<p>Assuming that one has high SAT scores, a good GPA, great essays, etc...</p>
<p>Are 'major awards' important in order for you to be accepted into elite universities? If so, how important?</p>
<p>Does your extracurricular only count for something if you won the National Blah Award and the Scholars Recognition for Blah and so on? For instance, if I enjoy painting, but I am not an artistic prodigy and I don't plan to major in art, does my painting ability become negligible and obsolete to admissions officers?</p>
<p>Can you give me a list of some national awards that are about skills OTHER than math, science, or general academic achievement?</p>
<p>Real-life stories of real-life people's experiences on this matter would be wonderful. :)</p>