SC USSYP Selection Process and Schedule 2016-17 School Term
SC USSYP Selection Process and Schedule – 2016-17 school term
§ September 1, 2016: On September 1, 2016, the SCDE provides high school designated USSYP coordinators on-line access to the student USSYP application form. For 2016-17 school year, USSYP coordinators can only submit one (1) student application per high school, private school or home school association.
§ September 16, 2016: The USSYP school scholarship coordinator (SSC) must submit all on line applications by 4:30 p.m., Friday, September 16, 2016. No exceptions.
§ Week of September 19, 2016: SCDE mails the appropriate number of the multiple-choice examinations and red bubble answer sheets to the School USSYP Scholarship Coordinators.
§ October 3-7, 2016: School scholarship coordinators administer the examination under secure conditions between October 3 and October 7 (Answer sheets must be received back to the SCDE no later than Monday, October 10, 2016.
§ October 10, 2016:: School scholarship coordinators return only red student answer sheet(s) in one envelope to the SCDE by October 10, 2016. Coordinators are to shred all copies of the 2017 USSYP exam.
§ By October 18, 2016: Top 10 scorers statewide will be chosen based on the multiple-choice exam scores. By October 21, 2016, SCDE notifies by e-mail only the school scholarship coordinator of these top ten first round winners. These students will then move to the second round where they will be required to write a qualifying essay on a government topic selected by The Hearst Foundation and the SC Department of Education.
§ November 1 through 4, 2016, school scholarship coordinators administer the essay portion of the competition under secure conditions, (at school/test sites) and each coordinator mails the hard copy of the essay(s) to the SCDE. ESSAYS MUST BE RECEIVED IN OUR OFFICE ON OR BEFORE 4:00 P.M., November 8, 2016. Essays will be reviewed at the SCDE by a panel of judges made of educational professionals in the area of history/US Government/Math/AP History and Gifted and Talented standards & curriculum.
§ November 10, 2016: – students who scores were the highest on their USSYP exam and essays are notified and asked to come to Columbia for a personal interview with USSYP judges on Monday, November 21, 2016.
§ November 21, 2016: students who score highest on their USSYP exam and essay are interviewed in Columbia by USSYP judges to determine their personal interview score, which will be combined with the student’s exam and essay score for a combined overall score.
§ December 1, 2016: 2 winners and 2 alternates will be submitted to USSYP Washington for final approval and school districts and State USSYP coordinators will be notified following student’s final approval by The Hearst Foundation, sponsor of the USSYP Scholarship Competition.