Who cares about the Preliminary SAT (PSAT), right? Most students place much more importance on the real SAT, as that score can be a deciding factor for college admissions. However, contrary to popular belief, the PSAT, taken in the fall of sophomore and junior year, holds a lot more value than most realize. Not only does it prepare students for the SAT, but it also serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program. This school year, North Atlanta has two National Merit semifinalists: Claire Collins and Alexander Chalk.
In October of their junior years, seniors Collins and Chalk both scored a 1500 out of 1520 on their PSAT exam, both with a perfect score on the math section. This phenomenal score automatically qualified them as National Merit semifinalists. Currently, the two seniors are working to complete an application that is due in October, which could potentially qualify them for the next round. If selected as a finalist, they would receive a $2,500 scholarship, a Certificate of Merit, and a college resume booster. “My dream school is NYU, so earning this scholarship would be a great step towards achieving that goal,” said Chalk.
Collins’ and Chalk’s success was not a matter of luck, but rather the result of their dedication and countless hours of work behind the scenes. Not only are their academic records exceptional, but they both have an extensive list of extracurriculars. Collins is a tri-sport athlete, a Fulton County Youth Commissioner, an Atlanta Mayor’s Youth Ambassador, Director of Operations for an online magazine, and much more. You may recognize Chalk as the school president, but he is also the Chair of Junior Leadership Community for LLS, a founding member of Leader’s Unite, and an APS student Advisory Council member, just to name a few. AP Comparative Politics and IB History teacher Dr. Brooke Dozier attests to the excellence of both students. “If you are ever winning at something, sleep with one eye open, because Claire will be coming to beat you,” said Dozier. “Alexander for president, 2060!”
Although naturally gifted, Chalk and Collins knew that preparation was essential to their success. Both were already studying for the SAT, so that practice readied them for the simpler questions on the PSAT. The week leading up to the exam, they cram-studied the possible material, so that it would be fresh on their minds. “This is probably not the best advice, but the main way I studied was through watching a bunch of videos about the PSAT the night before my test,” said Collins.
Roughly 16,000 scholars nationwide achieve semifinalist status, but only about 8,000 advance to the finalist stage. Although this number may seem quite large, it is an extremely small percentage of the American student population. Earning a spot is extremely competitive, but Chalk and Collins have proved they can do just about anything. Best of luck to Claire and Alexander!
