Presidential Scholar: A Complete Guide

You’re acing exams, winning art competitions, and perfecting your technical skills—where do you go from here? Well, you can get nominated for the US Presidential Scholars Program. This program recognizes your hard work on a national level, making it one of the highest honors for graduating seniors in the country.

Keep reading to learn more about the program and how you can be a part of it.

• What Is the US Presidential Scholars Program?
• US Presidential Scholars Program Awards and Prizes
• How to Qualify for the US Presidential Scholars Program
• How to Get into the US Presidential Scholars Program
• How to Win the US Presidential Scholars Program
• US Presidential Scholars Program Previous Winners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the US Presidential Scholars Program?

The US Presidential Scholars Program is a national honor established in 1964 by an Executive Order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Its purpose is to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The program is by invitation only, so only the top seniors will be able to apply for a chance to be a presidential scholar.

According to the Executive Order that created the program, these Scholars represent the excellence and promise of America’s youth. So, by honoring them, the President also symbolically honors all high-achieving high school seniors.

Each year, up to 161 students are chosen as Presidential Scholars, making it one of the highest honors a high school student can achieve in the US.

Paths of accomplishment

The US Presidential Scholars Program has three paths of accomplishment that can get you nominated in:

Academic (General) Path

Most candidates in the Presidential Scholars Program enter through the academic path, which is based on outstanding test performance and academic merit.

The program identifies around 4,000 general candidates each year through SAT and ACT scores. From there, the top 20 male and top 20 female scorers in each state or jurisdiction will be chosen to receive an invitation.

Arts Path

Students who show exceptional talent in the arts can be nominated through the Arts path. However, the only nominating body for the arts component in the US Presidential Scholars Program is YoungArts. That means you’ll need to win a YoungArts competition to be nominated.

About 60 YoungArts students who meet Presidential Scholars eligibility requirements are nominated to apply. All arts nominees who apply move directly to the semifinalist stage. From there, up to 20 are selected as Presidential Scholars in the Arts by the Commission.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Path

To be nominated through the CTE path, you must show high achievement in technical or career-focused programs (like robotics, skilled trades, health sciences, and agriculture).

Each state’s CSSO may nominate up to 5 students in the CTE category who meet eligibility. An independent national committee selects about 60 semifinalists in CTE, then the Commission selects up to 20 Presidential Scholars.

US Presidential Scholars Program Awards and Prizes

You don’t get cash scholarships if you’re selected as a presidential scholar. However, you earn recognition and symbolic honors from the federal government:

• Presidential Scholars Medallion. Each scholar receives a gold medallion bearing the Presidential Seal. This is awarded during a recognition ceremony, traditionally held in Washington, D.C. in June.
• National Recognition Program. Scholars are invited to events in Washington, D.C., where they meet government officials, educators, and other Scholars. Travel and lodging are covered by the program.
• Distinguished Teacher Award. Each Scholar names their most influential teacher, who receives a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.
• National Honor Listing. Scholars’ names are publicly announced by the Department of Education and archived as part of the official program history.

How to Qualify for the US Presidential Scholars Program

Even though being part of the US Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only, you’ll still need to clear some basic requirements to be qualified for an invitation.

Eligibility

To be eligible to be a presidential scholar, you must be:

• A US citizen or a legal permanent US resident by the program’s application deadline
• In your last year of high school and set to graduate between January and August of the program year
• Graduating either in a US state/territory or at an American overseas school, or a US citizen graduating abroad.

Required documents

If you are invited to apply, you’ll need to submit a set of application materials (called candidacy materials):

• Candidate application form. This is a detailed form that includes personal data and several essay prompts or self-assessment questions.
• Secondary school report. This form will be completed by your counselor or principal. This includes your official high school transcript (showing your courses and grades), information about your GPA scale, class rank (if available), and possibly a school profile.

Depending on the path of accomplishment you were invited on, you might need to submit other documents. For example, those invited for the general component might be asked to confirm test scores.

Contest fees

There are no fees to enter or participate in the US Presidential Scholars Program. After all, it’s a recognition program run by the government, not a scholarship you pay for. If you are selected as a presidential scholar, the program typically covers the cost of the National Recognition Program events.

Registration deadline

The Presidential Scholars selection process has a fixed annual timeline. Here are the important dates to take note of:

How to Get into the US Presidential Scholars Program

Unlike many scholarship competitions, you’ll have to earn an invitation to participate. Here’s a general step-by-step guide on how you can be part of the US Presidential Scholars:

Step 1: Earn an invitation.

Everything starts with getting invited to apply. To receive an invitation, you must be a top test-scorer in your state, a nationally recognized artist, or a standout in technical/career fields.

That means if you hope to get nominated for the program, you’ll have to exert effort in your studies or art/technical skills and reach the highest level you can.

Step 2: Fill out the candidate application.

If you receive the invitation letter, congratulations! You’ll now have to submit candidacy materials so you can be evaluated against other top students.

Your invitation will include a unique Nomination ID and password to log into the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program online application portal. The application will ask for detailed information about your high school career.

You can expect to input a list of activities, awards, and leadership roles, and write an essay. Aim to highlight why those achievements matter to you, how you’ve shown leadership or overcome challenges, and what you hope to do in the future.

Step 3: Get your Secondary School Report (SSR).

Coordinate with your counselor or principal to get your SSR done. The SSR should include your official transcript and a school profile if available. If your school has any special grading policies or you took unusual courses, you might want to make sure the counselor notes that in the SSR or attaches a profile explaining it.

