What is Presidential Scholar”? What’s difference between NMSF and Presidential Scholar?

[Anonymous]

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2020/candidates.pdf

[Anonymous]

There are over 7,000 NMS.
There are around 160 Presidential Scholars.

One is more prestigious.

[Anonymous]

There is one male and one female Presidential Scholar from each state, plus some others selected for arts/technical. There is no scholarship, just a trip to DC (& photo op with the president).

For candidates, there are 20+ boys and 20+ girls from each state based upon highest SAT and ACT scores. In CA, this probably means 1600 SAT or 36+36+36 ACT. In DC, I believe a 1540/35 qualified last year.

Nearly all of the DC resident NMSFs (~15) qualified as PS candidates, so it is harder to be a NMSF in DC than a PS candidate, but if you become semifinalist (~6) or Scholar (2) that is impressive (especially in CA).

[Anonymous]

Two different recognition - one is sponsored by National Merit Scholarship Corp and the other is sponsored by the Dept of Ed. There are a lot more NMF/NMScholars than the Presidential Scholars. DC won NMF/NMS and nominated to Presidential Scholars but didn't make the final cut.

[Anonymous]

Are perfect SAT, PSAT and ACT required?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are perfect SAT, PSAT and ACT required?

For NMSF - PSAT above state "cut" score (every state has different cut score) plus confirmation SAT score needed

The Presidential Scholar nomination is based on SAT/ACT. Once you are nominated, the process considers more than SAT/ACT score.

[Anonymous]

There is also a third category of PS: "are nominated by their state's Chief State School Officer." Those are pretty free form and do not have any specific criteria.

[Anonymous]

Much bigger deal to get a Regeneron or TASP or MITE or RSI than it is to get a test-based award like NM or Presidential Scholar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much bigger deal to get a Regeneron or TASP or MITE or RSI than it is to get a test-based award like NM or Presidential Scholar.

That is totally different. Most people have never heard of those, let alone tried to participate; but everyone college bound takes the tests.

[Anonymous]

Wow, there are 44 from TJ. About 8 from GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is one male and one female Presidential Scholar from each state, plus some others selected for arts/technical. There is no scholarship, just a trip to DC (& photo op with the president).

For candidates, there are 20+ boys and 20+ girls from each state based upon highest SAT and ACT scores. In CA, this probably means 1600 SAT or 36+36+36 ACT. In DC, I believe a 1540/35 qualified last year.

Nearly all of the DC resident NMSFs (~15) qualified as PS candidates, so it is harder to be a NMSF in DC than a PS candidate, but if you become semifinalist (~6) or Scholar (2) that is impressive (especially in CA).

It is equally impressive in every state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is one male and one female Presidential Scholar from each state, plus some others selected for arts/technical. There is no scholarship, just a trip to DC (& photo op with the president).

For candidates, there are 20+ boys and 20+ girls from each state based upon highest SAT and ACT scores. In CA, this probably means 1600 SAT or 36+36+36 ACT. In DC, I believe a 1540/35 qualified last year.

Nearly all of the DC resident NMSFs (~15) qualified as PS candidates, so it is harder to be a NMSF in DC than a PS candidate, but if you become semifinalist (~6) or Scholar (2) that is impressive (especially in CA).

It is equally impressive in every state.

No. #1 out of 400,000 (CA) > #1 out of 5,000 (DC)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is one male and one female Presidential Scholar from each state, plus some others selected for arts/technical. There is no scholarship, just a trip to DC (& photo op with the president).

For candidates, there are 20+ boys and 20+ girls from each state based upon highest SAT and ACT scores. In CA, this probably means 1600 SAT or 36+36+36 ACT. In DC, I believe a 1540/35 qualified last year.

Nearly all of the DC resident NMSFs (~15) qualified as PS candidates, so it is harder to be a NMSF in DC than a PS candidate, but if you become semifinalist (~6) or Scholar (2) that is impressive (especially in CA).

It is equally impressive in every state.

No. #1 out of 400,000 (CA) > #1 out of 5,000 (DC)

So the kid with the perfect scores and resume in CA is more impressive than the kid with the perfect scores and resume in TX, FL, DE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is one male and one female Presidential Scholar from each state, plus some others selected for arts/technical. There is no scholarship, just a trip to DC (& photo op with the president).

For candidates, there are 20+ boys and 20+ girls from each state based upon highest SAT and ACT scores. In CA, this probably means 1600 SAT or 36+36+36 ACT. In DC, I believe a 1540/35 qualified last year.

Nearly all of the DC resident NMSFs (~15) qualified as PS candidates, so it is harder to be a NMSF in DC than a PS candidate, but if you become semifinalist (~6) or Scholar (2) that is impressive (especially in CA).

It is equally impressive in every state.

No. #1 out of 400,000 (CA) > #1 out of 5,000 (DC)

So the kid with the perfect scores and resume in CA is more impressive than the kid with the perfect scores and resume in TX, FL, DE?

Probably, since they had to compete against 100's of other kids with perfect scores and resumes. There is no guarantee that anyone from DE/WV/XYZ even got a perfect score, but that is the minimum required in CA to become a candidate.

It's like saying being #1 at TJ is no more impressive than being valedictorian at any other school in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much bigger deal to get a Regeneron or TASP or MITE or RSI than it is to get a test-based award like NM or Presidential Scholar.

That is totally different. Most people have never heard of those, let alone tried to participate; but everyone college bound takes the tests.

That's exactly the point of the PP. If you want to be part of the very tippy top, you need to learn about the things that truly matter.