<p>I've pretty much convinced myself not to apply to Harvard or Wharton. Not because of test scores, or GPA, or class rank (they are all very good), but because I lack any real awards. </p>
<p>I may be a NMF, but all my awards are on the school/local level. I volunteer a LOT and I letter in three sports, plus holding down a job, etc. among other things. However, I feel like even with all of these things I don't stand a chance at top schools.</p>
<p>Is there any way at all for unhooked applicants to get into top schools without national or international awards?</p>
<p>I think that’s a bit overblown. A kid from our school got in to Wharton (and was selected for BFS/JWS) two years ago and he had no such awards. The biggest award on his list was winning the state physics contest.</p>
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<p>Nope, not even close.</p>
<p>Lol the closest I had to a national award was getting first place in a local university math competition but I got into some pretty decent schools, completely unhooked. So no, you do not need major awards, although they would undoubtedly help.</p>
<p>That’s good. Here’s a couple of scenarios for you guys:</p>
<p>Would you rather be valedictorian, or have a national award?</p>
<p>2300 and 4.0 UW, or national award?</p>
<p>Your awards do not have to be national, or even state-level. But what the toughest schools DO want to see is that you have been involved in something–some activity–beyond the normal school day. Wharton and Harvard don’t want bookworms who sit in the library and study: they want people who have the ambition to go out in the world and be successful. If there is an activity that you have been quite involved in, or if you have taken initiative starting some sort of a project, speak about that in your application. Show them how that activity defines you. It doesn’t need to be a national award.</p>
<p>I’ve seen plenty of kids in the Harvard acceptance thread posting acceptances with 2200’s on their SATs, perhaps a few B’s, National Merit Semifinalist, and a few activities they enjoy, but no other national awards. On the other hand, I’ve seen plenty of kids with a 2350, 2400, etc. rejected (even some with national awards). The question isn’t whether a kid has gotten a national award, but rather whether a kid is following what he or she loves to do and is not simply doing things for the sake of a resume.</p>
<p>I would say that colleges would be more likely to accept an individual with a national award (and still decently strong SAT’s… 2200-ish) who might be ranked 7th or 8th in his or her class over an individual who is valedictorian, has a 2300+, but is only academic. The reason I say this is because national awards often indicate that a student has passion in an area and that a student is living up to his or her potential. But you can demonstrate a genuine interest and intellectual curiosity through plenty of activities/hobbies in a way that doesn’t necessarily translate to awards. That is going to look good to colleges as well.</p>
<p>For yourself, talk about volunteering, or your sports, or your job: those all look good to colleges, as long as you show that you’re participating in them because you genuinely love doing these activities. Not everyone can win the USAMO, and not everyone can cure cancer. At the same time, not everyone might have the same drive as you to do the extracurriculars you do… And not everyone who has won the USAMO has worked a job. Admissions officers will value your uniqueness as well; let your interests and genuine personality show through, and the Ivy League is definitely not out of reach.</p>
<p>No doubt, valedictorian and 2300/4.0 unless if the award is ridiculously selective. With those stats, you would almost certainly get into a top college of your choice.</p>
<p>Colleges want to see that you have commitment and dedication to a particular field. A national or international award is one way to show this, but not the only way. There are students who published original research in high school but never won Intel ISEF. There are students who volunteered in China but have never made Natl. Merit Scholar.</p>
<p>Above all, a 2400/4.0 UW and nothing extraordinary is not going to make it to the most selective schools.</p>
<p>Nope. I was accepted to UPenn with only NMF, one of the AP Scholars, and National Latin Exam. And I had ‘only’ a 2210 SAT. Once you break the threshold, it all comes down to subjective factors like ECs and the essay.</p>
<p>A friend from my school was also accepted to Wharton at Penn. He was only a National Merit Commended. It is possible. Apply to Harvard and Wharton, what do you have to lose?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses, they really help. </p>
<p>So once I break that 2200-2300 threshold (my GPA won’t drop; I’m sure of that), it all really comes down to the subjective aspects? I’m fairly certain I’ll get good recs and I know I’ll write good essays; I’m just worried I don’t really have a specific “passion.” I do a lot but I like it all; I get bored way too easily haha.</p>
<p>2,032 people are admitted to Harvard.
They can’t ALL have national or international awards.</p>