You must submit your Presidential Scholarship Application online.
Paper copies will not be
accepted. This document is made available for you to begin writing and gathering your
materials offline.
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Application Overview
Presidential Scholarship Mission
Today’s Georgia State’s Presidential Scholars are tomorrow’s leaders and innovators,
committed to performing significant work in their chosen field, be it profit or nonprofit, industry,
media, government, education, healthcare, 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 a positive example for others and drive solutions to today’s most pressing social
and economic problems. They engage in the Honors College, the broader GSU community,
Atlanta, and the world, excelling academically in and outside of the classroom, contributing to
the College and to GSU 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 achieving
throughout their lifetime.
Presidential Scholars receive the following benefits each semester for eight semesters:
• Cost of tuition (through HOPE/ZELL for GA residents)
• Cost of mandatory student fees
• Cost of housing
• A yearly living expense stipend
• A one-time $2500 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 complete this application and be considered 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 5th and will be conducted virtually. Those invited to participate in Scholarship
Day will receive these details and instructions by mid-February.
For questions regarding the Presidential Scholarship, please contact the Honors College
at [email protected].
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Essay Questions
Presidential Scholarship Mission
Today’s Georgia State’s Presidential Scholars are tomorrow’s leaders and innovators,
committed to performing significant work in their chosen field, be it profit or nonprofit, industry,
media, government, education, healthcare, 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 a positive example for others and drive solutions to today’s most pressing social
and economic problems. They engage in the Honors College, the broader GSU community,
Atlanta, and the world, excelling academically in and outside of the classroom, contributing to
the College and to GSU 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 achieving
throughout their lifetime.
Instructions
Please answer the following questions. You may draw on your academic background,
employment, extracurricular, volunteer and community service, and leadership activities, etc. to
answer the questions. The Presidential Scholarship Selection Committee will use your answers
to select scholarship finalists who will be invited to interview at Scholarship Day in early March.
Some questions have multiple parts. Be sure to answer all parts of the question.
It is strongly recommended that you complete these questions in a separate cloud-based
document (Google Docs, Drop Box, etc.) prior to submission to prevent loss of essays in case
you experience technology issues. Late submissions will not be accepted under any
circumstances.
Word Limit: 300 words per answer
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful to them
that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. Share your story.
2. Reflect on an accomplishment, an event or a realization that sparked personal growth and a
new understanding of yourself or others, or questioned or challenged one of your beliefs.
3. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual
challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is important to you, no
matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could take to
identify a possible solution.
4. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of
time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
5. Why would you like to be a student in the Georgia State Honors College? What do you
hope/expect to gain from being a part of the Honors College experience, and what will you
contribute to the Honors College Community?
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Letter of Recommendation
Recommendation letters will be read by the selection committee and will assist in selecting
finalists. Please choose one recommender (teacher, high school counselor, coach, mentor, etc.)
who can speak primarily to your past and potential academic achievement, in addition to your
experience and/or potential in leadership, community service, and independent research. Ask
them to discuss how your qualifications align with the mission of the Presidential Scholarship
and the values of the Honors College. Recommendations from family members will not be
considered. You are responsible for ensuring your recommender can submit their letter on time.
While the Presidential application is due on December 8, 2020 at 11:59pm EST,
recommendation letters will be due by 11:59pm EST on December 15th, 2020.
Recommendation letter tips:
1. Always ask if someone is willing to be your recommender prior to requesting them below.
2. Provide your recommender with any materials they may need to write you a quality letter
(i.e. resume, application essays, list of accomplishments, etc.) as well as information
about Georgia State, the Honors College, and the Presidential Scholarship.
3. Confirm with your recommender that they have received your recommendation request.
Sometimes important emails get caught in spam or junk folders.
4. Be courteous of your recommender’s time. If possible, give them at least 3-4 weeks to
write your letter.
5. Afterwards, always write them a note thanking them for taking the time to help you
succeed.
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Professional Photo
Please upload a professional photo of yourself. This photo will not be posted publicly and is for
internal use only.
Here are some tips when taking or choosing a professional photo:
1. Choose a photo that is recent and still looks like you.
2. Ensure that your face fills up the frame. If you are pictured too far away, we won’t be able
to see your face clearly.
3. Choose a photo that does not have a distracting background. Background people,
murals, and scenery take away from the focus: you.
4. Do not use a photo where you must crop other people out. Ensure the photo is of you
alone but is not a selfie. Have someone take the photo for you.
5. Make sure the picture is not grainy or blurry. You may upload a photo that is up to 5MB in
size. The larger the file size, the better.
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Signature
Following the review of applications, Georgia State University’s Honors College will issue
invitations to finalists to attend Scholarship Day and interview for the Presidential Scholarship
(details forthcoming pending public health advisories). Attendance at Scholarship Day in early
March (whether in-person or virtual) is mandatory for all finalists; failure to attend Scholarship
Day will result in withdrawal of your Presidential Scholarship application.
If Scholarship Day is conducted in-person, accommodations and travel funding* (subject to
limits) are available for invited finalists traveling from out of state.
*International Students: International finalists must secure appropriate exit/entry documents
(visa, passports, etc.) to participate in person at Scholarship Day. Please plan appropriately.
See https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html for more information.
I affirm that all information submitted in this application is factually true, my own original work,
and honestly presented.