Step 4: Submit the documents and wait for announcements.

Once you’ve submitted your candidacy materials, all you can do is wait. There will be a semifinalist announcement around March or April. If you’re named a semifinalist, you and your school will be notified, and the list will be made public on the official website. Being a semifinalist is already an impressive achievement you can note on resumes and college applications.

However, as a semifinalist, you typically don’t have to submit any additional information anymore. This just means your existing application will be forwarded to the Commission on Presidential Scholars for the final round.

How to Win the US Presidential Scholars Program

Being named a presidential scholar is no easy task, but here are a few tips that can help you be on that list:

1. Excel academically.

At its core, the Presidential Scholars Program values academic excellence. After all, part of the candidacy materials is your transcript and a list of extracurriculars and awards.

To increase your chances of being a presidential scholar, take rigorous classes (AP, IB, or honors classes) where available and aim for top grades.

Beyond classes, if you have opportunities to pursue academic research, science fairs, or publish work, those achievements can also improve your application and impress the selection committee. It’s important to present yourself as someone who gets good grades and truly loves learning and seeks challenges.

2. Show leadership and service.

The Presidential Scholars selection committee also looks closely at leadership qualities, character, and how you contribute to your community. So, to strengthen your chances of being named a presidential scholar, get involved and take initiative in your school or community.

For example, if you love science, perhaps you led your school’s science Olympiad team to state, or you organized a peer tutoring program. If you’re an artist, maybe you set up a community exhibit or led the school orchestra’s section.

Community service is important too. This could be anything from spending summers teaching kids to draw at a local hospital to regularly volunteering at a food bank. You should basically show that you use your talents to help others or improve your school or community.

3. Write a compelling essay.

At the semifinalist stage, just about everyone has stellar academics and extracurriculars, so the essay would be your distinguishing factor. The Presidential Scholars Program doesn’t give you a specific prompt, so you can talk about any topic or a personal statement of your choosing.

Here are some tips to help with your essay:

• Be authentic. You can talk about a personal passion, a challenge you overcame, a value that guides you, or a moment that changed your perspective. Maybe you want to write about a certain award you received that means a lot to you. Regardless, tell a story only you can tell.
• Highlight your leadership and impact. Analyze your experiences and growth, explain why it mattered to you, and how it changed you or others. For example, if you spearheaded a community project after seeing a problem, explain what motivated you, how you led, and what you learned.
• Edit and ask for feedback. After writing a draft, get someone you trust (a teacher or mentor) to read it and give honest feedback. Revise accordingly, but ensure the final voice is still yours, not someone else’s.

If you need more help with your essay, we can guide you in refining it and even look over other aspects of your application.

4. Emphasize your unique talents (especially for those in the Arts and CTE tracks)

Lean into what makes you unique. If you’re an artist, you can show that in different parts of your application. You could mention your creative pursuits in your list of activities and talk about how art has shaped your worldview or discipline in your essay. If you’re on the CTE track, you could list your certifications and competitions, and write about projects or innovations you’ve worked on.

Showing passion and excellence in a specialized field can set you apart since not many candidates might have a patent or a national entrepreneurship award during high school. These unique accomplishments can make your application different from the rest.

US Presidential Scholars Program Previous Winners

The US Presidential Scholars Program has honored thousands of students through the years. Here are a few notable presidential scholars:

• Richard Alley (1976 Scholar). A geoscientist who became a renowned climate change researcher and professor at Pennsylvania State University.
• Rita Dove (1970 Scholar). Became an award-winning poet, later serving as US Poet Laureate and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
• Desmond Richardson (1986 Scholar). Became an acclaimed dancer and choreographer, co-founding Complexions Contemporary Ballet and performing on world stages.
• Michelle Wu (2003 Scholar). Was the youngest person elected to the Boston City Council.
• Rachel Moore (1982 Scholar). Was a dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and later became its executive director and CEO, also currently the president and CEO of The Music Center in Los Angeles.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you get invited to the US Presidential Scholars?

You can be invited to the US Presidential Scholars by scoring exceptionally high on the SAT or ACT (top percentiles nationally), for outstanding academics or technical achievement, or by being a top winner in the YoungArts national arts competition.

2. Who nominates US Presidential Scholars?

Nominations come from a combination of academic screenings and official nominators. For example, for the academic component, the Department of Education automatically identifies candidates by reviewing SAT/ACT scores nationwide.

For the Career and Technical Education category, CSSOs can nominate up to 5 candidates from their state who excel in CTE fields. For the Arts category, the National YoungArts Foundation nominates 60 students from its awardees to be Presidential Scholar candidates in the Arts.

3. How prestigious is the US Presidential Scholars Program?

The US Presidential Scholars Program is extremely prestigious, being considered one of the highest honors for high school students in the country. After all, out of millions of graduating high school seniors, only a maximum of 161 students get chosen as presidential scholars.

Takeaways

• The US Presidential Scholars Program is a national honor for high school seniors founded in 1964 to recognize the country’s most distinguished students. Rather than applying directly, students must earn an invitation by excelling in academics, arts, or technical fields.
• To improve your chances of becoming a presidential scholar, you should excel academically, show leadership and service, write a compelling essay, and emphasize your unique talents.
• Want to try aiming for the US Presidential Scholars Program? Get your profile evaluated so you know which path has the highest chance of leading you towards being a presidential scholar and how to further strengthen your application.