The downside of honors

cangel
Mon, 22 May 2006 08:01:02 +0000

I’m concerned about that page of honors some of the apps want. What happens to the students with no honors and no unusual achievements? Is it OK to be “good enough” in music or a sport, without being at the top?



First of all, MrsP - as Calmom points out, we don’t really know the answer to your question because of the urban legend aspect of all the advice you will hear here - none of us, except the few admit officers that post here, really know hwat ittakes. AND I bet they can’t predict for any individual kid.
Having said that, I think what they really want to see is a kid who has dimensions outside of schoolwork, who is, if you will, a complete person. They don’t necessarily need accolades if they have an interest that they spend significant time doing, if they can write about the activity in a meanigful way that shows they truly enjoy doing that activity, and have accomplished something they are proud of and enthusiastic about.
InterestedDad gave some advice the year my D applied that I think is some of the best about ECs I’ve ever read here. I’m paraphrasing, but here goes - be brief and succinct, throwing in every last little honor roll mention doesn’t necessarily help, an app should lead the reader to be able to come up with on or two bullet points about the child that can be written on an index card and call the app to mind - like the pianist with the great essay about working with the piano tuner or the kid from Arizona who tutors immigrant kids, etc and finally, the activites that are highlighted, that the brief answers on the CA are written about, are the activities that the child truly loves, that hopefully play up their academic or personal strengths - the application should have a “theme”, if you would.

My daughter’s centerpiece activity was one that she was only able to pursue for a short time, one that she did get elected to a leadership (VP) position, but didn’t win any awards. But it was something she truly enjoyed, was a little unusual, was outside school and she was able to write briefly but eloquently about. They can violate “the rules” if their academics are strong and they come across as genuine.