I wonder if i should put my school varsity letter as awards on my college apps
My kids list them as activities. 4 years of volleyball, with 2 years on JV and 2 on varsity. For example.
If you listed the varsity sport as an activity then putting the varsity letter as an award would be redundant.
Not necessarily true. Many schools have requirements above simply being on the varsity team. Often, but not always, a senior will automatically get a letter, but younger students, subject to coach’s discretion, often have benchmarks, e.g. playing in 50% of the games/quarters.
Now, back to the question. Yes, you can list. Is it amongst the most important things you want to list is another question, though.
Looking at the Common App section on Activities, if you list Athletics as an activity in the drop down, succeeding boxes will ask various questions, including 1 box for description, accomplishment and recognition. Here you certainly should put how many years varsity and if you won honors like all-district, all-state. Each sport is its own activity, e.g. Activity 1 could be football and Activity 2 could be baseball. If you are looking at a non-Common App, if there is an open question on activities, I would still list the sport, years varsity and JV and any honors in the same field if possible.
I was told to put it in the description section under the activities. That would allow you to include the years you earned it and any other relevant information as well. I would guess that it’s better to have all the information in the same place as it makes it easier for the admissions counselor.
I guess getting a letter is an award so why not. If you need to use it as filler since there is not much other things to put down, sure. But keep in mind the reviewer knows this also. They are not going to go “wow, my applicant just made his letter in junior soccer… Hold the phone and let’s accept him right now”
There are athletic awards that do belong in the awards section - Academic all American, scholar athlete, athlete of the year. Being a captain could fit in several places. To me it makes more sense to keep them all together.
OP hasn’t been back in 2 days and with only 1 post, we have no idea of the colleges or how much thinking through the awards section matters. My inclination is he or she is stretching by wanting to list this as an award. If he or she doesn’t understand, ask the GC.
And OP said “school varsity letter.” Nothing in that one line hints this is bigger than that. In most cases, just being varsity is enough (versus jv or club sports.) Adcoms will get it.
Btw, my kiddo had a letter in a varsity sport. She did not list this as a special, notable award, but did show the sport as an EC and noted the letter there.