<p>Is representing India at an International Olympiad but not winning an award considered to be prestigious?</p>
<p>If its an IMO and IPhO or ICT related thing then yes
However that alone won’t guarantee anything</p>
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<p>Ok so I’ll put this as diplomatically as I can: Why would they accept losers when they can accept winners? </p>
<p>Simply participating means you need to at least have done well in your regional olympiads. Now that helps slightly, but it is definitely not considered as ‘prestigious’ as winning an International one. </p>
<p>Anyways, If your HS career has been focused on academics and very little else, winning an International Olympiad would be what you need to get into HYP or get aid from S and the rest of the Ivies. However, if you have other interests and other ECs, focus on doing something noteworthy in them, and avoid Olympiads. You don’t need an IMO medal to get in.</p>
<p>indian2011, be proud of your achievements. Don’t ever think of yourself as a loser just because you didn’t win an award. Trust me, participation does count if it shows your passion for the subject.</p>
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<p>Not “passion” again…</p>
<p>Making it into the international group, which consists of the 5 brightest personas of a country, is impressive. It adds kudos when you bring back the trophy. However, I rather think that there is a far greater experience than holding a materialistic trophy that enshrines your achievement. It is the people you meet during your journey to the international platform. If someone happens to trip and not make it, that does not mean that they are by any chance failures. Perseverence is the noteworthy treasure that is built throughout the experience and if you are willing to portray this, then you are able to convince ppl that you are human. And only a human can inspire other humans. 
So may it be an international goal or a provincial one at that, you should never forget the hard core meaning of the activity and learn that you can only win if you have learned to lose.</p>
<p>Livulife, I love your posts. Please keep them coming!</p>
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Yes. Duh. 
To reach the international level, you have to have done well in the national selection and have attended one of those prestigious 1 week coaching camps at the Homi Bhabha center etc.
A national academic achievement (that too from india) outstanding dude. Losers?
One of my major ECs was dance in which I stated only two awards, that too only from the dance school I attended. Only passion in the essay showed through I guess.</p>
<p>Hey, but don’t all participants at the international olympiads get a medal (bronze/silver/gold) depending on how well they’ve solved the problem? I thought that’s how it was. Which olympiad are you talking about?</p>
<p>EDIT: Anyway, all the OP is asking is if the award is prestigious or not for college admissions. He’s not asking if it’s a guarantee of admission or debating whether the experience was more important or the award. Good lord, we are great at trailing off the topic lol. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>PS: It’s tippu. :)</p>
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<p>“Losers” was harsh. But, just saying, the actual winners will be applying to. Wouldn’t the colleges just take them instead if their application has the same focus as OP’s?</p>
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<p><em>confused</em></p>
<p>Anyways, imo, “Passion” is so freaking over-rated. OP, just be interesting. </p>
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<p>LOL. My first post was on-topic. And then this came along: “Don’t ever think of yourself as a loser just because you didn’t win an award.” And after that, liveulife’s impassioned post on “materialistic trophies” and, well, you can read the rest. :)</p>
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Experiences do matter more than winning; otherwise, we would forget about how they altered and enhanced our personalities. The tone of the OP is somewhat condescending (from my POV), and I am only iterating that getting to the IO is special enough. Contemplating about how it isn’t special…is just childish. This only translates to me that the OP has neither tried nor felt the exhaustive trials of getting to make the national team in the first place. Thus, it is highly appropriate to inform him to focus on his journey…rather than how he actually made the team (which could be a reality or who knows). The OP should not be discouraged from writing a college essay about his loss (had he experienced one). Admissions cares more about your personality, than an agressive and self-centered individual boasting about how he won trophies at almost every single section of his life. And although someone has had such good luck through hardwork, the achievements are supposed to be expressed by a down to earth tone that has traveled worlds.
I am sure that the OP is asking his question for college admission, so it is only proper to give head way to the implications he has made here at the site, since this is where ppl ask advices for how to get into college in the first place. 
And I am sure that I am on topic as well, as I have made my clear speech…even clearer.</p>
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<p>I don’t think that’s true. I wish it were, but i really don’t think it is.</p>
<p>^ well i guess ppl have their own opinions lol. </p>
<p>However, I hope you didn’t skip the important parts of my statement by placing the […]
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<p>Adding context makes a big difference ;)</p>
<p>^ LOL. The context you inserted is an apt description. :D</p>
<p>Guys, thanks for all your replies. But, I feel that everybody is restricting their thoughts about the Olympiads only to science or math. What about other olympiads like linguistics?</p>
<p>^ Is this IOL?</p>
<p>A person named Aakanksha Sarda won silver medal representing India in 2009. In case you didn’t know, she at MIT now.</p>
<p>IOL sounds very interesting! Tailor made for wannabe CIA/Mossad agents. ;)</p>
<p>^ tailor-made.</p>
<p>^that is correct. But, she did win a silver medal, didnt she? We are talking about representing but not winning at an Olympiad.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about not winning. Did you understand what Liveulife & pxie were trying to tell you? How did you get into the Indian team?</p>
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[quote=PrincetonDreams]
“Losers” was harsh. But, just saying, the actual winners will be applying to. Wouldn’t the colleges just take them instead if their application has the same focus as OP’s?<a href=“wasn’t%20losers%20was%20%22as%20diplomatic%20as%20you%20could%20get%22?%20:p”>/quote</a>
A national achievement is a very significant addition to the application, no matter what. This is indisputable. It’s given nowhere that OP only has that sole prize under his belt so let’s not make assumptions.
The key is to be impressive and have passion. Agreed?
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Err. Did you even read what you quoted before launching into that big post? There’s nothing to suggest that the OP is the sort of dispassionate, merit hungry individual that you describe! What we’re trying to say is that while what you said is impressive and everything, it was unasked for! Agreed that passion and experience gained from an ECA is just/more important than the award, but um…why are you even talking about that here? The original question isn’t even asking that.
Really? OP said one line. OP has three posts. How did you gauge that</p>
<p>And indian2011, didn’t you read and understand what the posters wrote? We’ve already answered you. Your posts seem to suggest that you haven’t really gone through any oly at all.</p>
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<p>LOL. I wish I had the attention span to even go through one of his posts.</p>
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<p>OP’s just interested in asking the same ■■■■■■■■ question over and over again.</p>
<p><a href=“wasn’t%20losers%20was%20%22as%20diplomatic%20as%20you%20could%20get%22?”>quote</a>
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<p>It actually was. :D</p>
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<p>Of whom? Me? If so, I’m flattered. :)</p>