<p>I just wonder that is it important to win something especially when applying to top colleges? I'm planning to apply to MIT, caltech, Uchicago, Harvard, and so on. However, when i look at other people's stats on CC, I can't but help feel inferior and think that my accomplishments are nothing...</p>
<p>Really, I have no academic awards besides being an AP Scholar, being nominated out of 200 people in my old high school to apply to NJ Governor School on the Envrionment, is on honor roll every year for both HS (I moved about 8 months ago to this new HS). That's all, I think.</p>
<p>But I've been actively writing articles for my two high school's newspaper and is now an editor at my new high school. Also, I've worked on a research project (more like contributed to it) with a MIT professor for the whole past summer and had a co-authorship with him. And I'm part of my HS's first formed Science Olympiad team and I will start a math club this year (even I'm a senior, but this HS has no math club and I've wanted to start one for a long time)..And i'm not sure if this would be a hook or not, but I also have a disabilty that affects me academically and socially. </p>
<p>So, it seems like what I've done isn't much compared to everybody else on CC, espeically for awards and ECs. So, is it ok to be involved in a research and few ECs, but no awards?</p>
<p>I'm in the same boat as you, and applying to the same caliber of schools. I think it's ok, because colleges realize that not all schools give awards.</p>
<p>theyre not gonna be like "oohhhhh, he/she is bad, they didn't win any competitions" but it might add something to your app if you won a contest relative to your interests.</p>
<p>I think awards do a few things- they help you stand out, there is validation of your efforts and they show initiative. I guess without them- you can say you are great at something but I think it's important to have evidence to back it up. That said, I believe that it does help but isn't necessary especially if your rec's and transcripts can verify your claims. Your test scores will verify your math abilities so you should be fine. If you can find an opportunity go ahead and take it- you may be able to send in an update in Jan/Feb and that could just be the thing that helps push you over the line.</p>
<p>thanks guys..but I am early actioning three schools: MIT, caltech, and UChicago. It would be a big bummer if they deferred me just because I don't have awards or anything else like that. There was a lack of such oppotorunity in my old school, which was very liberal arts and no such math/science stuff. So, in this new high school, I've decided to start a math club this month or next month. </p>
<p>It is kind of too late to do competitions, but I'm planning to enter a few math competitions this year, which it seems that most are not done until in Feb or later. But I guess I would send some update if I won something.</p>