THE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The application for Fall 2021 is closed, and applications are currently being reviewed. All applicants will be notified in mid-February of their status.
Presidential Scholarship Mission
Today’s Georgia State Presidential Scholars are tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. They are committed to performing significant work in their chosen fields—profit or nonprofit, industry, media, government, education, health care, art, science or technology. Presidential Scholars imagine a different world for themselves and others; one in which they use their passion and integrity to set positive examples for others and drive solutions to today’s most pressing social and economic problems. They engage in the Honors College, the broader Georgia State community and the world, excelling academically in and out of the classroom, contributing to the college and university through service and leadership, and learning about the history and future of Atlanta and the world through internships and study abroad. Presidential Scholars achieve beyond their dreams, obtaining admission to professional and graduate schools, winning national scholarships and fellowships, and moving on to exciting careers and accomplishments throughout their lifetime.
Scholarship Benefits and Deadlines
Presidential Scholars receive the following benefits each semester for eight semesters:
- Cost of tuition and fees (through HOPE/ZELL for GA residents)
- Cost of mandatory student fees
- Cost of housing
- A yearly living expense stipend
- A one-time $2,500 stipend for credit-bearing study abroad expenses
- Opportunity to compete for a paid University Assistantship to explore research and engaging work experience in an academic department
- Access to individualized classes and mentoring opportunities
This award totals up to $28,000 per year depending on in/out-of-state student status and University Assistantship participation.
To be considered for this highly competitive scholarship you must:
- Apply to Georgia State University by the priority deadline of December 8, 2020.
- Be an incoming first-year student, planning to attend Georgia State for the first time in Fall 2021. Current Georgia State students are ineligible.
- Submit your complete Presidential Scholarship application by 11:59pm EST on December 8, 2020.
- Ask your recommender to submit their Letter of Recommendation by 11:59pm EST on December 15, 2020.
- Attend Scholarship Day interviews, if selected as a finalist. Scholarship Day will be March 5, 2021 and will be conducted virtually. Those invited to participate in Scholarship Day will receive details and instructions by mid-February.
For questions regarding the Presidential Scholarship, please contact the Honors College at PresidentialScholars@gsu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
I'm a current student at Georgia State, or I attend another university and am planning to transfer to Georgia State. Am I still eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
I'm in high school, but I'm not yet a senior. Am I eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
Only high school seniors who are also applying to Georgia State for the upcoming fall semester are eligible to apply. However, you may submit this contact form asking us to notify you when the application cycle, during which you would be eligible to apply, has opened.
I'm a graduate student. Am I eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
I took a gap year before applying to Georgia State. Am I still eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
I was home-schooled. Am I eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
Is there a minimum GPA required to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
Is there a minimum SAT or ACT score required to apply for the Presidential Scholarship?
However, we encourage you to submit your test scores to Georgia State anyway. While the Presidential Scholarship Selection Committee will not be using your scores in our selection process, your SAT and/or ACT scores will still be helpful for other university purposes (such as math placement requirements.)
Application
When should I apply?
We encourage you to spend as much time on your application as possible, improving and perfecting it. Early application submission will not enhance your chances of receiving the scholarship.
However, we also encourage you to avoid waiting until the last minute to submit your application. If you wait until the deadline, a variety of scenarios could prevent you from submitting your application on time—Internet connectivity problems, power outages, miscalculating the Eastern Time Zone. We’ve seen it.
Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.
What kind of information are you looking for in my essays?
Where should I write and save my essay drafts?
Saving essays drafts to your computer hard drive or a USB drive can be risky. If those devices fail, are lost or become damaged, you will have to rewrite your essays.
Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.
May I have a teacher provide feedback on my essays?
Whom should I select to write my letter of recommendation?
Letters from family members will not be accepted.
How do I ask for a letter of recommendation?
Ask them if they feel comfortable writing you a strong letter of recommendation.
Give them enough time to write you a strong, thoughtful, detailed letter—four weeks is optimal—and provide them with any materials they may need to complete it, such as your resume, application essay drafts, list of accomplishments, etc. Make sure to provide them with information about Georgia State and the Presidential Scholarship.
Once they submit your letter, write them a thank you note. Regardless of whether you receive the scholarship, they took time to help you pursue your goal.
My recommender has not received the email request to submit my Presidential Scholarship recommendation letter via the online application system. What do I do?
Ensure that your recommender has checked their junk or spam folder. Sometimes important things go there.
Ensure that you have properly typed the correct email address when requesting a recommendation from them. If no errors can be found, contact PresidentialScholars@gsu.edu, and include your name, your recommender’s name and email address, and a description of the issue in the body of the email.
Why do you need a professional photo of me?
Your photo will be used for these internal purposes only and will not be posted publicly.
Scholarship Day
What is Scholarship Day?
This year, Scholarship Day will be conducted virtually. Candidates will participate in a welcome session as well as live interviews with our outstanding faculty from home (or wherever you get wifi!)
Students also will submit pre-recorded interviews in the lead-up to Scholarship Day. Candidates invited to participate in Scholarship Day will receive these details and instructions by mid-February. Virtual attendance at Scholarship Day is mandatory to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship.
When will I find out if I've been invited to Scholarship Day?
I have a prior obligation at the same time as Scholarship Day. If invited, may I request an alternate date to interview?
I received an invitation to Scholarship Day. How should I prepare for it?
Remember that the entire day is an interview. So, always present yourself at your best.
I attended Scholarship Day. How soon will I find out whether I've been selected for the Presidential Scholarship?
Scholarship Life
How have Presidential Scholars excelled at Georgia State?
Removing the financial burden of college expenses has allowed our scholars to focus on and expand their academics and extracurricular experiences and opportunities.
How many students are in the Presidential Scholarship program?
What is required of Presidential Scholars?
All Presidential Scholars are required to maintain a 3.5 GPA, full-time status (12 credit hours or more) and attend the yearly Founders Lecture, Induction & Welcome Ceremony, and other Honors College events. They are also required to meet yearly with Interim Dean Dr. Sarah Cook.
Are Presidential Scholars required to live on campus?
Can Centennial Merit Scholarships be applied on top of the Presidential Scholarship?
Are there opportunities for other scholarships within the Presidential Scholarship program?
The Honors College also offers scholarship opportunities specifically to honors students every year. There is also a Scholarship Resource Center on campus to help you apply for Georgia State scholarships.
Still have questions?
Email presidentialscholars@gsu.edu and an Honors College staff member will get back to you soon. (Emails sent over the weekend will be answered during the following work week.)