Presidential Scholar Question

My understanding is that while a 1600 on the SAT guarantees that you get Presidential, the same does not hold true with a 36 composite on the ACT. That’s because they take the average of the four ACT sections and round anything at 35.5 or above to a 36 composite. Thus, [35, 35, 36, 36] [35, 36, 36, 36], and [34, 36, 36, 36] are all rounded up to a 36 composite. In some states, you need four 36s to get Presidential. Anyone have any idea if [35, 36, 36, 36] has a shot for a male in New York? I suspect that you need four 36s, but I can’t find any data on this from past years.

What are you talking about? Presidential scholar for what?

Here is the wikipedia link for Presidential Scholar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Scholars_Program

For academics, to become a candidate, they take the 20 males and 20 females with the highest ACT or SAT scores in each state. In many states, there are more than 20 male and 20 females with perfect ACT or SAT scores, so they actually take more than 20 of each. Since you can’t score higher than 1600 on the SAT, you are guaranteed of becoming a candidate if you get that score. Same thing with a 36 ACT if you got 36 on all four sections. My question was, would you still have a chance if you got a 35 on one of the four sections of the ACT. The more I think about it, the more I think that you would not have a chance in a populous state like NY.

well my first child got a 36 and was never nominated or was NOT a Presidential Scholar, so not sure that is true.

LvMyKids2 - Did your first child get a 36 on all four sections of the ACT, or did he/she get less than a 36 on one or more section(s), but ended up with a 36 composite because they average the four sections and round up? As I mentioned above, in some states, 36 composite is not good enough - you need a 36 on all four sections of the exam. Also, when did you child take the ACT? You are not eligible to be nominated until your senior year. If your child got a perfect 36 this year as a HS Junior, he/she will have to wait until next year for their nomination, which I think are announced in January.

I think so as 35.5 is not equal to 1600, lots of students have 1590, they don’t get it either. What I find stupid is you students who score 35.5 or 1590 in one test aren’t eligible but ones who take several times to make 36 or 1600, become eligible. How are they better than ones who rather use their time to do useful things then keep beating the bush if standarized tests until they get the tag of perfect. As this scholarship doesn’t give merit money and coming out after applications has no affect on admissions, i really don’t see any benefit in chasing it.

My D was nominated last year from PA without all 4 subsections being 36 and there were lots from PA so I don’t think you need 4 36s.

Some are nominated by schools, arts programs and states as well. Numbers are different for each state, in some states 35’s make it, in others most 36s can’t as they only take 20 per state or so and there are just way too many perfect scores
.

They take more than 20 males and 20 females per state if there are more than 20 perfect ACT or SAT scores. And bear in mind, a 36 composite on the ACT is not necessarily a perfect score. Only a 36 composite with 36 on all four sections is perfect. Here is a list of the 2018 candidates by state:
ttps://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2018/candidates.pdf

If you make a 36C on the ACT the ACT sends you a letter saying you made a perfect score so they probably send the same list to the Presidential Scholars Committee saying these students all made a 36 and they all get nominated.

It probably depends on which state and if one got a truly perfect 36 (all 36s on all sections) or a 36 by way of (35.5). I I think they start with wanting the Top 20 of ACT and SAT males and females, but if more are at that level (tied) then they take those. So, it probably just depends on when they get the list by state, whose perfect 36s are truly all 36s and then go down the list from there to 36s that might be 35,36,36,36 by section (35.75). As @CupCakeMuffins says, it is not a merit scholarship and comes out past application due dates. Perhaps it would be something one could send in as an update if waitlisted.

LvMyKIds2 - You’re right that this will not give you a boost applying to colleges since they don’t announce candidates until after applications go out. Even if you did put this on an application, I’m not sure that colleges would care since they don’t put a lot of stock in National Merit. I think in the end, this is nothing more than a nice recognition of a good/lucky day taking the SAT or ACT. As far as actually winning the award, it looks to me that the application process is onerous and the odds are definitely against you. My guess is that most candidates don’t bother applying.

I just talked to the ACT people and the said that in order to be a finalist you need to have 36-36-36-36 perfect scores.
So no 34 or 35 will cut it

@gufusus is that on one test or superscored?

There is no superscore when it comes to Presidential. You have to be perfect on a single test. Also, not sure who Gufusus talked to, but I have seen CC threads where people with less than four 36s have been nominated. It all depends on the state (and probably gender too in some states). California, you are going to need 36-36-36-36. Alaska or Idaho - probably not.