<p>If you're really proud of the award, put it up, if you're just like, "eh..", definitely don't....</p>
<p>Anyone in admissions who has received health care training will look askance at such an award. Statistically, it is virtually impossible to go 12+ years and not be sick enough to (should) stay home from school. Thus, your "award" means is that you probably went to school sick and you likely infected your classmates and teachers.</p>
<p>School districts should drop this pseudo award; it's just plain silly.</p>
<p>It's obvious that not everyone get this award, yet a fraction does. This shows that there are some students who can go through the school year not being sick on school days, good enough they may have got sick over breaks, weekends, and maybe not even at all.
I don't see it being silly, but that's my opinion ( one who recieved award in 10th grade).</p>
<p>Obviously not everyone gets this award, but I don't think it's worth putting it on an app (coming from someone who has missed 3 days of school total since kindergarten, only 1 of them in high school). There is so much luck/uncontrollable circumstances (susceptibility to illnesses, extenuating circumstances, etc.) involved in attendance that it isn't really that much of an achievement. Yes, it could show motivation, but that is best shown in other parts of the app.</p>
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would a perfect attendance award in Junior year be okay to add to my Common App under the "Awards/Honors" section?
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<p>What kind of colleges are you applying to? What other awards do you have to list?</p>
<p>Well I haven't completed a college application yet ( junior in high school), so it would be hard for me to say where it's best fit ( if there are better fit areas). Although from my understanding, a award would fit right under where they ask for awards. Although I just wouldn't hesitate to list it if you wanted to, I just don't see how it could hurt your chances.</p>
<p>I don't think it really makes a difference either way. All it means is that your body has a good immune system or that you went to school regardless, neither or which is really relevant to the college admissions process. Put it down if you want, but don't expect it to mean much.
On a side note, it's annoying how arbitrary such awards are, especially since half the time parents control whether students go to school. For example, I miss a day or two every year due to a combination of sickness and religious holidays. Does that make me any better than the person who got perfect attendance because they don't follow my religion and didn't pick up any sicknesses? Of course not. But the person with perfect attendance gets an "award". It doesn't MATTER.</p>
<p>Wow, awards are not about who is better than who. It's a acknowledgement/recognition, and perfect attendance would fit fine. I don't think awards you place on your college application has to be only those that will give a boost to your application, though the colleges will determine whether an award you place give a boost or not. I'm not saying perfect attendance award will help you, but certianly wouldn't hesistate to put this award down.</p>
<p>I'm putting it down- and it does matter to some universities. For example if your going to RICE who as a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, professors are very conscious of students attending class and they don't want skipping students. If your applying to such low ratio universities, it is a very vital award</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the input. This is actually my only "award" that I got at my school. I never made honor roll because of French class (honor roll in my school requires that ALL grades must be over 80 for Honorable Mention, 85 for 2nd Honors or 90 for 1st Honors.)</p>
<p>I'm still considering whether I should put it down, because I can see both sides of the arguement. </p>
<p>I don't want to look like some idiot, but on the other hand there is a chance that it would help.</p>
<p>Also, yeah the Perfect Attendance award is a lot about luck. I was sick about 3-4 times last year and it was always during a weekend or a vacation (I was sick on Christmas last year. :(</p>
<p>iambored: think what you will but the Rice admissions officers won't be sifting thru their files and giving an extra "hey look at this" because of the university's prof:student ratio. By your definition, this hugely serendipitous feature indicates a student's academic potential (likely or not to miss class) -- and it simply isn't. You're really reaching here, IMHO.</p>
<p>But list away and best of luck to you w/Rice.</p>
<p>Okay, many people make comments that universities like to see things students do other than just make good grades. Well what else have a student done then making good grades, additional to that have perfect attendance. I think it's very well to list, and something else decent to show/ present yourself to these schools.</p>
<p>tmarch - sit down with your GC and see if you can identify additional "awards" so that your "perfect attendance" is one of the 5 entries on your CA. Awards do not have to be from your school. We you recognized by your church, boy scouts, musical performance, etc. Your GC who knows you may be able to help spot things you have missed. I will change my original position on not listing the perfect attendance. If it would help to fill out your awards section, I would include it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice smoda61. I did receive a "Certificate of Recognition" for volunteering at a hospital.</p>
<p>I think that would be okay to put down.</p>
<p>I think "perfect attendance" is worthless and not even worthy of giving an award for. It serves virtually no purpose. Who cares if you went to school EVERYDAY. As long as you don't have tons of absences you are fine; after that adcoms could care less about attendance. Top students go to school enuogh, thats all you need to know.</p>
<p>And ar31791, i don't think your comment about "top kids not going to school cuz they think they don't need to being annoying...and it wont work in real world" is off base. In my opinion, the top 1-2% at school work hard enough to succeed so if they want to take a meaningless day off here and there and get by with it, by all means they should do it. In the real world, I would say that the top 1-2% of workers/wage earners also have earned the right to take off after they have put in the excellent work to get to where they are...and they often do! If your smarter and better than everyone else, take advantage of the opportunities you have provided yourself (like taking days off when you are capable of doing so)</p>
<p>But back to my original point-- perfect attendance seems irrelevant for a college app. It takes no hard work or excellent skill to achieve it! Just my opinion.</p>
<p>I don't see it worthless, but I'm not saying it will help your chances either. I would list it, and let the school itself decide what it means to them. If they find it worthless, okay then most likely they will overlook it... and see many things worthless all the time ( like a students whole application itself). Although if they were to find it worthless, and it hurted your chances in a way then I would second question the school. Perfect attendance award it just another way to show/ present yourself to the universities.</p>
<p>i still say its worthless...i mean come on, its "perfect attendance"..but yeh i dont guess it will hurt your chances, just wont help at all in my opinion.</p>
<p>its worthless and may even give off a hint of nerdiness.</p>
<p>not trying to be mean here, but what kind of kid doesnt even miss a day of school? that is the weirdest **** i have ever heard of in my life.</p>
<p>9th grade, close to having perfect attendance... but few days got in the way I guess.
10th grade perfect attendance, including no tardies.
11th grade perfect attendance so far, with no tardies.
Do I rush to class? Not at all.
Do I go to school sick? Ofcourse not.
Do I think I'm smart? Yes
Do I socialize with students? Ofcourse
I just think it would be another decent way to show/ present yourself to universities. May not help nor hurt your chances.</p>
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it does matter to some universities. For example if your going to RICE...
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<p>If true, please post a link, any link that shows that Rice cares about HS attendance.</p>
<p>Otherwise, please, please take a Stats class before you leave HS. This is neither correlation, nor causation.</p>
<p>tmarch: Hospital certificate is perfect.</p>