<p>I've heard that adcoms find it annoying when applicants send in all their certificates to prove that they have actually done wut they've listed on their applications. This actually does make sense, cos they simply just dont have the time to read through all that stuff. But does the same thing apply to awards as well? For instance, I've won a national award with my chamber orchestra and I have the certificate for that, but should I send it in?? Also I've won a national language contest and also received a certificate for that one, so now I'm kinda confused, cos I dont kno wut I should do. I mean, there probably r some ppl who always just go for the risk and invent a bunch a stuff for their application, so the colleges need some proof, right? At least for awards? One the other hand, I dont want to annoy the adcom, so wut should I do?
Also should I send in newspaper articles about me? Its about a workcamp that I organized for college students... just talks about wut we do and my job as a teamleader. The thing is I already have a recommendation from the head of the organization, so would the newspaper article be redundant or still helpful?</p>
<p>Please don't send anything excessive in. With any prestigious award, just list it on your app and make it clear what the award is. Generally, major awards are hard to fake...either you won it or didn't and they are easy to check up on. So usually, adcoms will give u the benefit of the doubt with something like that. </p>
<p>Anyway...if they feel suspicious, they'll check up on it. I really wouldn't worry about having to "prove" it at this stage of the game.</p>
<p>well... I dont live in the US, so I'm not sure they're familiar with our prestigious awards... but anyways, r u saying that I should not send in any certificates at all? wut about the newspaper articles?</p>
<p>I wouldn't send in any certificates or newspaper articles. The common app has spaces for you to list awards+honors. Make clear that they are national awards and leave it at that.</p>
<p>uh... the thing is, one of my awards is not just A national award, but THE national award... its the biggest and most prestigious student award in my country, something like ur intel I think, but for languages...</p>
<p>maybe you could ask your guidance counselor to explain to the university exactly how significant this award is. or you could, in the "additional information" section of the common app.</p>
<p>um... here, we have the next problem. we dont have guidance conselors, ^^... I could list it in the additional information section, but it seems that and "official" person would be more trustworthy... it still amazes me that I dont have to proof the awards and ECs that I list...
btw, I live in Germany</p>
<p>if you feel REALLY nervous about it, call the admissions office and explain your situation and ask if they need proof. also, you'll probably get an interview and at that time, the interviewer will likely give you the opportunity to talk about your award.. and then they will see for sure that you're genuine and really did earn the award.</p>
<p>also, the harvard admissions officers may be familiar with an award that prestigious if you live in germany. they have many european applicants and are thus rather up-to-date on important contests, etc. in europe. i found that to be the case in asia, at any rate.</p>
<p>well thx for ur advice, first of all... I think I'm gonna write them a mail, just to be sure... how did u do it? did u just list them, and left it like that? btw, did u only list major awards, as national/international ones, or also school awards... I received a couple of awards from the american high school that I visited, but I dont kno whether I should list those, I mean they're not that important, r they?
yea about that national award: I kno a Harvard student who has also won the same award, I think he's sophomore now, so I hope that a good omen</p>
<p>hahaha, i totally listed all the awards i won. actually the only awards i received were school academic awards and sports awards but i thought they were important! they were a big deal for me, anyway.
i didn't have your problem because i didn't have any national/int'l awards but the awards i DID win meant a lot to me, especially the sports awards. i think listing something like "most inspirational" or "110% award" says a lot about your character, even if it's not an academic award, yknow? anyway, i was admitted without any national/int'l awards so your award will definitely boost your chances for admissions, i believe.
and yeah. if a current harvard student has won the same award, they are DEFINITELY aware of its significance. do not worry.</p>
<p>in germany, usually students have more access to principals who many times act as the guidance counselors we have in the u.s. so i would strongly suggest you to talk to your principal.</p>
<p>and again, as Everyone who has replied to you have said, Don't send in anything to "prove" that you won something. especially when it's big. neither is it necessary and neither would harvard expect an applicant who gets far in the process to be faking anything. if they want something from you, they'll ask for it.</p>
<p>the common app and the harvard supp app pretty much explains how to present your credentials. listing is fine.</p>
<p>How do u kno so much about Germany? But anyways, I'm sry to dissappoint u, but unfortunately, we dont have more access to principals... I wish it would be that easy, ^^... The only students that have access to the principle r the ones taking his classes, ^^... But oh well... I'll find someone for the job</p>
<p>as i've told you a million times, i'm going to germany and have worked with many people of many different levels and many different school systems. if i didn't know how it was in germany, i wouldn't have pretended i did. i'm pretty sure you have access to your principals in most schools. i don't know about your school though.</p>
<p>**i find your lack of effort very disappointing actually, though it's just an opinion. everything that everyone says you just refute. i don't know why you're asking for our opinions then. you do this on every post you put up. i suggest that you try harder and listen to your peers if you're looking for peer counseling, otherwise, it seems that you know the answers to everything yourself.</p>
<p>did u even understand my posts? I've already solved my problem, I'm not gonna send in the certificates, thats it... the guidance counselor thingy is a whole different affair... and NO, i can definitely tell u that we dont have access to r principal, I've told u "a million times"... lol... btw... i find ur amount of effor kinda annoying, since u post really stupid questions all the time on CC... so much about that... and dont pretend ur this guys who knos all about germany, u have no idea, u've only seen the surface...</p>
<p>i'm not saying i know a lot about germany. and btw - i'm a girl. i think it's very rude of you for saying that i have stupid questions and i think that even in part insults the community who reply to my stupid questions. and you're the one reading them too. and well, i don't know about your school, but from the schools i've worked with, the principals are more than happy to help bright students in their school who have potential and integrity. i can only say that it's unfortuante your school is not like that or maybe it's something else. that was what i was trying to answer for YOU, although obviously you don't appreciate any comments. and i am very well aware it was a different question.</p>
<p>i find you to be The most insulting and obnoxious poster on this entire forum, to the extent of appalling currently. and yes, i will no longer post to try to Help you, which i was really trying to do. and if you ask why i continued to post my suggestions/comments then it's because i tend to be very very pro-humanitarian no matter the person. so be it if you report this as a flame, but i can't find any way to contain my lack of respect and annoyance at you. i'm sorry if You found my previous post upsetting, but i was only try to voice my opinion and give suggestions in the future; but apparently you are hostile toward constructive criticism, of which i'm sure exists in germany and is another indication of your obnoxiousness.</p>
<p>please do not even Reply to this post as i have no desire to argue with you.</p>
<p>dont flame me... I'm not even reading ur post, since I really dont care anymore... this is ridiculous, I dont need to argue with someone on an internet forum... I'm not gonna bother reading ur insults anymore, cos thats the only thing I get from u</p>
<p>well i find that sad, since i've posted numerous times to you. and i did not insult you, in fact i was only saying you how i feel you present yourself, at least to me. and they are not insults, it's constructive criticism. although the obnoxious part is just my opinion of you =) i never said i was going to flame you (?) and yes, i'm not looking for an argument.</p>