<p>Can someone explain to me this "book award" thing? At the Academic Convocation at my Ss HS they gave out a number of these "book awards", i.e. Harvard, Dartmouth, etc.</p>
<p>What are these and how does a student qualify for them? Is there an objective criterea associated with the awards?</p>
<p>This link could shed some lights ...</p>
<p>"Harvard Prize Books are presented annually in more than 1,900 high schools around the world. To establish a Prize Book award in a local high school, a Harvard Club or club member need only contribute the cost of one book.</p>
<p>Ordering</p>
<p>Place all orders with The Harvard Coop mail-order at <a href="http://www.thecoop.com/bookprize%5B/url%5D">www.thecoop.com/bookprize</a> or by calling H*** Es*** at (800) 368-1882.
"</p>
<p>xiggi,</p>
<p>Thanks for the link. It does not appear to have any objective criterea. Note the following from the link:</p>
<p>
[quote]
outstanding students in the next to the graduating class who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and achievement in other non-academic areas.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>it does not list what is outstanding and it also enables multiple awards by using the term students.</p>
<p>Are all of these awards the same, i.e. Dartmouth Book award (I will do a search for this shortly)?</p>
<p>Pretty much so, Eagle79 -- some are subject-specific however (U of Rochester gives a science/math and a humanities book prize). And all are awarded pretty much at the whim of the HS faculty.</p>
<p>My son's high school had fifteen book awards given to the top fifteen ranking students in the junior class. There was no significance to whcih student got which book.</p>
<p>No one ever seems to hear or read about it at my daughter's school--at least not until long after the fact (usually when the junior who was awarded one is applying to colleges as a senior). I've never understood the purpose of them, nor how students are chosen. And receiving one doesn't seem to have any positive impact on gaining admission to that particular school. I have a friend who is a Harvard alum and was always running around doing the "book award" thing with different students/schools. I could never get a clear idea of any of it as it all seemed mysterious and a bit secretive to me--even when she talked about it. Interestingly, the kids who have been awarded these (as juniors) are usually not the truly outstanding seniors when graduation rolls around.<br>
Thanks for providing the link, though, xiggi. I'll have to read it, so I can finally understand what it's all about.</p>
<p>Here's the criteria specified by Williams for the Williams book award:</p>
<p>The book is presented to a junior in the top five percent of his or her class who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school. </p>
<p>The schools pick the students - the alumni association is not at all involved in selection of the winners.</p>
<p>The colleges set the criteria. The hs picks the student and may also designate a specific book award for achievement in a paricular subject. Colleges view book awards as a recruitment tool and in some cases, the award rcipient receives $$ ($500 for books) if s/he enrolls.</p>
<p>Don't know that receiving the book award give an applicant a boost, but Adcoms do track book award winners.</p>
<p>
We-elll, yes and no ;)The high schools choose the recipients of these awards and altho the colleges may give them guidelines, they aren't always followed. For instance, Wellesley, where I went, wants its book award to go a female which seems to make sense as Wellesley is an all-women's college. A local private school in my area wanted to give it to a male. I don't believe it's given at that school anymore since the college and school were at an impasse on this issue.</p>