Dear Liz,

I’ll be taking the PSAT this month, and I was wondering if it’s actually important. Does it mean anything to me, or impact my future at all?

Thanks,
Feeling Apathetic

Dear Feeling Apathetic,

I have very fond memories of junior year. The stressing, studying, and long speeches made by every teacher about the importance of a high test score and our future. Speeches I’m sure you didn’t just zone out during. This year you’ll be taking quite a few fun tests, but, like you asked, I’ll just focus on the sometimes disregarded PSAT.

Before I get into the glorious details, I feel that it’s important to share that the ‘P’ in PSAT is not practice, although ‘practice’ is not far off. It actually stands for Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. As you know, the SAT is required by many colleges in your application, but the PSAT is not. In some ways it is practice, a way to become more prepared for the big test, but it’s more than that. It’s an opportunity to obtain quite a few advantages.

As I mentioned before, the PSAT is a great way to know what you’re getting into when taking the SAT, the one that really matters if you want to go to college. It gives you a chance to know what to study and how the SAT is formatted. One thing you should know, though, is although the ACT (another aptitude test, but one that is not required by Illinois) and the SAT can be taken again if you don’t like your original score, the PSAT cannot be. This isn’t a big deal, considering these scores aren’t looked at by colleges, but there are some opportunities that arise with a good score.

Now then, onto the big part of your question: is this test important? I know that right now, this test seems pretty inconsequential to you. It won’t take you to college, but it might give you something just as important–money for college. In the PSAT Student Guide, there is a whole page dedicated to showing the dozens of scholarship opportunities granted to those who earn it. One of the most well-known is the National Merit Scholarship, which could not only get you $2500 towards your school of choice, but fortify the appearance of your application when colleges look at your profile. Along with this, there are many other scholarships such as the National Hispanic Recognition Program, Cobell Scholarship and Greenhouse Scholarship. But what you need to remember is that these are not just given away. It takes studying, hard work, and a very, very high score.

I know this turned out to be yet another long speech, but I hope your questions were answered. One thing to take a mental note of though, through all the serious discussions about your future, money and test scores, just know that this test doesn’t define you. Take it seriously, but don’t let it keep you up at night.

Sincerely,
Liz