Title. Qualifying for these “national” competitions is a joke. Even though they have nationals in them, college must know that they are less prestigious and easier to achieve than even qualifying for a state math tournament, right?
And you’re a state math tournament participant, right?
Why don’t you focus on your own resume and let the colleges do their jobs. Don’t be a hater.
I think admissions people know how tough it is to get to nationals in one competition vs another. That being said, I wouldn’t say FBLA is a joke. Depending on your event, you could automatically qualify for nationals but some of them are still very tough. Your example of state math tournament is pretty vague too, which competition are you talking about? I don’t know anything about HOSA so I won’t comment on that. I would be extremely happy to qualify for FBLA nationals and so would a majority of people who don’t consider it a joke.
Adcoms know lots of things hs kids don’t give them credit for. Works all sorts of ways.
And it might not be the actual FBLA or whatever content/competition results they are intersted in…but more that you are taking the time to show interest in Business or whatever and put forth effort in that area.
Both my children did FBLA, and they are both at highly selective schools now. I don’t how much FBLA helped though.
I think it’s a bit strange to call a national level competitive event “a joke”. These students usually first compete on a school level, then a regional level and state level before advancing to a national competition. Just because it’s not something you’re personally interested in, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t take time, effort and dedication.
First of all, qualifying for FBLA nationals is not a joke. I qualified last year and it was very difficult: I had to win tryouts at my school, win at districts, and be in the top four students out of more than 100 competing at the state level. Equating a state academic skill tournament to a national career skill conference is complete bogus.
Second of all, FBLA is more than just a vessel for competitions. I founded my FBLA chapter and I am my District’S VP. What I have learned from Future Business Leaders of America has been valuable business skills and leadership initiative. I would think that colleges do realize that qualifying for FBLA nationals isn’t just about competing, but also about learning and enriching. Not to mention, they probably realize that FBLA and HOSA nationals are more impressive achievements than a state math tournament. I’ve qualified for a state math tournament and FBLA nationals, and I can tell you that FBLA is more impressive and a greater achievement for me.
We wondered the same thing as the OP, whether colleges know the difference. My son reached the semifinal round in his event at Speech and Debate nationals, and wondered if the colleges would realize how much more difficult that was, and how much steeper the competition, than some of the other national tournaments. We will never know, but it is a good question, do they know the difference in rigor and level of challenge amongst the different groups with competitions?
@b1ggreenca I think you and the OP over-estimate how much colleges emphasize this. Sure, you hear all the chatter on this forum and other places about “you must be a national level winner of X or Y” to be noticed. You know what? Have the student spend more time on his/her essay to come across as a nice and caring and involved. Or better yet, actually be this person. This will be much more useful in the teacher recs than the OP’s supposed superiority complex about his state Math competition over others’ competitions.
I doubt colleges will make a distinction as to whether qualifying for a state math competition is more or less impressive than attending FBLA nationals. Both reflect good achievement, but I’m sure that colleges have a general sense of how selective a certain award/competition is, and I’m also sure that they are well aware of the truly significant awards/competitions out there.
Is nationals where FBLA starts becoming “impressive?” I made it to states and am hoping to place pretty highly but I probably won’t make nationals. Even if I do I can’t afford to go. Would top 10 or 20 be good at states in a popular event?