<p>To me, it would seem like you have nothing else to put under Awards/Honors.</p>
<p>Maybe I don't have perfect attendance, but all my absences are excused absences -- I'm sorry I didn't go to school when I had a 103 fever, or when I had the flu, I didn't want to infect the rest of the school, and I'm sure they appreciated my staying at home. I'm sorry my car broke down that morning junior year, and I was marked "tardy" that once. I'm sorry I had to travel for national school-sponsored competitions, and thus could not attend school on those days.</p>
<p>I show my commitment through the number of hours I've spent on my extracurriculars, and have no doubt that my recommenders will comment on the dedication I show to both my academics and extracurriculars. Even if they don't, it's covered in one of those little check boxes that recommender forms have, isn't it?</p>
<p>Not everyone goes to a school that gives students tons of awards. Or lives in an area where there is opportunity to earn meaningful awards in other venues. Our his doesn't, and other than AP scolar, Scholar Athlete and All League Soccer it's the only award my Sr. D has earned and the only one awarded by the high school. Like Cool Breeze, she really doesn't get sick much and when she does it happens over some "lucky" time like a school break or weekend. She did include perfect attendance and is so far two for two on her admissions.</p>
<p>historymom: congrats on your daugthers acceptances, but its not because of her perfect attendance. She got in because she was probably successful in many areas, not because of the Perfect Attendance Award. I guess you could argue it didnt hurt her though because she got in! Safe to say it didnt help her though.</p>
<p>Good to hear acceptanace, I don't see why so many people on this thread critize the award. It was award due to perfect attendance, and may be a decent way to show/ present yourself to these schools.... what the schools see in perfect attendance ( if they do see something) let them decide. I see no reason to critize it, nor hesitate to place it down on your application even if it was your only award, because it is a award.</p>
<p>I can't believe people actually see it as an award though. The worst students in the world can show up everyday. When i first saw the thread, I found putting the award on a college app to be laughable. I didnt even put the department awards from the school I got (Highest Achievment in AP Gov, AP US, Honors Chem, etc.) because I thought they were irrelevant.</p>
<p>Its just definitely not something I would put on an app to a top school.</p>
<p>Yes even the worst students in the school can get the award... but they wouldn't have grades to make their application even acceptable. That's why I mention even students application as a whole tend to be a waste. I see the award a decent way to show/ present yourself to schools... will it give a boost to your application, probably not. Although to hurt your application, I would be surprise.</p>
<p>If my D won such an "award," I would advise her not to put it down. Same for "Best Dressed" or some such that has nothing whatever to do with actual achievement. Honestly, the first thing that occurred to me was "Eh, that kid got an award for sneezing all over his classmates."</p>
<p>Or never went to the dentist. :)</p>
<p>Seriously, I think it helps not at all and may cause an eye roll or two. If you don't have any awards, just leave it blank and impress with the rest of the app, IMHO.</p>
<p>I would definitely include it. While such an "honor" won't immediately move an application from the "Out" pile into "Admit," it does imply that this student is committed to school and has excellent physical and (probably) mental health. Good health is nothing to sneeze at, so to speak, especially these days when college officials are dealing with ever-increasing numbers of students who are struggling with depression and other mental health issues. Thus, a perfect attendance award sends a subliminal message that proclaims, "Low maintenance."</p>
<p>yes I personally would definitely include it. Why? Many of the kids at my school that have 4.0 or near perfect GPA is because they skipped so many days when they have multiple tests to study, or they take 1 test and then go home then take the rest later. I really see it as them exploiting the system, and it's even more sad how their parents lie to the school and say that they're actually sick.</p>
<p>Like the comment above, I've notice kids at my school doing that as well. Either they get out from taking the large test, or will have to take it later. Taking it later, simply calls up a friend and ask what was on the test.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. I have decided to put it, along with the awards I got from my community service. I see both sides of the issue, but I truly believe it cannot hurt my chances, and it may even help them. I did not ever go to school sick, and if I needed to go to the dentist or doc, I went on Saturday mornings.</p>
<p>Also, I am not a nerd and what's more anti-social, sitting at home alone "taking a day off" or spending a day at school with my friends? In adddition, I go to a private school with a substantial tuition. Every day I take off without a reason is simply money down the drain.</p>
<p>I think it could help you, but colleges can't put absences against you. Many people could just say that you were lucky and you didn't have any circumstances in which you had to be absent. Some people have to miss school because of deaths in the family or other serious instances. It's not just sickness.</p>
<p>Generally people who have perfect attendance are either lucky enough to not get sick, extraordinarily healthy enough to not get sick, or inconsiderate enough to let others get sick. I don't think any of these qualifications help an applicant. Then again, this post is probably an either/or fallacy.</p>