Thanks everyone for the comments! To clarify for everyone, it is impossible for me to reach the 20 credits of only AP or Honors. We don’t have honors/advanced Spanish at my high school, just regular up until you get to AP (which I will be taking). The max I could get would be 18, and I’ll be at 15 total (12 AP and 3 honors). It seems as if there is some discrepancy as to whether or not I’ll be considered, but I’ll just send in my application and whatever happens happens!
Great attitude. Definitely apply to SMU and see what happens. SMU gives out a lot of great merit awards in addition to the Presidential and Hunt scholarships. Everyone that applies to SMU is considered for the Presidential Scholarship. There is no separate application or easy. The Hunt has extra requirements such as a video. In February about 50-60 of all the applicants to SMU are told they are admitted and are invited to the Presidential finalist interview weekend in March. Of the finalists, about half are offered the Presidential scholarship. The finalists that are not chosen are offered substantial scholarships but nothing close to a full ride. There are roughly the same number of Hunt finalists. They interview the same weekend as the Presidential finalists. My daughter was a finalist for the Presidential scholarship but was not selected. She decided to go to Rice instead of SMU. The Presidential Scholars get a lot of perks above and beyond a full ride such as the opportunity to study abroad and attend SMU in Taos, NM. SMU is a great school.
For all wondering, I emailed an admissions counselor about the 20 AP/Honors course issue. She said that they consider rigor within the context of your school, and that you do NOT have to have 20 credits of just AP and Honors. They are looking to see if you took advantage of the classes offered at your school and challenged yourself, but she explicitly stated that if you miss 1 or 2 AP’s here or there that it won’t make much (if any) difference. She also said that they want to see a full senior year schedule. I know that this helped clear things up for me, and hopefully it will help the future viewers of this thread as well!
It’s not a full ride. “They cover full-tuition and fees for eight consecutive fall and spring academic semesters or graduation, whichever comes first. Also receive travel expenses and tuition for study abroad.”
However, books, housing and meals aren’t covered. Their housing and meal program is $17K per year so it’s about $68K out of pocket if you aren’t eligible for financial aid. If you are eligible for financial aid or have an outside scholarship then it can cover the gap and practically become a full ride for you. By the way, housing and meals aren’t covered for study abroad either.
It’s a great scholarship but keep in mind that these scholars are only 20-25, rest of the student body isn’t nowhere near that level so overall academic experience isn’t going to be at the level of any top colleges. Frat culture is quite strong as well. Off campus housing nearby is either expensive or unsafe. Just like any other scholarship, do your research of what’s included.
questions4u is 100% Correct regarding TX high school especially Top Charter/Magnet/Some Public School districts - Advanced Program - students can and do take many AP courses. There are schools (do not want to divulge more) that require students to take a minimum of 12 (or I think it may be 14!) AP courses before graduation! SMU is targeting these students who are accustomed to a tough course load and are used to working hard every day!
So, DD is a BBA Scholar that rooms with a Presidential Scholar (PS). Both are freshmen. Generally, Tuition is 48k, fees are 6k, room and board 17k. PS pays all except the tuition. PS was home schooled. I can say that SMU is VERY good at picking students and placing awards/scholarships.PS is just a really good student, was very involved in community, in a band, etc.
They really look beyond academics (not to say you mush have great academics). On the course rigor, SMU DOES take into account the classes offered vs what student took. DD took everything she could and only got to take AP BIO. She DID take all the Dual Credit courses available, all Honors classes, had a WELL WRITTEN resume and essays. She got BBA Scholar, Provost Scholar, Texas Equalization Grant, which total $41k. So the difference is only $7k. It is doable without Presidents, it puts costs into at least a reasonable amount considering the school and education offered. And trust me, it is a REALLY good school. They don’t pay $277k full price for 2nd best anything.
The President’s Scholarship covers tuition and fees. You would also receive the Campus Community Award which covers Room & Board, as long as you live on campus. I’m a current PS, and I have been enjoying my experience so far.
Interesting, now that I read into it more they DO receive room and board.
Current President’s Scholar here. Just wanted to pop into this thread to say that no one should be telling you that the number of AP’s you take will disqualify you from being asked to interview. They take into account how many APs your school offers as well. I only had 7 AP Classes along with good scores on the exams and was still given the PS.
Thanks for your comment syd24ranger. My son was admitted to SMU on Friday and received a $30k per year scholarship. He has a 35 ACT and 4.0 GPA. He attends a small rural school and has taken the most rigorous curriculum available, including Honors Calculus, Honors Physics and Honors Chemistry. However, his school does not offer AP or IB classes. Do you know whether that would be an automatic disqualifier for the Presidential Scholarship? The SMU website implies that AP classes are required to be considered. He has lots of good EC’s - student body president, accomplished musician, athletics, volunteer work., etc. Just curious about whether it’s a possibility for him.
@generaljoejoe I contacted admissions, and they were very clear that they don’t have a specific number of AP classes or honors classes that they require for a student to be considered. I was told they just want to see that you take the most rigorous courses available to you (which it looks like your son has). Seems like him and I are both playing the waiting game now for PS… good luck to him!
thanks @LibbyJane and good luck to you as well!
Does anyone know if those invited to apply for Dedman Scholars are out of contention for President’s or Hunt’s scholarships?
It’s likely but call to confirm.
I just want to clarify that questions4u is wrong. 20 units is usually just a few AP’s. Ex., APUSH is worth 6 units at SMU. Calc is 3, Stats is 3, and so on. Also, as far as hunt stats go I am one. I got a 1410 (780M and 630R) had 4.0 all throughout HS and was student body pres, co-founded a non-profit, and a couple other things. You have a great shot at becoming a pres scholar, but just know it it kind of a crapshoot because there are lots of qualified students. My RM is a pres and he got a 34 and did well in high school and in his essays wrote about the 4th amendment and other smart stuff lol. Be passionate, that’s what matters.
In response to a previous poster who said that the PS award isn’t a full ride, I’d just like to clarify that it is, one-hundred percent, a full ride. If you get this scholarship, you will not pay a dime for your housing, meals, or tuition. Your likely expenditures will be for books, which may come out to a couple of hundred bucks a semester. Dallas housing is not cheap, so this is a distinction that I think is important to those considering the scholarship.