<p>I just received the Harvard Book Award at my high school's NHS induction ceremony. Does this mean anything special since its from Harvard (for example be a very prestigious award or increase my chances at Harvard)? Also, do you know if the Harvard Book Award is given out to the person with the top GPA at his/her high school? Thanks.</p>
<p>Doesn't mean anything. A girl from our school with GPA 4.0, Harward Book Award, legacy - rejected from Harvard, but got into Yale.</p>
<p>it's a pretty lame award.</p>
<p>Last year, I didn't get the Harvard Book Award or the Brown Book Award or any Book Award for that matter. I got into Harvard EA, and the guy who got the Harvard Book Award at my school was rejected. </p>
<p>The award is not given to the person with the highest GPA (in that case, I would have received it), nor does it give you any edge in the application process, aside from a waived application fee. Basically it's just a way for Harvard to recruit people to apply to the school.</p>
<p>But hey, who doesn't like awards, right?</p>
<p>I've never even heard of the award before.</p>
<p>Yeah, the way the "Harvard Book Award" works is as follows:</p>
<p>The admissions office donates a book to the school, which it is free to give out to anyone it chooses under the conditions the school promotes it as "The Harvard Book Award". It's just a recruitment thing, and the decision as to who gets the book is made solely by the school.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Many current students at Harvard received the Harvard Book Award in high school - which is usually given to the highest ranking member of the Junior class.</p></li>
<li><p>There are far more Harvard Book Award winners than there are slots for domestic students in the freshman class.</p></li>
<li><p>Thus, while there may be a substantial overlap, there is no way every Book winner could gain admission. Every Valedictorian doesn't gain admission; every 1600-scorer doesn't gain admission, even though he or she may be admitted at a higher rate.</p></li>
</ol>
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<p>Anybody know how schools decide on those book awards? Is it some kind of vote among teachers?</p>
<p>It doesn't mean much, just another thing to put on the app.</p>
<p>In my daughter's school, it was pretty clear that the book awards were divided among the juniors with the highest grade-point averages. As far as I know, none of the students who received the awards in her year went to their "assigned" colleges; in my daughter's case, she received the U. Penn award and was waitlisted there but accepted at Yale. (We had the impression that her GC, who knew that my daughter was leaning toward Penn as her first choice at the time, help decide which award she would get.)</p>
<p>See, I'm pretty sure my school just kept the book :)</p>
<p>Last year, the person who got the Harvard Book award at my school was an ESL student. She had fairly good grades (around A-minus), but she lower than the top 5 percent in my grade. I think this is because other Book Awards require the student to have the highest average overall or in a certain subject, but Harvard one doesn't. So, students who are not as good get the Harvard (and Yale, also) Book Awards. The really good students don't get these awards because they get the other book awards (that have more rigorous requirements but happen to be from less prestigious collges), and the school wants to spread out the awards among people.</p>
<p>Edit: This is not for all the schools. In some schools, getting the Harvard Book Award may be the highest honor.</p>
<p>In our area, each high school is invited to nominate its best candidate for the Harvard Book Prize. Usually this is the "highest rank Junior", but it certainly doesn't have to be. These students [which totalled about 50 this year] then go through an "interview process". The students are divided into 2 or 3 groups with each group meeting with the local Harvard alumni association for 2-3 hours. It is basically a "talkathon" with "lively discussion" of various topics. The winners of the Prize are then chosen and the school advised if their student was awarded the Prize Book. If memory serves, of the 50 students in our county, a total of 20 books were actually awarded by the local alumni association.</p>
<p>I think there is a large variation around the country on what getting the Prize means. From what I can see it depends on how it is treated by the local alumni. If they treat it seriously and competitively, then it will be seen as an honor... if not then then it won't.</p>
<p>sunglasses, waived application fee? really? aw, now why didn't i know about that when i applied.</p>
<p>The cover says that "The Prize Book of the Harvard Alumni Association shall be awarded to the outstanding student in the next to the graduating class who 'displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields." In our school, the counselors, the principal, and department heads met and decided on what student should get which book. We had about five books to distribute. I got Harvard, but I don't think it means anything in getting into Harvard. I'm not applying to Harvard either. But it helps in the application process because it shows that you're respected by your teachers, counselors, and principal and that shows a lot to the admissions office. It shows a lot about your character and that's what they're looking for in your essays and activities, so it's kindof a helpful gimme.</p>
<p>P.S. Oh, and I wasn't the valedictorian or had the highest SAT score or had the most community service hours or club leaderships...yeah, kinda makin' myself look bad but lol, just lettin u guys know that it's not just for highest ranking person; however, each school distributes it differently, so basically whatever floats their boat</p>
<p>It might be more meaningful if a Harvard alum showed up to present it. Both of my sons won the award. Each was or will be valedictorian. My older son was admitted, ED, to Dartmouth. My younger couldn't be less interested in H, although we live but 50 miles away. The book, btw, is the only thing either heard from Harvard.</p>
<p>last year, a woman from Harvard showed up to present it to my friend
this year, we just had the winner on the announcements with the other "_____ Book Award" winners (and no alumni from what I could tell)</p>
<p>It certainly doesn't hurt... i mean it's a nice thing to have on your app. But it's not exactly going to get you into the college and doesn't really hold special weight.</p>
<p>The application fee is not waived for a winner of the Harvard Book Award. Sunglasses is mistaken. I called Harvard and verified that anyone who applies has to pay the fee (or apply for a waiver due to financial hardship).</p>
<p>Does EVERY school receive a Harvard Book Award to give out to the Top Junior??? I must have never noticed, but I don't ever recall someone getting recognition for winning the Harvard Book Award!!! I'm dying to win this!! Does it only include North East schools??? I go to a Private, Christian high school in Tennessee... can I get the award???</p>