@MisPollitas00 is there a preference given to those from Texas schools? A friend of our family was a PS about 8 years ago. She is through law school now. She was a Spanish major. It was her mom who encouraged DS to apply to SMU because of the doors that it opened for her daughter.
@S18D20mom for better or worse there is no preference given for the pres scholar invitations based on residency. They are simply seeking to send letters to the 50-75 (not sure how many) brightest people to interview. All the pres scholars i know off the top of my head are not from the state. Maybe they were referring to the rank as most texas schools rank.
@S18D20mom the counselor said something about Texas high schools, but I didn’t hear clearly. She may have been referencing rank. Tonight at the SMU gathering they said the letters should be out soon. I just can’t wait for all of this to be over. April couldn’t come faster! We have a handful of schools we are waiting for on decisions that do not happen till mid March to April.
I’m with you…can’t wait for decisions to be made! Let’s goooo!!! 
I received my PS letter today in the mail!
Congrats @nerdbelle! That’s awesome!! Did it cone USPS? Can I ask what state you are in?
@S18D20mom thank you! Yes, USPS. I’m in Texas.
Just received my letter inviting me to the Presidential Scholarship Finalists Interview weekend! Came as a bit of a surpise as I applied for the hunt scholarship and was denied from it just this morning. They didn’t even watch my video portion on youtube according to my view analytics, so im wondering if they denied me knowing I would get an invitation for the Presidential.
Does anyone know if they pay for your airfare?
Congrats!! I hope to see you both during the finalist weekend! @syd24ranger @nerdbelle
@syd24ranger Congratulations! According to the PS website, it states “SMU covers all expenses for meals and accommodations during the campus interview process”. I would guess transportation is not included.
hi guys! so the letter states that “As a finalist you are eligible to interview for the 2018 President’s Scholar award and other merit scholarships.” When it says other merit scholarships does that indicate that if you are NOT awarded the PS you can get other lesser scholarships?? It would be nice not to walk away empty handed if I don’t recieve the PS.
I heard you get the Deans Scholarship if you dont receive the pres scholarship @syd24ranger
Transportation to Dallas for the interview is at your own expense, but they put you up in a nice hotel near campus and provide most of the meals during the interview days. You also get a lot of SMU gear. Buses to take you to and from the events on campus. If you don’t get the Presidential, you are awarded other scholarships. My daughter didn’t get the Presidential but was offered a scholarship of $25,000/year.
Was recently accepted as a Provost and BBA Scholar and received PS Finalist letter today – so excited! And same here @syd24ranger – I also applied for Hunt and received rejection letter this morning (my YouTube statement still has 0 views!), only to find out a few hours later about Presidential. Congrats to you and all others who have heard!
As I am from VA, I assume that all East Coast finalists will receive their letters within the next few days.
The Presidential is a full ride scholarship, but the Hunt is not. If you were pulled for the Presidential finalist pool, you would not have been left in the Hunt group and vice versa. Both groups interview on campus at the same time.
for those of you who are finalists, are you guys choosing to stay in a hotel or the residence hall for the finalists weekend?
@colorfulhuman In a hotel
@colorfulhuman I chose residence hall
can anyone offer any interview tips? The weekend is coming up so soon.