<p>Just got the letter today.
@horizon: I’d list them under activities if necessary, but really, I think it’s a waste of space unless you’re listing something really unique. NMF is based on PSAT scores…you’re a PSP finalist because of your SAT scores–it’s not very different and doesn’t add much to your application.</p>
<p>I am just starting my PSP application, and I have a few questions so hopefully you guys can help me out! :)</p>
<ol>
<li>Can my “educator” be a counselor, or does it have to be an actual teacher? </li>
<li>If so, is that counselor still allowed to write a recommendation, etc (if they are needed for the app)?</li>
</ol>
<p>I’m really surprised - today I got a letter saying I was a candidate for the Presidential Scholars Program! I have no idea how I qualified though… my ACT/SAT scores were good, but not THAT good. I had a 32.5 ACT and 2310 SAT. Anyone else qualify with similar, less-than-perfect scores?</p>
<p>And by the way, here is a list of all the candidates for 2011, by state:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2011/candidates.pdf[/url]”>http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2011/candidates.pdf</a></p>
<p>It’s based on just the CR and M part of the SAT.</p>
<p>Okay, that makes more sense. My SAT was a 1580, then.</p>
<p>1590 here in GA
…I’m also wondering whether the educator can be the counselor who writes a rec, or whether, if not, the educator can be from a different school/not affiliated with a school.
Of course, I guess that all doesn’t really matter unless for some reason I miraculously make it to DC. Good luck to you all! :)</p>
<p>Any Marylanders out there get less than 1600? I am thinking that was prolly the cutoff here.
Also, the odds of getting in to this are 4.6% in case anyone just did the math (I did). That is worse than Harvard, lol. I’m sure everyone here prolly applied to Harvard, too. Any past winners with a tip of what they are looking for? Or is that just pointless?
Gosh, more essays. More high stakes and low likelihood stress…I hope this is good for something.</p>
<p>For the academic track it is 3000/3,000,000 = 0.1%</p>
<p>first round Presidential scholars/yearly high school graduates </p>
<p>I think this is harder to get then NMSF.</p>
<p>
It’s much, much harder.</p>
<p>Yes, it is the top tenth of one percent to get nominated, and it is a less than five % chance to get in among all of the 3000 candidates. So…it is a miniscule percentage. I am just wondering what they are actually looking for in a winner. Obviously, it will be “more than just a number” for the 140 who are chosen, but what tips the scale?
Well, no time to ponder much, just write more essays and hope for the best, lol.</p>
<p>Also wonder if there is an edge to public school students since it is a dept of education award… Criteria for selection of winners is very unclear.</p>
<p>My observation from my son’s year was that this program seemed to value some accomplishments that were not strictly academic–things like being an Eagle Scout, or community service achievements.</p>
<p>congrats to all the presidential scholar candidates!
my question: my school has not received any information about the program or the link to submit the forms online… is it ok if my guidance counselor mails the educator/secondary school report forms instead of submitting everything online?
is there anything that my guidance counselor MUST fill out online?</p>
<p>Has anyone else decided not to send in their forms for this program? I felt that after all the filling out of college applications and essays, I just was not interested in this program. It is not for any scholarship $$$, just a trip to D.C. and the honor would not have any effect on our college apps as it is too late to make a difference.</p>
<p>Am I just jaded and burnt out…maybe so.</p>
<p>what do we get in return for this thing? any money? or is it just the “honor” of being nominated?</p>
<p>@loveneweng: yess. our school has 9… and our town has like 12-14… i’m definitely not applying, but my parents really want me to. lol i’m just going to tell them i didn’t get it (which would have been the case anyway). i don’t think they understand how much work 6 essays is </p>
<p>my guidance counselor will be happy at least (haha less work for her :))</p>
<p>oh and our cut-off is 1600 (which is expected in nj i guess)</p>
<p>Has anyone tried to submit on line? Just wondering if it is “flawless” :p</p>
<p>North Dakota candidate, 33 composite ACT. it’s crazy how little you have to do to get these scholarships in our state, nobody gives a crap here lol. I haven’t even started my application. Getting over a 30 on your ACT qualifies you automatically for a full-ride scholarship to any state school. And the private school kids take buses to the public schools for advanced classes because the public schools are all higher-performing. The $200 million surplus isn’t half bad either. We can’t figure out where to spend all our money since everybody’s already fully employed.</p>
<p>Does anyone plan on a 10800-character essay, or is that just an arbitrary limit? I think I’m lucky to get half of that…</p>
<p>^ I’m doing it at the last minute and was wondering the same thing…</p>