How to Apply

Eligibility

The Presidential Scholars Program is open to incoming first-year students and incoming juniors. Students are admitted for the fall semester only.  Apply as soon as you complete the FIT application. Do not wait until you receive your admissions decision from FIT.  

All supporting documents must be submitted to [email protected]. Documents submitted directly to the FIT Admissions office by mail will take additional processing time and may delay the completion of your honors application. 

Incoming First Year Students

Competitive admission based on:

  • cumulative high school GPA of B+ or better
  • essay submission
  • two letters of recommendation from teachers
  • SAT/ACT scores are OPTIONAL for entry for Fall 2023. If available, submitting SAT/ACT scores is RECOMMENDED because they may be used for placement into courses.

Incoming Juniors

Competitive admission based on:

  • GPA of 3.5 or greater
  • essay submission
  • two letters of recommendation from faculty members (at least one of which must be from a Liberal Arts professor)

Study abroad for incoming juniors only: We encourage study abroad but to get the full value of being in the program, you should be on campus at FIT for three out of your four semesters in upper division.

Transfer Students

The program welcomes applications from transfer students who are entering their junior year at FIT for the fall semester only.

International Students

We welcome applications from incoming first year students and incoming juniors from all over the world.

One-Year Students

This program is not designed for one-year students since they are not required to take Liberal Arts courses.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements are the same for all degree programs: Associate in Applied Science (AAS), Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Science (BS). 

Graduation as a Presidential Scholar requires:

  • 3.5 GPA or higher
  • freshman retreat
  • freshman writing course
  • senior seminar course 

Each semester you are required to:

  • enroll and complete one Liberal Arts honors course
  • attend monthly dinner colloquia on Wednesday evenings
  • participate in one community service and three extracurricular activities that involve exploring NYC and its cultural offerings

Application Instructions

1. File the Online Application

2. Submit Your Honors Essay

Select one of the following questions. Answer in 500 words or less.

  • Option 1: Works of art, such as movies, poems, novels, art, and music, often affect our perspective on life. Choose a work of art that has had an effect on you. Tell us about that work and let us know how and why it had an effect on you.
  • Option 2: The world has undergone many changes in recent years in the areas of media, technology, entertainment, politics, and climate. How has one of these changes had an impact on your life? Please explain, using details and examples.

Submit your essay via email to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and FIT student identification number in your email.

3. Submit SAT or ACT Scores

For the 2023 Admissions cycle, SAT or ACT scores are optional for admission into the Presidential Scholars program. If submitted, scores must come electronically from College Board. Additionally, the Optional Writing portion of these tests, if submitted, can be used for placement into English classes at FIT, including the honors English seminar. Students who have not taken the Optional Writing test may have to take a placement test and, based on their performance, may be asked to take additional English classes. The Honors Committee will review indicators of ability and potential, such as grades in English classes, essays submitted for acceptance into the program and other relevant standardized tests in a holistic review of the applications. 

4. Submit Letters of Recommendation

Submit two (2) letters of recommendation from teachers to [email protected]

1. File the Online Application

2. Submit Your Honors Essay

Select one of the following two questions. Answer in 500 words or less.

  • Option 1: Works of art, such as movies, poems, novels, art, and music, often affect our perspective on life. Choose a work of art that has had an effect on you. Tell us about that work and let us know how and why it had an effect on you.
  • Option 2: The world has undergone many changes in recent years in the areas of media, technology, entertainment, politics, and climate. How has one of these changes had an impact on your life? Please explain, using details and examples.

Submit your essay via email to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and FIT student identification number in your email.

3. Submit Letters of Recommendation

Submit two (2) letters of recommendation from faculty to [email protected]. At least one letter of recommendation must be from a Liberal Arts professor.

Application Deadline

Your honors application, including essay and letters of recommendation, must be received by February 1. Notifications will be sent by April 1.

If you are not admitted into the Presidential Scholars Program as an incoming first-year student, you can reapply in your sophomore year for admission in the fall of your junior year.