<p>Can someone explain to me this “book award” thing? At the Academic Convocation at my Ss HS they gave out a number of these “book awards”, i.e. Harvard, Dartmouth, etc.</p>
<p>What are these and how does a student qualify for them? Is there an objective criterea associated with the awards?</p>
<p>This link could shed some lights …</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.haa.harvard.edu/clubs/html/prizebook.html[/url]”>http://www.haa.harvard.edu/clubs/html/prizebook.html</a></p>
<p>"Harvard Prize Books are presented annually in more than 1,900 high schools around the world. To establish a Prize Book award in a local high school, a Harvard Club or club member need only contribute the cost of one book.</p>
<p>Ordering</p>
<p>Place all orders with The Harvard Coop mail-order at <a href=“http://www.thecoop.com/bookprize[/url]”>www.thecoop.com/bookprize</a> or by calling H*** Es*** at (800) 368-1882.
"</p>
<p>xiggi,</p>
<p>Thanks for the link. It does not appear to have any objective criterea. Note the following from the link:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>it does not list what is outstanding and it also enables multiple awards by using the term students.</p>
<p>Are all of these awards the same, i.e. Dartmouth Book award (I will do a search for this shortly)?</p>
<p>Pretty much so, Eagle79 – some are subject-specific however (U of Rochester gives a science/math and a humanities book prize). And all are awarded pretty much at the whim of the HS faculty.</p>
<p>My son’s high school had fifteen book awards given to the top fifteen ranking students in the junior class. There was no significance to whcih student got which book.</p>
<p>No one ever seems to hear or read about it at my daughter’s school–at least not until long after the fact (usually when the junior who was awarded one is applying to colleges as a senior). I’ve never understood the purpose of them, nor how students are chosen. And receiving one doesn’t seem to have any positive impact on gaining admission to that particular school. I have a friend who is a Harvard alum and was always running around doing the “book award” thing with different students/schools. I could never get a clear idea of any of it as it all seemed mysterious and a bit secretive to me–even when she talked about it. Interestingly, the kids who have been awarded these (as juniors) are usually not the truly outstanding seniors when graduation rolls around.<br>
Thanks for providing the link, though, xiggi. I’ll have to read it, so I can finally understand what it’s all about.</p>
<p>Here’s the criteria specified by Williams for the Williams book award:</p>
<p>The book is presented to a junior in the top five percent of his or her class who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school. </p>
<p>The schools pick the students - the alumni association is not at all involved in selection of the winners.</p>
<p>The colleges set the criteria. The hs picks the student and may also designate a specific book award for achievement in a paricular subject. Colleges view book awards as a recruitment tool and in some cases, the award rcipient receives $$ ($500 for books) if s/he enrolls.</p>
<p>Don’t know that receiving the book award give an applicant a boost, but Adcoms do track book award winners.</p>
<p>
We-elll, yes and no ;)The high schools choose the recipients of these awards and altho the colleges may give them guidelines, they aren’t always followed. For instance, Wellesley, where I went, wants its book award to go a female which seems to make sense as Wellesley is an all-women’s college. A local private school in my area wanted to give it to a male. I don’t believe it’s given at that school anymore since the college and school were at an impasse on this issue.</p>