<p>In the country that I'm currently residing in, there is no possible way to win a scholastic distinction or award at all. Is there any place on the application form that I can mention this fact as I feel akward just leaving the awards section blank? Is there any place to mention extenuating factors?</p>
<p>The second optional essay is a perfect place for such things.</p>
<p>
[quote]
there is no possible way to win a scholastic distinction or award at all
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I doubt if this is true. It is possible that your particular school does not give out any school-based awards. But no awards of any kind in the entire country? Unlikely. Over 75 countries participate in the math and computer science olympiads, for instance. That means that every one of them has some sort of recognition process for selecting the team.</p>
<p>You do not have to have academic awards to be successful in your college application process, just like you do not have to have work or volunteer experiences just because there are blanks for those things on the app. Obviously if you had something like being on your country's math olympiad team it would help you. But most awards people have are not that significant. The fact that you can't say that you were on the school honor roll twice in 10th grade or won 3rd place in a county-wide poetry contest doesn't really hurt you. Just play up whatever you do have. And good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with texas127, in all aspects. How could there be no scholastic distinctions THROUGHOUT your country? In any event, you don't need to "win" anything to get in. In my opinion, you need to show the two things:</p>
<ol>
<li>Scholastic excellence (ie. GPA, SAT)</li>
<li>Strong, lob-sided interest in an area</li>
<li>Action on your interest (ie. leadership and intitiative)</li>
<li>Love for learning</li>
</ol>
<p>From my many correspondences with the adcoms, I have come to realize that you need to be strong in most of these areas, but perfection in all is NOT a requirement. Here's what Ben Jones told me in an email: "One less-than-stellar component won't keep you out of MIT. (As Bryan says, think of it as a table with many legs. If you chop off one leg, the table won't fall over.)"</p>
<p>To clearly answer your question, I you should probably mention your circumstance in the optional essay. But, keep in mind, it's not very belieivable that there are no distinctions available in your country. In any event, you don't need any scholastic distinctions to get into MIT. </p>
<p>Just my 2 cents -- probably a more verbose and redundant version of texas137's comments.</p>
<p>Meh, I think the academic honors are there not to show off but rather to show what you really love doing.</p>
<p>Heck, I think I saved the last box on the MIT application for "Pi-off." No, it's not prestigious, it's just a school/regionwide thing I won that I am very proud of. I could just as easily put down some website that won an award in my Webmastering class, etc.</p>
<p>Point being: awards will not make or break your application.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
I doubt if this is true. It is possible that your particular school does not give out any school-based awards. But no awards of any kind in the entire country? Unlikely. Over 75 countries participate in the math and computer science olympiads, for instance. That means that every one of them has some sort of recognition process for selecting the team.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>I will not contend the fact that there are national scholastic programs. But they are in the local language (which I have not grasped) and more annoyingly open only to local citizens.</p>
<p>That would make more sense. If you don't mind my asking, what country are you applying from?</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by zking786
That would make more sense. If you don't mind my asking, what country are you applying from?
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>I am a U.S. citizen who is applying from Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Interesting experience! I'm in the same boat. I'm a US citizen and have recently moved to Bangalore, India to complete my senior year. You're probably a domestic applicant too. Anyway, just wanted to comment on the simillarity. Let me know what happens...</p>
<p>Ah, an American in Saudi Arabia. That makes more sense.</p>
<p>I don't think you need to win anything to be competitive at MIT. But if you (or anyone else in your situation) wanted some competitions that you could enter on your own over the internet, here are some links to get you started. Also google search something like "academic contests" and see what turns up.
<a href="http://www.usaco.org%5B/url%5D">www.usaco.org</a>
<a href="http://www.usamts.org%5B/url%5D">www.usamts.org</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the links. Anything to be more competitive!</p>
<p>also check here for contests:
<a href="http://www.academiccompetition.org/contests.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.academiccompetition.org/contests.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the links texas137!</p>
<p>I am in the same situation
My school doesnt give any academic awards bercause"all students are equal". Yeah right! And my country isnt a participant in IMO. So basically my awards are non-academic!! I am a US citizen residing in Jordan</p>
<p>I'm just like you guys. I moved to the f***ing UAE 5 years ago. I have absolutely 0 awards.</p>
<p>Wesam..isnt that an arabic name anyway?</p>
<p>Yeah, my parents are Egyptian. I grew up in Kansas though.</p>
<p>Well, chil up dude. UAE has much to offer. In contrary to Jordan!!!!e33333</p>
<p>any academic contests open in India for those who have passed their 12th? or is it too late now??</p>
<p>I'm in the US but in a really small rural town so I'm kind of in the same boat as you guys. I've won some really stupid school awards that don't mean anything and National Merit Semifinalist (Which again, doesn't mean anything to MIT).</p>