I am an international schooler from South Korea, and I am just wondering if major awards here count as national or regional awards.
For example, I won an NHD award(1st place) and I don’t know whether to put it down as a national or regional in the app(South Korea’s competitions are very competitive btw - idk if this is important)
List the regional award and let the university decide its weight.
hmmm… Is it considered regional then? That sucks… Korea’s competitions are really competitive though: much more than a normal state competition- will this be factored in? Thanks!
How do you know that these competitions are more competitive than a state competition in the States?
Well, I think that since East Asians are discriminated against in the US, I guess that just shows that us Asians are geniuses right:) - jokes aside, all of the kids here do focus all of their efforts into academics(10 hours a day - verifiable source), which makes it almost impossible to win academic awards, although it is admittedly easier to win sports based ones(I guess? - pro level is really high though as well).
Bump!
We’ve told you before: if it’s a competitive but regional award, it’s still a regional award. With thousands of Koreans applying to American universities, colleges are well acquainted with Korea’s education system. They will see an attempt to portray a regional award as a national award for what it is: misleading resume padding. It will NOT reflect well on your application. Honesty is the #1 requirement to get into an American university.
^^^^ @katliamom is absolutely correct
Then why in the world would you want to attend a US university?
You seem to believe that:
-US schools discriminate
-US students never study
-US students aren’t bright enough to compete in academic competitions
and only do sports
-lying on the application will give you an advantage
You wouldn’t fit in at a US university.
Don’t bother to apply. Your biases and preconceived ideas would flagrantly come across on your US applications and with other students.
“all of the kids here do focus all of their efforts into academics.”
-Not colleges’ problems. There are bunch of poor AMERICAN students who still manage to get 4.0 GPA and national awards. Stop crying. Just because you study 12+ subjects for final exams doesn’t mean American students are academically inferior.
“Admittedly easier to win sports.”
-LOL at your statement. These athletes recruits literally practice ALL DAY for colleges’ sport profit. You are very wrong if you think a few kicks into soccer nets can get you scholarship.
If you are this entitled and prejudiced, I sincerely hope colleges see through your vanity.
Um… I am sorry if I came off like that, but that is definitely not what I meant.
US schools do discriminate, they use affirmative action(Are you denying this?). Besides, I followed that sentence by saying that it was a joke. I understand that I need to try much harder as an Asian International, and that is what I intend to do as well.
I never thought that American students never study. I saw many bright students from the US, and I respect all of them. However, I was just wondering if the award should be a national award because a larger population(50 million people in Korea) participate and most of them have tiger moms that push them to their limits.
I am not saying that the award should be valued more because Koreans students are superior compared to their American counterparts. I am saying that because it is literally a national award(yes, Korea is a country) and wondering if it should be considered as so. For example, I also have a KMO award(Korean Mathematics Olympiad). Does this count to the same level as a USAMO participation?(I have a gold medal). Does a Vex Robotics 1st place count more here(more people participate with ferocious competitiveness)? Those are the questions I am asking.
I mentioned sports because I am in varsity tennis although I am not that good… I’m just making a comment that Korean students are one of the most academically focused students in the world(except perhaps for Singapore or Japan). I am not looking for scholarships or anything. I respect(idolize) American students(a few I am well acquainted with through the Ross Summer Program) who commit both to sports and academics.
I don’t think I have biases that might come off wrong to the US admissions committee. Is it wrong to state a national award in my country as what it is? That was the question I was asking.
That is very degrading. Read the comment I wrote above. I never said that Americans are academically inferior. I also met such kids through various summer programs(Ross, Jerome Fischer etc)
I never said anything about sports scholarships. I meant that I believe that sports awards here should not be valued on the same level as their American counterparts(except on pro level) because I understand the difference of commitment of the two countries.
I understand that I was a bit vague, but that does not justify your rude attitude.
If you won against students in your region only, it’s regional. If you won 1st place in all Korea, it’s national.
Not sure I get the confusion.
Colleges will know the KMO, no need to compare it to anything in the US. Whether it helps your college apps in the US depends on more.
Yes, thank you!! 
I won first place in all of Korea and was wondering how it compared to national awards in the US.
Actually, yes.
FWIW: The public schools in California cannot use affirmative action to admit students. It is against the law in the State of California. Look it up. A number of states also include this in their admissions. Private schools can choose to admit whomever they want.
I know that. But the UCs are an exception rather than the norm. All of the private schools use affirmative action(and my dream schools are Stanford and Columbia)
Yes. The schools use affirmative action in recognition of the inequities in American society that have held back women, people of color and the poor for 400 years. If you have a problem with that, you should NOT come to America for your higher education.
I don’t have a problem with Affirmative Action. I think it is necessary(but a socio-economic system of rewarding people from poor families would have been better). I know that it serves to minimize current inequalities and also as a compensation for the years of discrimination. I was just commenting that I know that I need to work harder.
Am I offending anybody? Why am I receiving such derogatory comments not to go to my dream schools? Is affirmative action a taboo on this site?
Also, since you bring the topic up(I didn’t want to go too deep about this controversial topic but…), weren’t Asians also discriminated against(at least compared to people of American/European descent)? Why are we penalized and not rewarded?
The US schools do not need another student who has elitist, archaic, and narrow-minded ideas about who deserves to get in and who doesn’t, and what universities should/shouldn’t do for preferential treatment. These are universities funded by US dollars and taxes. Your parents haven’t paid US taxes for years. These schools do not need to accept everyone who applies. They barely have room for domestic students.
You’ve stated how academically strong your country’s colleges are. Agreed, so you should continue your education in your country since our US universities won’t measure up to your standards.
Your attitudes and padding will come through loud and clear on your responses.
“Why are we penalized and not rewarded?” Who’s the “we” ? You’re an international student and this country owes you no “reward.”
“Am I offending anybody?” You have attitudes toward Affirmative Action which may be interpreted as condescending or critical - and yes, offensive.
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