U.S. Presidential Scholar

So recently my school counselor told me that I had the opportunity to apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholar. I was in a hurry when she told me this so I didn’t think much of it so I did some research when I got home and found out a little more about the foundation. I would ask my counselor more about it, but she is away at a conference. I have already begun to apply to colleges and figured I might as well put it on my resume. So my question is… Am I just a nominee or a candidate? I really don’t understand this whole process.

At this point you are a candidate, the next step is semifinalist and then the finalists are awarded from that group. If you look at this link and click ‘awards’ you can look at previous years’ and the three levels (candidates, semifinalist, scholars)
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/index.html

Congratulations!

Please understand this will not assist in admission since selection is done well after admissions are over. Nor does it come with money. It’s a nice feather in the cap but nothing else.

I don’t think the current year candidates have been announced yet. I wonder if your counselor meant that your SAT score made you a likely candidate? You will get a letter in the mail when you are a candidate. I believe January was the time frame for the initial announcement of candidates (my daughter made it through the finalist level.)

Edited to say that I just checked last year’s time frame, and, yes, January is when candidates are announced. So you definitely do not want to put this on your college apps as an award.

That is what I thought, but I was sent an application to fill out and essays to write. That is why I am confused as to what I am considered.