Student is applying to a competitive application that has provided a space for listing the awards. However student can not fit in all the awards received since 9th grade in the space provided. How does one prioritize awards?
Do you only mention national and state level awards? Since space is limited forget school level awards such as best English Writer in the grade for a very top high school. Do you assume all those essay competition awards will overlook for best English Writer.
Many program look for kids character and try to look for students who are nice to others, so school awards received for a spirit/good will towards other, do you forget them. This one troubles me more to drop.
We had this “problem” too. My daughter prioritized national, state, and regional awards first (in that order). Obviously focusing on the awards that matched up with her intended major. If I recall, she also did some creative combining of awards. For example, she lumped her school specific subject awards together as one thing. She did carve out a spot for the big school award she received that took in service/character as part of the selection process. She also only focused on academic awards and took all her EC awards and tied them into the descriptions in that section of the common app.
That is so helpful. Daughter has written so many good essays to win many outside awards. Each time she wins a awards that give her a unique experience and perspective. She has been invited to many places where she is the only high school kid among adults. She has passion in multiple ways therefore she receives many more invitation besides the STEM field.
I think awards related to character, given in school, can be included along with important schooll awArds related to interests and intended major. IF there is room. Obviously her outside of school acceptances snd awArds are priorities. Lump things together when possible. Basically use common sense and include what helps the colleges best know who she is as a person and writer or whatever else is important to her. There are other ways to communicate as well, including the guidance counselors note and supplementary essays. ( sorry for lack of paragraphs…typing on phone!)
I agree about lumping together.
Example: Writing Awards
Then list the major ones underneath.
But, I know from previous posts your daughter goes to a strong boarding school. She should ask her college counselor about what he/she recommends and ask for assistance. That’s what they are there for and she is attending a school where such assistance is provided.
Funny, was just helping a student with this recently. He too clumped awards together. He just got one from his HS that is a corporate sponsored college affiliated award. Any idea where to put that?
For these awards…it’s quality…not quantity. @jym626 if this recent corporate award is better than something else filling the lines in awards…then ditch something else and put this one in.
@nynycasino1234 prioritize. List the ones that are the ones that you feel best describe your kid.
And if any awards were part of a summer program or any other program, list the award there.
E.g. Boston University Tanglewood Institute, scholarship recipient, first chair trombone.
That would have been listed under summer programs.
@doschicos daughter can always ask the counselor but I find it is easier for me to ask on CC and get input. People on this board are second to none and have found sound advice that exceeds my expectations.
Plus daughters have overloaded counselor with too many other requests, recommendation letters, transcripts request, fitting the crazy schedule etc. School has been very supportive to all three daughters and daughters would have not been here without school generous need based support and other supports that others school staff provides. I have nothing but utter praise for them.
The difference is that your daughter can talk details and specifics with her college counselor about all her specific awards and how it fits into her application, detail that is missing in this post thereby making any advice received here imperfect. Your daughter, working in conjunction with her college counselor, can get advice very specific to her entire application and her specific awards which would be very helpful in structuring her application in a way that draws the admission counselors attention to certain traits and strengths she wants to highlight and put at the forefront. None of us here can do that. You mention often how well your children have done. Obviously, along with their talents, the college counselors have served them well. Trust them on this as well. I’m sure they don’t feel overloaded with any questions your daughter asks. That’s what they are there for, it’s their job.
The stupid questions that I have asked here and being answered by folks that have served me very well. And same time I feel it also serves other people who may face similar problems…
Both my sons did an activities/awards resume. S1 in particular had a number of big items that didn’t fit conveniently into a box. He got good feedback about it, but I don’t know if the CommonApp and its competitors allow those kinds of uploads any longer.