Is this dishonest?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I participated in Botball in 7th, 8th, and 11th grade. My team won 1st seeding, 4th overall in the 8th grade, against high school teams. My high school didn’t offer Botball until 11th, and my team was full of slackers who didn’t do anything, so we didn’t win any awards this year.</p>

<p>Would it be dishonest to list the award I received in middle school, but omit the year? Technically it wouldn’t be lying, but I know colleges don’t really care about middle school stuff. However, I feel this is just as worthy as any award won in high school, esp. since we were competing against high school students as middle school students. </p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>Usually, if you have to ask whether or not you’re being dishonest, you know deep down that you aren’t being completely truthful-you are just looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear… :p</p>

3

<p>Of course it’s dishonest - you essentially say so in your post.</p>

<p>Don’t worry though - I doubt that whether the 11th grade team won an award or not will make one bit of difference in a college acceptance.</p>

4

<p>If that ONE part of your application is the one worth lying about, then you probably have bigger problems to worry about. Honestly, it is about the totality of your application and accomplishments. That means four years of grades, activities, test scores, etc., along with your life experience thus far. If you wish to let them know about your 8th grade award, then discuss its importance to you in your admissions essay. I strongly advise you to be honest in your applications and interviews. My son was asked a question during one of his interviews that was definitely verifying something he had included on his application; if he could not have answered the query it probably would have doomed his application at that university. It is just easier to be honest. Good luck with the application process.</p>

5

<p>If you don’t want to write about it in your essay, you can also list the awards in the “Additional Info” section of the application (with the dates/grades, of course). The Common App also has a place for talking about an EC that is of importance to you - that may be a good place to put it. </p>

<p>Do not, under any circumstances, leave the impression that these awards were won in high school. It’s a small world; you don’t know if the guy reading your application is into Botball and knows that your high school didn’t have a team.</p>

6

<p>And now I will go google Botball.</p>

7

<p>Oh, ok.
Kids at some neighboring high schools in our town do FIRST Robotics. Sounds like it is similar or maybe even the same thing. They just call it Robotics Team.</p>

<p>[NASA</a> - The 2008 FIRST Robotics Competition](<a href=“http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/9-12/features/first-robotics-2008.html]NASA”>http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/9-12/features/first-robotics-2008.html)</p>