Can anyone please share some examples of the type of awards and honors I should include in my college application? I want to take advantage and capture everything.
Sure! Awards and honors are a great way to show colleges how you stand out in your activities and academics. They can range from school-based awards to regional, national, or international recognitions, and they all play a significant role in emphasizing your achievements.
Tier 1 awards are worth special mention, as they indicate national or international recognition. Some of these can be: US Presidential Scholars Program, National Merit Scholarship Program (Finalist or Semifinalist), Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) awards, or a top prize at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Tier 2 awards are also highly prestigious and are usually state-level or national level awards with high competition. These could include your state-level music competition winner, Eagle Scout or Gold Award in Scouts, or the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, for instance.
Tier 3 awards are more local and accessible but still meaningful, as they demonstrate your achievement amongst a smaller group. Most school-related awards fall under this category, such as being a member of your school's Honor Roll, winning a departmental award like the Chemistry Award, or getting an award in a local essay or art contests.
On another note, some colleges have specific sections where you could list awards related to a particular activity. For instance, if you were the captain of the debate team and won several local and state competitions, you might list those awards under the entry for the debate team in the activities section rather than the honors section.
Lastly, remember to list them in order of their impressiveness, with the most prestigious first. The goal is to grab the reader’s attention with your top-tier recognitions.
Hope that gives you a good perspective on how to approach listing awards and honors in your applications. Good luck!
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