A common misconception about the PSAT is that its only use is to prepare students for the intimidating SAT test; most don’t expect anything out of it except some time out of class. But for Pitman High’s own Sarah Staley, the PSAT was much more than that. She became qualified for the National Merit scholarship and decided to apply, eventually being chosen and making it all the way to National Merit Finalist.

  Qualifying for National Merit alone is difficult. One has to take the PSAT and earn a score that places them in the top 1% of the nation’s test takers. Once they qualify, if they decide to apply, even more factors come into play. Getting to the next level requires having good scores in the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. GPA is also a factor, and there are different levels such as semi-finalist and finalist.

  According to Sarah, she never expected to place so high. She said, “I was surprised when I found out I was a semi-finalist, I was thrilled but didn’t think I’d make it any farther. So I was shocked and really excited by making it this far.”

  Her parents are very excited for her achievement as well. Her mother, an esteemed Pitman High teacher named Mrs. Staley, said, “As parents we could not be more thankful for the teachers that have nurtured her, and we know that the road ahead will be an interesting ride!”

  Along with the prestige of being a finalist, National Merit has many benefits. When asked about them, Sarah said, “Receiving National Merit helps to set students apart at universities because, truthfully, there are lots of people with 4.0s and higher but there are very few National Merit Finalists. So, it opens up a lot of scholarship offers. Being a Finalist also comes into play when applying for spots in universities’ Honor programs.”

  She also said, “It really helps with scholarships, some Finalists receive $2500 from the corporation or more from companies.”

  Where does she get her motivation? Her mother, Mrs. Staley says, “She is fortunate to have a multi-cultural and international perspective on the world, having lived in Africa, and been born into a German family… With her family scattered across many continents, she has not only got wonderful role models, but places to see and people that will welcome her in from Africa to Europe to Australia and both Americas.”

  For the future Sarah has high ambitions. Her mother says, “I would not be surprised if she designs her own eclectic major, or doubles up on some esoteric combination; for example, linguistics and biochemical engineering, or anthropology and neuroscience. She has Mr. Avey to thank for her curiosity about neuroscience, sparked by the study of the brain in Psychology.”

  Sarah herself is unsure of her future as of now, saying, “I have a lot of interests.”

  It is a challenge to qualify for National Merit, let alone moving on to the next levels. The award has opened many doors for Sarah Staley, and although she is unsure of her future now, she has unlimited options to choose from. Whether she double-majors in anthropology and neuroscience or in linguistics and biochemical engineering, it’s clear that whatever she chooses, Sarah Staley’s future will be an adventure.