $120,000!) Our SMUHSD students will be completely ineligible for these scholarships without a PSAT score. Our students will also be ineligible for recognition via a National Merit Commendation without a PSAT score. Such recognition is a valuable asset as part of the college application process.
Unlike the SAT or ACT where a student can register at any test taking facility that has space, the PSAT is only offered at a student's home school. Therefore, if SMUHSD does not offer the PSAT, our students will NOT be able to take it elsewhere. Moreover, high schools across the nation and Bay Area DO plan on administering the PSAT, enabling their students to qualify for recognition and scholarships.
OUR STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED THIS OPPORTUNITY.
We ask that Superintendent Skelly reconsider and reinstate the PSAT/NMSQT at all SMUHSD schools. The College Board is being very flexible with PSAT administration, offering multiple dates this fall (10/14, 10/17, and 10/29), and also multiple offerings on each day (https://counselors.collegeboard.org/covid-19-updates). Based on information from the College Board (https://ordering.collegeboard.org/testordering/publicSearchCont), high schools in our area that are offering the PSAT/NMSQT in October to their students include (but are not limited to):
- Carlmont HS
- Sequoia HS
- Menlo-Atherton HS
- Woodside HS
- Nueva HS
- Serra HS
- Design Tech
- Notre Dame HS
- Saratoga HS
- Mission San Jose HS
- Leland HS
- Lynbrook HS
If the district feels it is safe to administer the 4+ hour SAT to all of its seniors, we believe it is safe to administer the PSAT (under 3 hours) to all sophomores and juniors. If numbers are an issue, sophomores and juniors can take the test on different days or, if necessary, juniors could get priority as their scores could qualify for scholarships (sophomore scores do not). Furthermore, administrators could make the test optional which would further reduce numbers.
If you agree with this, please sign our petition. Thank you.
Updates
August 27, 2020
I really never expected this much movement when I hit publish but it is honestly wild to see how many people care about these scholarships (and the stress of the application process in general). It actually feels like we might get someone in the district office to pause and think about what happens when they leave our juniors behind.
Reached 100 supporters
August 27, 2020
45 Comments
This is the only opportunity Junior have for National Merit recognition and scholarships. Not offering this test is a financial penalty for our students.
Please administer this test for our 10th and 11th grade students. This is a relatively easy way to bring more equity to a playing field that has become more inaccessible during pandemic times.
Please offer the PSAT opportunity to our Sophmore and Junior students. Standardized tests are known to be stressful and anxiety producing & students need the trial-run to get comfortable, know what to expect and have time to practice taking this type of assessment.
Since our district is already planning a socially distanced way to offer the SAT, and the fact that the College Board is being very flexible and providing multiple test dates, I would like our district to offer the PSAT as well and not deprive our Juniors of the opportunity for recognition, scholarships and most importantly, invaluable test practice in preparation for their SAT exam next year.
Please offer PSAT for at least the juniors. The students have already been affected by the cancellation of SAT. Some colleges may say these are optional, but talking to them they clearly mention, the students who have these scores and have done well will get preference. Thank you
SMHS alum. I took the PSAT in 2018 and I believe my score and the recognition I received helped me get into college. Please don't take this opportunity away from current students.
Please try to at least offer the PSAT to the Juniors.
The motive to withhold administering PSAT to eligible students should be carefully analyzed.
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This is the only opportunity Junior have for National Merit recognition and scholarships. Not offering this test is a financial penalty for our students.