National Achievement® Scholarship Program vs Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Comparing two highly competitive interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.
| National Achievement® Scholarship Program | Davidson Fellows Scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Organization | National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) | Davidson Institute for Talent Development |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 0.74% of participants became Achievement Scholars (34,000 out of 4.6 million) | Extremely competitive; estimated 1-3% acceptance rate (specific data not publicly disclosed) |
| Applicants | 4.6 million total participants over 51 years (average ~90,000 per year) | Hundreds of applicants annually across all categories (exact number not publicly disclosed) |
| Deadline | — | — |
| Award | — | $100,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | Was grades 10-11 (PSAT/NMSQT testing year) | Must be in high school or younger (any grade level acceptable as long as under 18) |
| College Impact | {'how_viewed': 'Major accomplishment showing top academic achievement; comparable to National Merit recognition', 'prestige_level': 'Achievement Scholar title was highly prestigious for college admissions', 'lasting_recognition': 'Title remained on student record and was noted in college applications throughout academic career', 'scholarship_connections': 'Many colleges specifically recruited National Achievement Scholars and offered additional financial aid', 'college_admissions_value': 'Significantly boosted applications to selective colleges; demonstrated exceptional academic merit and potential'} | Davidson Fellows is viewed with extremely high regard by college admissions officers at top universities. Winning or being named a finalist demonstrates exceptional achievement and intellectual capabi... |