Candidates are invited based on SAT/ACT scores (each state has a cutoff), as well as through a few other channels. The list of candidates for this year is here: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2021/candidates.pdf

Candidates then fill out an application, including essays. Not all candidates choose to do this. From those applications, semifinalists are chosen:https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2021/semifinalists.pdf

The applications are reviewed again to choose finalists. One boy and one girl are chosen from each state (and DC, Puerto Rico, and Americans Abroad), plus some at-large scholars and some Scholars in the Arts and Scholars in Career and Technical Education.

Eligibility

How Are Scholars Selected

For the general component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

-are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline (Students who were not U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents on the day they took SAT or ACT exam, or who requested that The College Board or ACT not release their scores to outside entities, should contact the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program at 507-931-8345 to ensure their scores are considered in the determination of the candidate pool.);

-graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2021, the current program year; and

-score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program, based on tests taken during the year window that begins in September, 2017 and runs through October, 2020, (for the recognition cycle concluding in June, 2021), nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) or nominated by one of our partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.


For the arts component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

- are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline;

- graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2021, the current program year;

- demonstrate academic achievement and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts; and

- participate in the National YoungArts Foundation's nationwide YoungArts program.



For the CTE component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

- are or will be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent U.S. Residents by the application deadline;

- graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2021, the current program year;

- demonstrate academic achievement in career and technical programs; and

- are nominated by their state's Chief State School Officer.

Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students may not apply individually to the program or be nominated (outside of the above process).

This is a BS award. 1580-1600 SAT range, 4.0 GPA, numerous academic and EC awards are normal in my kid's school. No one is represented here.

Anonymous wrote:Here are links to the process and how they are selected -- it is not just scores:

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/eligibility.html

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/select.html

IT IS INVITATION ONLY. Your great SAT scores does not matter. No wonder some schools have no representation and the private schools do.

The selected Scholars are (the ** indicates Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education):


MD-Marvin Li, Salisbury-James M Bennett High School
MD-Saanika Mahashetty, Boyds-Richard Montgomery High Schoo
**MD-Sahil Patel, Waldorf-North Point High School
MD-Avinash J. Thakkar, Rosedale-Mcdonogh School
**MD-Kathy Yao, Lutherville-Dulaney High School

DC-Stephen Thomas Mirabello, Washington-School Without Walls
DC-Tess I Weinreich, Washington-The Potomac School

VA-Shreya Somayajula, Ashburn-Stone Bridge High School
VA-Jason Wang, Vienna-Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology

Yikes...MCPS!!
Maryland
MD - Marvin Li, Salisbury - James M Bennett High School
MD - Saanika Mahashetty, Boyds - Richard Montgomery High School
**MD - Sahil Patel, Waldorf - North Point High School
MD - Avinash J. Thakkar, Rosedale - Mcdonogh School
**MD - Kathy Yao, Lutherville - Dulaney High School

Anonymous wrote:The Semifinalist list is posted now: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2021/semifinalists.pdf
Finalists will be announced next month.

Hmmm...
Very short list from last year. Recognize several names.


Maryland
MD - Rio Violet Constantino Baran, Middletown - Urbana High School
MD - Navin S Durbhakula, Potomac - Winston Churchill High School
MD - Lucinda Feldmann, Arnold - Severna Park Senior High School
**MD - Tehya A Gaines, California - Leonardtown High School
MD - Jason Hu, Boyds - Richard Montgomery High School
MD - Marvin Li, Salisbury - James M Bennett High School
MD - Saanika Mahashetty, Boyds - Richard Montgomery High School
**MD - Sahil Patel, Waldorf - North Point High School
MD - Sujay Madapur Swain, Gaithersburg - Montgomery Blair High School
MD - Avinash J. Thakkar, Rosedale - Mcdonogh School
MD - Kushan Sanuka Weerakoon, Bethesda - Walt Whitman High School
**MD - Kathy Yao, Lutherville - Dulaney High School
MD - Margaret Yin, Glenwood - Glenelg High Schoo

The finalists/scholars list has been posted: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/2021/scholars.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2j1Jw65uBfGrBku3R8Is1xlbG7KBDpWXZ72oEf1Diy4pEDuQO1NhAv93c

I was a Presidential Scholar nearly 30 years ago, and my niece is one this year (not from this area). Congrats to all the new Scholars!

Anonymous wrote:Would 1560 be high enough in MD?

Probably not, looks like cutoff is likely between 1580 and 1590

Would 1560 be high enough in MD?

Anonymous wrote:If the SAT/ACT was optional for college admissions this year, why should the presidential scholar nomination (first cut) be based on SAT/ACT this year?

Only part of it is, the DME gets to choose 10 kids too. Also, because they look at your scores over a three-year span, so many kids had scores from earlier. But yes, no doubt other kids may have made the list this year too if they had been able to test.

If the SAT/ACT was optional for college admissions this year, why should the presidential scholar nomination (first cut) be based on SAT/ACT this year?

Here are links to the process and how they are selected -- it is not just scores:

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/eligibility.html

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/select.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the requirement a 36 overall or 36/36/36/36 for ACT?
1600 for SAT?

My kid on the list with 35/35/35/36.

What state? My kid had the same score but was not nominated. I’m not sure if it’s because we are in Virginia.

Congrats!

Anonymous wrote:Just another bullet to accomplish section. I don’t think it did much to our kids but certainly didn’t hurt.

That misses the point, doesn't it? It is an honor and an award for what the students have done so far. It isn't supposed to be a means to some other end. Congratulate your kids!

Congratulations to your amazing kids! They should get a double award for doing this during a pandemic!