Presidential Scholars Weekend
Friday and Saturday, January 31-February 1, 2025
Friday and Saturday, February 7-8, 2025
Benedictine College awards 15 scholarships to outstanding young men and women who are selected from the annual Presidential Scholars Competition. Ten Presidential Scholarships in the amount of $34,000 and five Dean’s Scholarships of $25,500 are awarded each year.
The Presidential Scholars Weekend, which includes the Scholarship Competition, is a signature campus event that involves our entire college community. We warmly invite students to experience the most complete expression of our hospitality and scholarship by attending in person.
Eligibility Requirements
The invitation to participate in the Presidential Scholarship Competition is extended to the following groups of admitted students:
- STANDARD: Students who submit an official high school transcript showing a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and who submit an official ACT composite score of at least 27, an official SAT score of at least 1260, or an official CLT score of at least 84.
- TEST-OPTIONAL: Test-optional applicants who submit an official high school transcript showing a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- SLIDING SCALE: Students whose individual combination of GPA and test score merits eligibility consideration based on a sliding scale.
Weekend Overview
The Competition Weekend consists of a Friday visit day, scholars’ dinner, and Saturday competition. Along with the chance to compete for an incredible four-year scholarship, students have these opportunities:
- Audition with the music department (on Friday only, see requirements)
- Meet outstanding students from all over the country
- Preview our Academic Departments and meet with faculty members
The Competition
On Saturday students from all over the country will compete for one of these prestigious scholarships through:
- An on-site essay based on 3-5 prompts
- A 20-minute interview* with 2 faculty members, administrators, or board members
Attendance on Saturday is mandatory for all competitors, although all participants are encouraged to take advantage of the Friday activities.
*Your resumé will be provided to faculty or staff members prior to your competition interview. It must be kept to one page. Please do not include your GPA, class rank or test scores on this resumé.