I guess one thing being missed is the prospective list of schools.
Many schools wouldn’t even look at these or factor them in - they’ll be more stat based.
But I’m assuming the list of schools isn’t focused on the less than perceived elite.
I would not do it, but that is just my opinion.
An applicant can be viewed as impressive without including this nomination.
I would definitely include actual awards, but I would not include a HS nomination for this award.
But what does the nomination provide that the LORs and list of activities doesn’t, etc?
I’m not an AO but if I was and someone told me the student was a MC nominee but the rest of the application was blank, I wouldn’t know anything.
But if I had LORs and a list of activities and perhaps answers to essay questions that showed character and leadership, then I would have something.
That’s where I struggle with awards/honors and this is an honor - but I don’t think they say much (short of a gold medal or something tangible like that). I do think what underlies them is important.
Truth is - when one gets into a school or is rejected by a school, typically the reason is unknown.
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directionally correct
Correct me if I’m wrong - but being nominated for MC doesn’t assure an entry into the university.
Back to your subject, it’s Interesting, Reddit has a similar thread with a four comments - below - and you have both responses (yay and nay). I also think - you can ask someone like you did (MIT Chris) but I imagine not all AOs or what school’s look for are alike - so a response from one AO / school may not equal what another school thinks…
- My son was recently selected as one of two of his school’s nominees to apply for the Morehead-Cain scholarship at UNC. He’s very interested in the program but also has a number of other schools he will apply to. Question - is it ok to list this nomination as an accomplishment?
I’m guessing maybe not… But feel like it could be helpful and would likely validate his recommendations. If he was one of only two in his class of 150 or so to be nominated, that seems like something he’d like to share….
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I think my kid is going to put their nomination in. One of 3 out of 400 to be nominated seems like a bigger honor than honor roll and such. It’s a well-known scholarship in NC (and the country), so I think other schools will see it as an honor too.
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That’s what I was thinking. My son won a great award at his school last year, but his was one of 8 awarded. I’d think being one of 2 selected out of 150 would be even more notable. Congrats to your child.
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My son’s college counselor recommends not to list the nomination…so he won’t.
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We will have to agree to disagree. IMO each college looks at the application in the context of their particular college (rather than if UNC likes the candidate).
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yes, using third party validations to evaluate.
I would not mention it.
As others have said, this would tend to tell any school other than UNC that your child intends to go to UNC. This could hurt their chances anywhere else.
There is however another point that no one has mentioned (unless I missed it or I am confused). There is a reason that your child was nominated for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship. There is someone at your high school, or more likely multiple someones who think that your child deserves this. Whatever caused them to think this is going to come through in letters of reference. You do not need to mention this to other schools. Other schools are going to see the letters of reference. Other schools will also see your child’s high school transcript. Whatever caused someone at your high school to nominate your child is going to come through in applications.
It might be a bit early to say congratulations, but this all sounds hopeful.
But no, I would not talk about it in applications to any other schools.
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That was me.
I think it is all about context, how the essay was written, etc. This is a very, very difficult award to actually get….despite being a super star in your HS (not taking anything away from the student).
I am not saying that including it looks pretentious. I am suggesting it could, depending.
Also, including it while applying to other schools, whether reach or safety, is not a great look…imo.
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how about if you ED someplace, does it change things for that application?
I doubt it - but it’s unlikely to hurt since it’s binding.
It just doesn’t say anything that the rest of the app won’t say.
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UNC does not offer ED. Are you suggesting EDing someplace and including this nomination?
I don’t think it will hurt because it’s ED…but, it will not offer anything that the application does not already show.
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Exactly, if your principal knows you well enough to make teh nom, use your principal for one of your recs.
In our HS it’s the guidance counselor who recommends these nominations.
Are you the student or the parent? Are you in NC? If not, are many students from the school even applying to UNC?
I believe the nomination is just the counselor listing a student’s name unless this has changed.
“BTW - it is my son, not me.“
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Thought somewhere else this was a student, thanks.
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A nomination is always the listing of a name. The criteria by which a nomination is selected gives it meaning or not.
The Morehead-Cain looks for students who demonstrate leadership, character (humility is mentioned), curiosity, etc. Those qualities should be evidenced in the application, transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation. You are showing who you are, and it is authentic.
I guess I am a little confused as to why adding the nomination would be beneficial…if the application itself shows all of these qualities.
I actually think it could hurt, for reasons mentioned in many of these posts. It probably won’t hurt for ED, but I don’t think it will be what pushes your application into the admit pile.
You seem to be placing a lot of importance on listing it. While it is certainly an honor to be nominated (congrats!), I would leave it out.
Ehhhh - if you’re a nominating school you’re likely going to nominate someone. Until you win, frankly, it’s just a local popularity contest.
It doesn’t mean the kid isn’t wonderful. But they (UNC) doesn’t know that til they get to know him.
He was nominated. It’s the first step and it’s awesome because he ‘might’ compete for a full ride and he should be proud but in the grand scheme of things, being a finalist would be more a validation (still wouldn’t use it) but being nominated really isn’t - at the national level - IMHO of course.