Awards order of importance

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

I’m starting to list my awards and distinctions on the common app and would like to get some opinions as to which order I should list them(they limit it to 5).

National Merit SF (pending finalist)
Division 1 Football Nationally ranked at my position(not sure exactly how to word this)
STEM Alliance Scholar
AP Scholar with Distinction Award
Florida Science Olympiad Gold Medal winner(unable to attend Nationals due to summer football/camps)
TSA Nationals Qualifier 3 years Quiz Bowl & Coding(unable to attend Nationals due to summer football/camps)
National Honor Society

Also am I correct in assuming that being class president and team captain etc…would go under EC’s?

2

Well, I’ll tell you which ones not to list:
• National Honor Society - Big yawn as an award. If you did substantial volunteer work with them, you can list as an EC
• AP Scholar with Distinction Award - Ranks right up there with you Good Citizenship Medal (tongue slightly in cheek). Your award will be assumed based on your AP scores.

Student government and the sport are the EC’s. The presidency/captaincy can be described in the section where you are asked to describe the EC and honors,

3

@skieurope Perfect thanks! Is there anyplace on the app that I could or even should list that I’m the only NMSF ever from my school?

4

I’m not sure it’s worth mentioning. You want to let them know that you are an NMSF; they don’t care that nobody else was. Remember, you’re selling yourself, not everybody else.

5

Ok so 2 more to add to the original list so if I could get your opinion I would appreciate the help @skieurope

  1. D1 football prospect nationally ranked at my position
  2. Selected to represent the USA in International Football Competition
  3. National Merit Semi Finalist(pending Finalist)

Now I have 2 spots left of these 3

Selected to All American Classic football All Star game
Florida Science Olympiad Gold Medal winner green generation
TSA Nationals qualifier 3 years coding & quiz bowl

6

@skieurope The All American classic is a showcase of the top senior football players from around the country but that would be 4 football awards/distinctions and only 1 academic.

7

I would combine the football awards so you have room for your academic awards.

8

@momofsenior1 That would be a good option except they do not leave enough room to do so.

9

I vote for adding the TSA and Science Olympiad awards. I bet you can combine the football awards. How about something like Football: nationally ranked player/All American/USA representative (you get the idea).

10

@chercheur Really can’t do that…almost like trying to combine TSA and Science Olympiad awards but they are separate. For football 1. Is Nationally ranked 4.5 star D1 football recruit #… in the country(that’s all that fits) 2. Selected to represent the USA in an International Football Competition(separate designation than 1) 3. Selected to All America Classic football All Star game(separate award chosen from top senior football players in the US)

11

Are you a recruited athlete? If not, then your athletic awards should not be the highlight. Combine them or don’t combine them. Leave some off, but 80% of the space should not be devoted to football.

12

@skieurope Yes recruited athlete looking at a top academic college. I was told that having a big spike(such as being a D! football athlete) is more important to show than being well rounded. Even though it’s football all 3 would be considered top National designations and 1 International. I will be majoring in CS so also have a passion there. 35 ACT and 4.59 gpa and 138 academic index.

13

Then if you’re a recruited athlete, don’t overthink it; in that case, the AO will not be overanalyzing your awards.