The President's Scholars Program is Southern Methodist University's most prestigious merit award, given to a small number of the strongest students in each entering class in Dallas. It covers tuition and general fees for eight consecutive autumn and spring semesters, or until you graduate if that comes first.
The package goes past tuition. Scholars get tuition and round-trip airfare for one SMU-approved study abroad programme, choosing from an intersession, a summer period or a full semester. Scholars living on campus receive a housing award through the Campus Community Award, covering a double room in the Residential Commons or a designated house plus a meal plan, once the programme's engagement requirements are met. Books, a computer, mandatory health insurance and parking stay your responsibility, as do summer and January Term courses.
The academic bar is high. SMU looks for at least 20 secondary school academic units in the most demanding curriculum available, a rank in the top 10 per cent, two years of one foreign language, advanced maths and science, and an SAT above 1400 or an ACT above 32. Students invited to interview in recent years had a median unweighted 4.0 grade average.
International applicants are in scope. SMU states that all students who apply, regardless of citizenship, are automatically considered for its academic merit scholarships, and it lists the President's Scholarship among them. Note that SMU's need-based aid is limited to US citizens and permanent residents, so this merit route is the one open to you. Apply to SMU by 1 November, file the three-page President's Scholars essay by 16 November, and expect a campus interview on the first Friday of March if you reach the final round.