<p>So I got the mail saying I've been chosen as a State Scholar, and it says stuff like "prestigious award," "best and the brightest," etc, etc.... I am not receiving anything besides this mail and the thought, and I don't really care much for this, but it also says on the mail to list this as an honor for college admissions and scholarships. So here's the question:</p>
<p>If I already applied to colleges (4) through Common App, should I email these schools notifying them of becoming a State Scholar, or is this something insignificant that it is not worth my time nor the schools? Can it hurt me by emailing them because it makes me look desperate and wanting to pad my app?</p>
<p>If you’re referring to being State AP Scholar then I think you should definitely notify colleges. State AP Scholar is only given to ~100 students each year, and it can only add to your application.</p>
<p>No it just says State Scholar, and it says nearly 150,000 in the Class of 2011 get it. Is this worth noting in my app by emailing the schools? I sent in my apps about 3 weeks ago and decisions are suppose to come in another 3 weeks.</p>
<p>Is it one of those mailing which also come with an order form to buy a directory of the other 150K students? If so, it is a total scam, and you will look just a bit gullible if you list it. </p>
<p>If not, who is sending this? If it is a state scholar, then presumably it will come from your state government. Does it look like it does?</p>
<p>I got this, too. I believe it’s for scoring well on the PSAE, or Prairie State Achievement Examination. Juniors take it in the spring, and it consists of the ACT and WorkKeys. If you receive a score of “exceeds” in each category, then you become a state scholar. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth notifying colleges of this because they already know that you have done well on these tests by seeing your standardized test scores. Additionally, a fairly large amount of seniors receive this award.</p>
<p>Yes it’s one of the government ones where you get it if your grades and standardized tests were above the expectations, and it doesn’t require me to buy anything so it’s not a scam. But seeing how so many people qualify for this for not really putting much effort outside of school, I also thought this had little value. Thanks for the inputs.</p>
<p>I assume you are from Illinois and have been named an Illinois State Scholar by the ISAC. As far as I know, the only value to this is if you attend an in-state public university you may receive a small ($500 to $1500) scholarship from that university. But that is not a certainty. I would just consider it filler for your resume.</p>