<p>In my schools yearbook, we have a senior standout category. My class voted me most likely to succeed. Is this something worthy of the awards section, or should I leave it out?</p>
<p>Thats not an award.</p>
<p>You don't have to leave it out. Maybe include it in your additional info if you're using the common application, but don't put it in the awards section.</p>
<p>It's really not an award. It's a half joke, half serious title that does not prove anything. Remember that Harrison Ford was voted by his class as the person "Least Likely to Succeed"</p>
<p>Academic awards go in the Awards section of an app, not things like this.</p>
<p>why not?? most likely to succeed it might give the admissions officer an insight into what your peers think of you. It would definitely make them smile. If I were you I would also write a humorous off-beat essay around this theme. At least it might be refreshing to read something original and funny, who knows? I heard from someone who got into MIT a few years ago his essay was based on his friends voting him most likely to be admitted to MIT guess what? I heard he got in. So you never know how it might turn out.</p>
<p>I agree with American Desi, colleges want to learn as much as they can about you. That being said, it should still go in additional information.</p>
<p>no not an award. now if the school administration bestowed you with that award, that would be legit</p>
<p>I'd say that's an award, if you can fit it. (It shows how your peers perceive you.)</p>
<p>completely useless</p>
<p>leave it out... it is just a fun yearbook thing...my son voted smartest kid but it is worthless.
but it is nice to know your peers have faith in your skills</p>
<p>There was a general consensus that Homecoming King deserved a mention, so I suppose MLTS could go on an application too. </p>
<p>I was "most cynical" heh..</p>
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why not?? most likely to succeed it might give the admissions officer an insight into what your peers think of you. It would definitely make them smile. If I were you I would also write a humorous off-beat essay around this theme. At least it might be refreshing to read something original and funny, who knows? I heard from someone who got into MIT a few years ago his essay was based on his friends voting him most likely to be admitted to MIT guess what? I heard he got in. So you never know how it might turn out.
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</p>
<p>I can tell you right now that your friend did not get into MIT because he wrote his essay about being voted "most likely to be admitted to MIT". It was because (all else equal) he wrote a very good essay, and is likely a very good writer. It doesn't matter what you write about, it matters how.</p>
<p>It's possible to write something original and funny based on any topic. Some topics are harder than others, but there are good writers out there that can do it.</p>
<p>That said, "most likely to succeed" simply is not the kind of award the "Awards" section of an application is looking for. If you want to put it somewhere on your app, or even in the "Awards" category, go ahead.
But make sure you have a number of real awards in there as well.</p>
<p>Hmm, i think that if you are able to incorporate it into your app in an intelligent way (like somehow in an essay) then it is worth it.</p>
<p>I agree that colleges really want to get to know YOU through your app, and who knows you best? Your peers.</p>
<p>Had the faculty given him that award, if anything, it would mean less. Teachers only really know of your work ethic, while your peers know how you manage your time, how competent you are socially etc.</p>
<p>Mentioning it will help the person reading your app know a little more about you, which can never hurt.</p>
<p>I mean, what do all those math awards people list tell about them? The admissions officer already sees your math grade and your SAT score, but those dont say anything about you on the whole.</p>
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It doesn't matter what you write about, it matters how.
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<p>Style over substance? I think not.</p>
<p>Writing a good essay is most definitely about how you write it.</p>
<p>Hypothetically speaking, I can take the most boring topic in the world and, with a good writing style, turn it into an excellent, interesting essay. "How" you write is most definitely more important, at least when it comes to a college essay or something of the sort, than what exactly you write about.</p>
<p>I guess the "what" does matter in that it must reveal something about you; but apart from that, doesn't make much of a difference.</p>
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Style over substance? I think not.
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You'd be surprised. One of the essays in Harry Bauld's book was about thinking in the bathroom. Celebrian wrote hers on Lord of the Rings, as I recall. You can turn pretty much anything into a great essay if you're a good enough writer.</p>
<p>What a coincidence, I was also recently voted "Most Likely To Succeed" for the yearbook, which I thought was funny/cool at the same time.</p>
<p>
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You'd be surprised. One of the essays in Harry Bauld's book was about thinking in the bathroom. Celebrian wrote hers on Lord of the Rings, as I recall. You can turn pretty much anything into a great essay if you're a good enough writer.
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</p>
<p>Oh, I don't doubt that style is important, because it most certainly is. The words you use, the sentences you construct, the order you place your statements, all constitute style and influence the reader's perception of you. But at the same time, style isn't everything -- substance is just as important. For example, if you choose an anecdote for your essay, adcoms aren't going to want to see just a sophisticated style; they want to see what you learned from it, what you took away from the experience. They're looking for personal qualities, subtle characteristics, like leadership or perseverance and such. In this way, substance is very important, though I agree, if it isn't presented in a sophisticated manner, it probably won't have as powerful an effect.</p>
<p>And yes, you can make an interesting essay out of the most mundane of topics. But I guarantee that it wasn't the frills and flashes that impressed the adcoms enough to accept the person; it was the essay's substance.</p>