<p>I posted about this a while back, but need to ask about it in a different context :)</p>
<p>Recently, this website called "Startup Nation", which is a site for home-business owners, had a contest to select the 100 "best" home-based businesses in the country. The idea was to do something kind of like Forbes, but with home businesses.<br>
Anyway, I entered the contest with my website (I own a photography business) and to my surprise was chosen. The results were displayed on msn.com (the contest actually had some publicity!), and I got hundreds of emails from all over the country from people saying my site and story really inspired them.</p>
<p>The only problem is, the category I placed under was "most slacker friendly". To be placed, you did have to perform well financially and be a legit business. It was just labelled slacker because of how I was able to fit it into my really busy schedule. In reality, I do spend a lot of time on my website and business and it is a LOT of work.</p>
<p>I'm done with all my apps except for Brown, and I am applying for a scholarship (the Ithaca College Park Scholar Award). Is it worth it to include this "award" with the slacker-connotation? I technically could just present myself as a placer in the "Home-Based 100" which is what the contest was called and what i rightfully am. Also, this isn't really an established award (it was the first year), and I don't know if they would give it any weight.</p>
<p>It sounds like a really worthy and interesting award. Why can't you just explain it the way you did here? It's a winner, just in an unfortunate-sounding category.</p>
<p>so you believe i should include the award category as well?? i don't want to deceive, but would leaving it off be doing just that?? it's a good point that on my resumes i do get to include a description, so that will probs help me.</p>
<p>Did you get a letter or certificate that you won the award? IMO, you should definitely mention the award, especially for Park Scholars....I'm assuming you are talking about your business in the Park Essay; you could mention it there....In terms of your Brown application, as long as you discuss your business in your essays, you should mention the award...Otherwise, I'm not sure what impact it would have....Good Luck with both! (Park Scholars is really impressive, isn't it??? Just curious, how would you decide if you got it?)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I will include it.</p>
<p>Rodney, I didn't get a certificate or anything like that, just a congratulatory email. As far as if I get the award (I really have no idea if I will... is the applicant pool extremely competitive?? anyone know much about it??), it would definitely increase my chances of going there. I hear from Stanford this friday and if i don't get in there and do get the award, i would probably end up at ithaca. who knows though :)
thanks again everyone</p>