<p>hey, i figured harvard's board would be knowledgable in this.</p>
<p>i got a packet saying i was nominated for a presidential scholar award? Is this a big deal? only like 20 ppl were nominated in my state, but like, i dunno, is it really distinguished? I figured if anyone knew, it would be the harvard board's kids</p>
<p>The nomination is based solely on your SAT score, but yeah, it's definitely distinguished if you're actually selected as a scholar. I think by the time you find that out, though, it'd be too late to inform any schools.</p>
<p>Actually being one of the 550 semifinalists is considered very distinguished, since it requires more work than most people are inclined to fool with. That honor too is too late for college admissions.</p>
<p>But you can notify adcoms that you've been nominated. It's not too late.</p>
<p>The nomination is nice, but the app is going to be a big drag--like we all have time to write all those essays! Argh.</p>
<p>If you are fortunate enough to have been nominated it is definately worth writing the essays and applying. It is a wonderful experience and a very distinguished honor. If you win you will NEVER forget it. It is the one of the most prestigious awards a senior can be awarded.</p>
<p>I'm nominated too... My parents are letting me skip school for a day to do the essays. It'd be cool to win, but I'm sort of cursed when it comes to winning trips to D.C. (first runner up for state mathcounts, second alternate for US Senate Youth Program).</p>
<p>Anyway, I don't think it's worth a letter to tell adcoms you're nominated, since they should already know as much by your SAT score.</p>
<p>You can be nominated without a perfect 36 or 1600. So adcoms may not know you've qualified with a sub-perfect test score.</p>
<p>ok thanks .</p>
<p>Also..as you probably know, the scores of the nominees would necessarily range from state to state. The top 20 males in your state may not be the same range of scores as in my state. Also varies greatly between males and females. So as Zuma says, adcoms would not know simply by your test score. So I think it's worth mentioning the nomination. And maybe even more important if you're the only male or female from your entire (highly competitive, perhaps?) high school. Might make more of a difference to admcoms at another school, other than Harvard, but I'd do it anyway.</p>
<p>jarahul106, I was nominated too! I didn't have a 1600 SAT, but a 1590. Definitely notify them of your nomination.</p>
<p>Drop Harvard adcoms a line letting them know that you've been recommended for Presidential Scholar. It is a big honor.</p>
<p>" but I'm sort of cursed when it comes to winning trips to D.C. (first runner up for state mathcounts, second alternate for US Senate Youth Program).
"</p>
<p>Those weren't "curses." Getting that far in such major programs are impressive accomplishments. Most people didn't do half as well.</p>
<p>I agree with Northstarmom, just. Let them know you have been nominated! My school just announced that I have been nominated, so I'm getting a little excited about it now. What I'm not excited about is more essays.</p>
<p>Navgirl-I'm already in, so no need for a letter.</p>
<p>NSM-Thanks! I'm proud of myself, but at the same time, being so close has been frustrating.</p>
<p>Jarahul-There's no harm in sending them a letter. But I wouldn't expect the letter to make a difference. Would you find out if you're a semifinalist before admissions decisions are made? That would be a more important honor, IMHO.</p>
<p>Sorry Just, I meant to say jarahul. I'm in too! :) I'm not sure the letter will make a difference either, but it certainly can't hurt.</p>
<p>Congrats and don't get too stressed out on the essays!</p>
<p>I was nominated last year, but I was too lazy to apply. I didn't see the value of writing that many essays just to stroke my ego and take a trip to Washington DC that I didn't really want. Plus I knew the only reason I got the nomination was my SAT score and there was no way I was going to win once other factors came into play.</p>
<p>about the nominations, I read that only around 30 people get nominated in each state and it is solely based on SAT scores. It seems that there would be many ties, as many more people get 1590s or 1600s. How does it work?</p>
<p>ronlivs: They take the top 20 male and top 20 female SAT scores in each state. I understood that when there are ties, they take both people, so there are often more than 20 males and 20 females in any given state. Not a lot more, though. Take a look at that link on one of these threads somebody left recently that shows the 2003 or 20004(?) SAT scores nationally. Not that many people are actually in that 1560-1600 range, especially spread out across 50 states. (I might be wrong about the ties, but that's what I thought I read.)</p>
<p>Jack-I'm pretty sure you're right. If they take one 1580 kid, they have to take them all.</p>