How to Apply
Student Application & Selection Packets are sent to every public, private and parochial school district in the state. Applications may be picked up in the school guidance office in late September or downloaded from our website. Homeschools should contact the GSP Office to receive a Homeschool application packet. Before reaching the statewide competition, each student must first submit his or her application through his or her school and participate in the school and/or district level competitions. Only those students selected as candidates and sent on by their district (or unaffiliated private school) may compete in the statewide selection process. The number of candidates each district may submit to the statewide process is based on the district-wide junior class enrollment. Approximately 2,000 applications are received at the state level each year, with approximately 1,020 students selected to attend.
Click here for a list of important dates in the 2024-2025 selection process.
Selection Process
The selection process for the Governor’s Scholars Program is multi-tiered. Students compete first at the school and/or district level. At each level of the competition, some applicants may be eliminated. Those students selected at the district level are sent on to the state level for the final competition.
Once they arrive in Frankfort for the state level competition, the applications are divided into eight distinct sections. The first section, which contains all of the student’s biographical information, is filed separately and tied to the rest of the sections only through the "journal number" that is used to identify each applicant. This allows each application to be read blindly, without any regard to the student's personal information, and ensures fairness in the selection process. The remaining seven sections are divided among the members of the Statewide Selection Committee, a panel consisting of college admission personnel, college and high school teachers, and education leaders from different areas of the state. Each committee member reads and scores only one of the seven different sections.
Academic Achievement (30 Points) – consists of ACT, PSAT, or SAT test score, grade point average, and difficulty of course load.
The Academic Achievement Section is awarded points based on the attached charts.
Student Profile (30 Points)
The three sections of the Student Profile are ranked by three selection committee teams. It may be necessary to list duplicate information in these sections to garner maximum points. For example, if the student is Captain of the Basketball Team, the information will be listed as an Extracurricular Activity for participation and also as a Honor/Award for being named the Captain.
- Student Profile – Extracurricular Activities
This section is scored by multiple selection committee members. The scores are then averaged for a final score for this section. - Student Profile – Service – Voluntary or Paid
This section is scored by multiple selection committee members. The scores are then averaged for a final score for this section. - Student Profile – Honors and Awards
This section is scored by multiple selection committee members. The scores are then averaged for a final score for this section.
Writing Entry – 500 Words (20 points)
Selection committee members, trained in using the Kentucky Holistic Scoring Guide, rank the submitted writing entries in six categories.
Teacher Recommendation (10 Points) – This must be completed by a teacher who has had the student in class for a core academic subject in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. This section is scored by multiple selection committee members. The scores are then averaged for a final score for this section.
Community Recommendation (10 Points) - This must be completed by a member of the community in a role not associated with the applicant's school. The recommender may not be a member of the applicant's immediate family. This section is scored by multiple selection committee members. The scores are then averaged for a final score for this section.
The scores for the seven sections are totaled to determine each applicant’s final score, out of 100 possible points.