I recieved this award (along with a departmental science award for being the best chemist), and was wondering two things:
1.) Is it a decent award to win (i.e. affects admissions into top colleges)
AND
2.) If it will give me an advantage to Brown specifically (There is a little sheet that I can send into Brown admissions, recognizing that I won the award)
<p><em>bump</em> <em>bump</em></p>
<p>I'm no expert on book awards, but I'll tell you what I do know.</p>
<p>The university, or local alumni of the university, give money or the award to the HS, with qualities they would like in the winner, often a top 5 GPA. The awards from different colleges are given out to the students. This serves the purpose of getting the school's name out there (if you weren't already applying to Brown, I bet you're considering it now) and rewards the student.</p>
<p>Getting the award isn't an extremely big deal admissions-wise, because there really isn't a small limit on how many awards can be given. HOWEVER, it does say to you, the winner, that you are doing a great job and are among the best in your year in your school. From what I've heard, getting the Brown (or any other college's book award) is a good thing, but not great. Not all recipients of Brown book awards get into Brown, but the type of people who work hard enough to get Brown book awards are often the type of people who are accepted to Brown, if that makes any sense.</p>
<p>It may help you out a little in applying to Brown, but it won't mean too much to other colleges. If you do get in, it won't be because of the book award.</p>
<p>There're nice but I honestly don't think they mean much. QuickLikeCat is right when he/she said its just to get smart people to apply to their school when they might otherwise not have bothered.</p>
<p>"often a top 5 GPA"</p>
<p>just curious, do you mean top 5 people or top 5 percent?</p>
<p>This is just my school of 250-300 people per year, but each year about 3-6 book awards are given out, and almost all of them go to people who are ranked #1-5. My school doesn't officially rank students, but everybody knows who the academic superstars are, and the book awards sort of let people know.</p>
<p>The Book Awards, including the Harvard Book Award, are pure popularity contest at my D's school.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone at my school has ever gotten a book award.</p>
<p>haven't heard too much about book awards, but i think a kid at my high school a while back got a harvard book award (among his many accomplishments) and got accepted by harvard, although he turned it down for stanford (but is now going to harvard med school).</p>