Ski_racer, your counselor is mistaken about the odds. The 161 Presidential Scholars aren’t randomly selected from the candidate pool. https://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/select.html
It’s a great honor to be selected, but the reason for completing the essays is that if you are fortunate enough to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, you’ll be welcomed into a uniquely diverse and talented peer group.