Hi, I was wondering how good being selected as a Conrad Challenge finalist is for college applications? Like compared to deca icdc awards, and other things. Thanks!
I would apply to the best schools for you. Some awards may hold weight. Some may not. Conrad is open to all. You’ll have to define what it is, how special it is that you won.
What you do is more important than what it is.
But in general, your academics including rigor will matter most as will your test score and ECs such as sports, band/theater or a job.
Good luck
I was not familiar with it, but I looked it up and it sounds like something solid to include on your applications in your activities, essays, or both.
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Conrad finalist is legit, especially if you actually advance to the innovation summit. It shows you can work on a real problem in a team and present a viable solution, which is exactly the kind of applied thinking top schools want to see.
Compared to DECA ICDC, it depends on what you did there. DECA is more about business knowledge and presentation skills, Conrad is more about innovation and entrepreneurship. Neither is “better” across the board but Conrad tends to be less well-known, which can actually work in your favor since admissions officers see way fewer Conrad finalists than DECA qualifiers.
Where it really matters is how you frame it. If your Conrad project connects to the rest of your application (your intended major, other ECs, your essay themes), it becomes a powerful piece of your story. If it’s just a random line on the activities list, it loses some punch.
Also worth noting: Conrad is tied to the Pete Conrad foundation and has NASA connections, so if you’re applying for anything STEM or entrepreneurship related, that association carries weight.