2012 Candidates for the Presidential Scholars Program list is online

<p>This scholarship was just brought to my attention today. One of my classmates had been praised for receiving a candidacy. The money does not appeal to me as much as the prestige does, so I was just wondering what kind of scores you all had who received candidacies. I live in Indiana, and my classmate scored a 2340 on his SAT. I scored 10 points less, 2330, and never received any notice of the scholarship. This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense but I guess it’s possible that the Indiana cutoff was 2340.</p>

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<p>Everyone else seems to think you should include it, but I’m not so sure–your IB courses will show up on your transcript, and it says explicitly, “Do not list AP or honors courses here; they will appear on your transcript.” I think the space is primarily included for summer work. For example, I’m listing SAAST at UPenn, which is mentioned nowhere else in my application. </p>

<p>I’m an AP person taking one IB certificate, so forgive me if I’m wrong, but if you have exclusively IB credits on your transcript for junior/senior year, shouldn’t it be fairly obvious anyway that you’re in the Diploma Programme?</p>

<p>Indy95 - there is no monetary reward. Also, they only count the math/critical reading sections of the SAT, which might make a difference?</p>

<p>I’m wondering exactly the same thing. My SAT and ACT are pretty comparable, except that I absolutely bombed the ACT writing. I assume that the program knows I took the ACT, since both ACT and SAT are used to qualify. Do they still care about getting both?</p>

<p>I just submitted my application. I didn’t list my ACT score, but do what you feel is best. I’m aware that my credentials don’t measure up to most finalists’ and semifinalists’ standards, so I’m not expecting anything.</p>

<p>If you won the lottery, you’d probably complain about the taxes. Grinch doesn’t even begin to cover it.</p>

<p>When do semifinalist results come out?</p>

<p>@Newtron - sorry you are getting bombed by most of the posters. </p>

<p>I’ll throw in a few thoughts after reading this thread. Our son was a 2011 US Presidential Scholar (USPS) and we also went to DC, so we have first hand experience also. I will agree with @Newtron that the US Presidential Scholar did not live up to our expectations - although I admit the program is designed for the student and the teacher, not the family members. However, the level of treatment of the USPS kids was underwhelming. I will just give 1 example of what I mean. We heard, through the grapevine while we were there, that USPS of Korean descent were invited to the S. Korean Embassy and given $5K and to meet the Ambassador and be interviewed by national S. Korean television stations. Too bad we’re not Korean. It’s a sad state of affairs when a US President gives lip service how much he values education but skips out on his namesake show; and yet interestingly has time to fill out a NCAA College BBall Tournament Bracket and show up on ESPN to review his bracket - now that’s rich! But it’s not about the money, it really boils down to how valued these high achieving students are treated. How many useless and wasteful things does the US Government fund? Alot… But apparently almost nothing for these 141 kids (arts kids included).</p>

<p>On the other hand, the program for the teacher was better than for the USPS’s kids. The teachers got to have their voices heard at the Dept. of Education at roundtable discussions. They also had a fabulous banquet (they deserve it). </p>

<p>In summary, I have points of agreement with Newtron, but there are certainly other benefits of the USPS program. Yes, it still has a prestigious-sounding name to it, but I do think that there should be more done to recognize these kids. If the POTUS is too busy, which he apparently is, then change the name of the award to Dept. of Education Scholars and get that nomenclature of “US President” off that medal. Our son, unlike Newtron’s daughter, had a blast and made a lot of great friends. But, I can imagine if roommates were mismatched, things can turn out badly. I don’t understand why they don’t have rule where the arts scholars room with only arts scholars. So Newtron, hang in there, I feel some of the things you feel and I’m sorry your D had to go through what she went through.</p>

<p>Has anyone heard their Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalist status? I think they are supposed to come out today.</p>

<p>I thought their website said that they would publish the names of the semi-finalists in early April.</p>

<p>How much money do you get from this scholarship? Or is it any money at all? I understand it’s very prestigious just couldn’t find any specific amount of money given.</p>

<p>no money. just the honor. and the possibility of a Washington trip.</p>

<p>Have the semifinalists been announced yet?</p>

<p>No, they have not. They will be posted on the Presidential Scholars Program’s website when they are announced.</p>

<p>I got a letter in the mail today saying I was not a semifinalist. Anyone else get any news?</p>

<p>@howgoesit12, I haven’t heard anything yet! Where you do you live and when was the letter sent?</p>

<p>Ahhhh I’m so nervous for it! I’ve been checking their site this whole weekend to see if they’ve posted the semifinalist list yet, but they haven’t… Anyone know when they’ll post it? Since it seems like they’ve started mailing the letters already.</p>

<p>Last year they posted the semifinalists on April 8th, but the year before it was the 16th. Hopefully sometime this week…</p>

<p>Posted:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2012/semifinalists.pdf[/url]”>http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2012/semifinalists.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>What do semifinalists have to do now? Do we have to write more essays? Is there an interview process?</p>