What counts as an award on the common app?Answered
Hi, I was wondering what counts as an award for the awards section on the common app. Is getting an internship (where I had to go through a competitive application) count as an award? What about merit-based scholarships? Please give me advice! Thank you!
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1 answer
Internships are not awards or honors regardless of how difficult they were to get. They are ECs, and more specifically either paying or non-paying part-time employment opportunities to gain work experience in the field you are interested in pursuing.
Other examples of awards:
Horatio Alger Merit Scholarship either at the State level $10,000 or National Level between $2,500 $25,000 is an award.
National Merit Scholar would be an award so if you are either a commended scholar, semi-finalist, or finalist.
AP Scholar of Distinction is an award as well
US Presidential Scholar - either semi-finalist or finalist is an award.
Questbridge College Prep Scholar is an Award
Questbridge Match Scholar is an Award
Gates Scholarship is an award
Coca Cola Scholarship is an award
Jack Kent Cooke Scholar is an award.
Hamilton Scholars is an award
Also if you win a spot at a top summer program based on merit like MIT, you can put that down either as an activity or an award.
If you have plenty of meaningful awards already, I wouldn't use the space for NHS because that can be an activity as well if you hold a leadership position.
Good luck.
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