<p>Fordham's website states "There are only 20 Presidential scholarships awarded each year. Presidential scholars typically have a strong A/A- average, rank within the top 1-2% of the graduating class (and are often #1 or #2), score above 1450 on the SAT, with typically above a 2200 including the new SAT Writing section, and have very strong extracurricular involvement and demonstration of leadership ability."
If an applicant meets the class rank and SAT requirements and has strong extracurricular involvement, is it likely that he or she will receive the scholarship? Does anyone know anything about the awarding of the scholarships that is not in the above quote?</p>
<p>My daughter was above all of those stats and didn’t get it. Since they only give out 20, I wouldn’t count on it. You have to be better than the best. But, someone has to get it, so you never know.</p>
<p>There’s no sure way to tell if you are going to get it or not, but for these scholarships ECs do not matter at all. It’s all stats (these scholarships, aside from being great, attract high stat students to Fordham which helps the school’s look.) I know a couple of Presidential scholarship people and their ECs weren’t that impressive. Basically, if you have great, Ivy/top school level SAT/GPA, apply to Fordham. You’re bound to get good money. Maybe things changed from 2012 though.</p>
<p>I got the Semifinalist one, which requires you to be a National Merit Scholar (which I was), A or A- average (which I got), and apparently the top 1-2% in your class (which I was definitely not). So I guess that one is used to attract National Merit Scholars to Fordham.</p>