<p>I am well aware that these awards mean very little as they are in large part recruitment efforts. However, should you list these sort of trivial alumni awards on the common app? Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes! Definitely list it. These awards show that you are one of the top students in your class, which is very helpful if your school doesn’t rank.</p>
<p>Thanks 1ofeach. I appreciate the reply. Bump.</p>
<p>At my sons’ school the Dartmouth Book Award goes to a student that is both an athlete as well as a good student. Is that the criteria everywhere for the DArtmouth Award?</p>
<p>These awards are NOT trivial, and they should indeed be listed on an application. Typically, the students considered most outstanding in their class by their schools are selected for book awards.</p>
<p>FYI, in my S’s class, the Yale and Harvard book award winners actually went to the respective schools. And the next year’s Yale book award winner also is going to Yale.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info everyone! And to answer your question b’smom I think that may not be the criteria everywhere because while I am somewhat of an athlete I am definitely not the best at my school. My understanding is that the local alumni association asks teachers at your school who are also alumni to choose exemplarary students based on whatever they feel.</p>
<p>At my S’s school the criteria is excellent student who is involved at the highest level with both the school community and the community at large. No specific mention of athletics. The books are purchased by local alumni groups and they have the option of setting the criteria(or can leave it up to the high school) But in any case, the guidance dept ends up choosing fantastic students for all these book awards- students that would be expected to at least be viable candidates for admission.</p>
<p>I think receiving any book award is an honor, and the important thing is not necessarily which school it’s from but that you got one at all.</p>
<p>I got one from Salem College (very small all-women’s college that I’d never heard of) and I got into several Ivies including Dartmouth. </p>
<p>DEFINITELY include it, not because it shows you’re athletic (I’m pretty sure different high schools pick students differently) but because it shows you stand out among your classmates.</p>