How the PSAT/NMSQT® Exam Can Get You Free Money for College

Are you looking for scholarship money for college? With the rising cost of post-secondary education, it is important to look into as many scholarship possibilities as you can. The PSAT/NMSQT® is a good place to start. Taking this test can provide scholarship opportunities that might not otherwise be available to you. Let’s take a look at how this test can get you free money for college.

First of all, the College Board (the organization that makes the test) has exclusive partnerships with many organizations that provide millions of dollars in scholarship money each year. How can you gain access to these organizations? When you take the PSAT/NMSQT®, you will be given the option to provide an email address that will connect you with the free Student Search Service. Be sure you answer “yes” to this question and provide an email address. This will ensure that your email will be shared with these scholarship organizations, and they will contact you with opportunities as they become available. Many of the opportunities are matched for you based on the demographic information you provided on your test answer sheet. This saves you a lot of time in your search for college money.

Simply checking yes and providing an email address will not get you any scholarship money. It will simply connect you with opportunities for scholarships. The next step to free money is actually applying for the scholarships. You will receive email updates to apply for scholarships that match for you. It is important to check your email regularly for notifications about these opportunities. You also need to pay close attention to application requirements and deadlines. Do your part to set yourself apart and give yourself a better chance of winning!

Finally, the NMSQT® part of this test stands for National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test®. The National Merit Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship, and it is only available to students who take this test. It is expected that 7,500 merit scholarships of different types and another 1,100 special scholarships from corporate sponsors will be awarded in 2020. Of course, there are a few requirements beyond simply taking the test and scoring well. It is a highly selective process that involved your overall academic performance, plans after high school, and an additional essay. The complete requirements and more information can be found on their website, here.

As you can see, taking this test opens up scholarship opportunities that you would not otherwise know about or qualify for if you do not take the test. It is important to consider these opportunities early. Most students take the PSAT as a sophomore. Review all the information available to you in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide before and after the test to ensure you know exactly what you need to do to increase your chances of getting some of the money available. Provide your email on the test and check that email account often to receive information about scholarships. Apply early and complete your applications accurately and thoroughly. Good luck!