<p>if I have had poetry published when I was in middle school (6th/7th grade)?
It's probably a dumb question, and I know that colleges want to focus on your high school years, but does it count and should I put it on my resume/application?</p>
<p>To put it bluntly, I think that it would be absolutely pointless to put it on your resume. Colleges not only want to focus on your high school years, they really don't care about anything before then. If you have received a significant award maybe the summer before 9th grade, then put it down. Otherwise, don't bother. It'll just seem like you're just adding this award to take up space and overcompensate for your supposed weaknesses.</p>
<p>"After eighth grade" is the usual rule of thumb for what to put on your college application. Bummer, I know, for kids who had accomplishments in eighth grade or earlier, but that's how things are usually done. I know of a National Spelling Bee winner who didn't mention that accomplishment on any college applications--that student had other, more recent accomplishments.</p>
<p>I think it depends...if the early accomplishment connects to later activities, it may make sense to list it. In this case, for example, if you begain publishing poetry in middle school, and have continued to do so, you might list the publications, including the early ones. It also depends where they were published.</p>
<p>Two items against this idea: 1) like stated earlier, your scholarship & achievements for 9-12 are the items examined and 2) "being published" can mean a wide variety of things -- some very easy and not prestigious</p>
<p>Just see how it looks to an adcom "Well, this kid sure did well in middle school. Too bad s/he didnt really live up to that promise by doing anything in High School"</p>
<p>My son has some pretty good middle school accomplishments that are not getting a mention. He has high school accomplishments that are just as good. </p>
<p>My d was a semifinalist at last years National Spelling Bee. Since her 8th grade year was technically over, it could count as a Hi School accomplishment, but I do hope she has better things by the time aaplications come down.</p>
<p>It's best to stick to HS, unless it's super good looking (like "cured thumb cancer in 7th grade" :))</p>