<p>Yes, First Scholars are the top ten percent of the class for the year. The cut-off varies, just as the Latin Honors cut-offs do, because it depends how well others in the class have done. It’s a good indication of whether Phi Beta Kappa and Latin Honors are possible upon graduation. For instance, my daughter was a First Scholar twice and Dean’s List twice (both times close to First Scholar), and she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa (top ten percent of class over four years) and just missed Magna. </p>
<p>She has a friend who never got First Scholar and yet graduated cum laude, as well as others who made the Dean’s List every year and did not make cum laude.</p>