The most prestigious honor is the Presidential Scholarship, and Presidential Scholars are part of a select group of future Beavers.
The United States Department of Education administers the United States Presidential Scholarship Program. It is known in the United States and abroad as “one of the nation’s highest honors for students”.
The program was started in 1964 to honor the most deserving graduates for their achievements in various fields, including leadership, community service, and academic excellence, by the executive order of the President of the United States.
This article will thoroughly research the presidential scholarship. First, let’s define a presidential scholarship.
Definition: Presidential Scholarship
The Presidential Scholarship is a renewable, merit-based scholarship that covers all tuition, fees, meals (up to 21 meals per week are included in the meal plan), overhead, and textbook costs during eight semesters.
The presidential Scholars are transformational leaders on and off campus who love learning. They come from different mental, social, cultural and economic backgrounds. There are 25 Presidential Scholarships available each year.
A portion of the university’s Presidential Scholarship is awarded annually to historically underrepresented students who have demonstrated leadership by shining in the classroom and giving back to their communities.
The Presidential Scholarship for Underrepresented History Students and the Presidential Scholarship for Underrepresented History Students are open to eligible applicants.
Low-income students (usually eligible for the Pell Scholarship), African American/Black, Latino/Hispanic, Native American/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and first in their family to attend college. International students can apply for the Presidential Scholarship, but applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Presidential Scholarship requirements
Candidates are evaluated on various characteristics that will allow a student to be recognized as the nation’s ambassador of excellence when applying for the Presidential Scholarship.
With such an important title comes extremely high standards. Here are the most important prerequisites:
- High school report card
- Personality traits
- leadership ability
- self-evaluation
- Volunteer and extracurricular activities
- extremely high SAT/ACT scores
- artistic achievement
- Success in technical and professional fields.
- scholarship writing
Student essays are very important when applying for the Presidential Scholarship Program. Whether or not you pass the Candidates Semi-Final will depend on your essay.
Since there is no definite indication, the candidate’s creativity for the essay topic is the only limit. Students should highlight their leadership qualities and dedication to their school and community at this stage.
An in-depth analysis of your scholarship essay is also provided, which assesses the candidate’s ability to demonstrate high standards of excellence while telling a compelling story.
Anything is acceptable as long as the essay is original and showcases you. Consider your interests if you need help figuring out where to start.
How to get a Presidential Scholarship?
The Presidential Scholarship Program has an established application process that is the same each year. Invitations to apply are usually sent out in January, and the deadline for submitting the required documents is the end of February.
In the months leading up to the end of this program cycle, a review committee will review the applications and confirm the 161 finalists, with recognition formalities in June. You can go in several directions if you want a presidential scholarship.
High SAT or ACT scores represent the first path. It requires getting good grades and ranking in the top percentile on all levels! This path to becoming a scholar, while difficult, brings many benefits.
Unlike other assessment forms, you can take the SAT/ACT as often as you like, as long as you’re happy with your results.
More invites are issued based on test results than the Arts Stream or CTE Stream. Several recognized organizations with the right to enrol students are also available for you to join or participate in.
Any talented high school student who excels in the performing or visual arts can be nominated for a Presidential Scholarship through YoungArts—program since the program was expanded in 1979.
Members in their senior year of high school and meeting all of the U.S. Presidential Scholarship Program requirements are eligible to receive the scholarship.
During National Youth Arts Week, when beginner are judged against criteria of excellence from ten different disciplines, including film arts, dance, design, jazz, music, photography, theatre, visual arts, voice, and writing, eligible students will be required to take additional tests assessment.
Becoming a researcher is another option if you want to pursue a career in technical education. Secondary school students who demonstrate skills and competencies in vocational and technical education were included in the program in 2015, a further expansion of the initiative.
Based on their CTE performance, these children were individually recommended by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO). The White House convenes a national review board of independent educators to evaluate the final nominees.
After extensive review, this committee, known as the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, determines the official scholars of the year. Rather than compete for registration, potential applicants will be assessed against standards of excellence in each of the established components.
Students who wish to receive the Presidential Scholarship must focus on their academic performance, community service, and beyond.
How to Apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
There are no open United States Presidential Scholarship Program applications. Students should be encouraged to apply, as applications are accepted by nomination only; Individuals cannot apply.
Being nominated to run is a remarkable achievement, as only the best candidates in the country receive a special invitation to run. Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:
They must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, be a senior in high school, and participate in one of the eligible components at the time of the application process.
There are three pathways to success through which students are encouraged to apply:
1. General department
In the top percentile nationally for SAT or ACT Common Component scores.
2. Components of CTE (Vocational and Technical Education)
To obtain your recommendation from your public school principal (CSSO).
3. Artistic department
It must be recommended by a review committee or a joint venture such as the YoungArts program.
Once nominated by relevant individuals and with a special registration ID number, selected students are asked to provide access to an online portal where candidate work can be submitted.
These items include essays, self-assessments, high school reports, and official transcripts.
Benefits of Presidential Scholarships
The Presidential Scholarship Program offers the best merit scholarships for students. We invest in undergraduates with great potential to become the next generation of transformational leaders.
Members of the Presidential Scholars Group learn to be critical, collective, and inventive thinkers who use their skills to make meaningful contributions to society through four years of specially structured coursework and engaged in learning activities.
The programs in which Presidential Scholars participate examine our four guiding principles: Wisdom, Leadership, Service, and Character.
1. Better Intelligence
Enrolling in a challenging four-year program designed for the Presidential Fellowship Program that emphasizes critical thinking, teamwork, service learning, and creative problem-solving.
In the first year, professors met on Friday afternoons. All fellows attend Sunday meetings once a month for four years. There should be world-class research. All scholars participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities program during the first year.
Presidential scholarship helps to build lasting friendships and memories with your classmates during your first year in residence at Landis Hall. Students can use your enriched $12,000 fund to travel the world, study abroad and find a job.
2. Good Leadership skills
Students participate in an annual public service experience focused on important issues such as food insecurity, voting rights, and campus sustainability.
Professors support a strong interdisciplinary environment that fosters creativity. Study the characteristics of leadership. Presidential Fellows fill leadership roles at various campuses and local organisations.
Many Universities were born from the innovative ideas of academics who received commercial support.
3. Improved Service
Students get involved in a thriving student community by volunteering. By regularly attending meals, events, and socials, you can make lifelong friends with the welcoming family of Presidential Scholars.
Students take advantage of a strong group engagement and building methodology that occurs monthly during school Sunday meetings.
Students join the Presidential Scholars’ student leadership on diversity, equity and inclusion, service, and student executive councils. They participate in active community service to connect the university from others.
4. Helps in building better Character
Students develop their dreams and realize their potential by working on outstanding national programs with the National Scholarship Office and other campus partners.
The presidential scholarship helps students to connect with talented and successful former Presidential Scholars eager to help you in your search.
Students engage with the qualified staff to develop your unique vision and goals and get advice from more experienced students.
Conclusion
Presidential scholarship is the most honorable and given to a selected group only. Students getting presidential scholarships get many benefits. In the above article, we have shared some useful information about presidential scholarship.