Presidential Scholars' Program

<p>Does anyone know anything about the Presidential Scholars' Program run by the Department of Education? I got a packet today naming me a candidate and asking me to fill out the application. From what I can tell, there aren't really any scholarships involved, but it seems like it's a major honor and I am debating whether I want to go to the trouble to do the (significant) paperwork.</p>

<p>I got it too. I started a thread in College Admissions...but few people responded. It is very prestigious. What state are you in btw?</p>

<p>I'm from Nebraska. I tried to search and find your thread in College Admissions, but came up empty handed. Would you mind adding a link to it in this thread? Thanks.</p>

<p>How do they choose who gets the packet?</p>

<p>The letter that came with it said that candidates are chosen by outstanding performance on the ACT or SAT, twenty males and twenty females for each state. You can't apply to be a candidate, it's by invitation only, but if you think your score was high enough to be considered but you didn't get in, the Department of Education's website says to contact them. <a href="http://www.ed.gov/programs/psp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ed.gov/programs/psp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=26946%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=26946&lt;/a> </p>

<p>However, it seems like there are more people posting on this thread LOL.</p>

<p>I followed your link. Evidently I'm a candidate. I haven't gotten anything yet though.</p>

<p>A kid from my school last year in California received the honor and it is very prestigious, as there are only 2 per state. I don't know how one qualifies as a candidate, but I haven't gotten anything. I hope that for all of you that did get something to try your hardest because this is a large achievement.</p>

<p>I believe that you have to check the little box that says CB can send your scores out when you take the SAT (and the same for the ACT) to be considered. That's how they get your name and score. In a lot of states only students with a 1600 or a 36 are even considered. In our state last year 1 student with a 35 ACT and 1 with a 1590 were nominated; it just depends on how competitive your state is.</p>

<p>They application seems really long.....especially the "short" answers. Am I missing something...or is there no teacher evaluation/recommendation?</p>

<p>A friend's daughter (in Texas) qualified this year with a 1600 SAT and 36 ACT. Looks like Texas has 60 or so nominees - can there be 60 students with 1600s in any given state?</p>

<p>it's only based on SAT and ACT scores though, right? several of my friends were nomintated.</p>

<p>1590 just wasn't good enough in my state :(</p>

<p>I got a 35 and a 1570... but I live in Alabama. Sorry, guys. ;)</p>

<p>my name is on the nominee list but i havent received any info yet...i dont think our state is quite as competitive, i only have a 35</p>

<p>I got a 35/1520 (only took the SAT once). I'm guessing its because of the smaller state (NE) that a 35 got me in.</p>

<p>yeah, i saw my name on the list for idaho (34/1500) but i havent got anything either... hmm</p>

<p>I got the application in the mail today...it does look pretty long. </p>

<p>For anyone that got it, where are you sending the press releases? I was thinking just my local papers, but is anyone giving it to a radio or TV station like they suggested?</p>

<p>I don't plan on giving mine out anywhere. No offense but I feel like only people with self-esteem problems would need that sort of recognition. What are others doing with them?</p>

<p>oh man this app is really long.</p>