<p>Hi, I am extremely interested in economics and finance. I am actively involved in many programs to show my interest in these areas to college. However, I was considering writing a book over the summer. It could be a children's book or a basic "How-to" guide. Does this book have any significant weight on college applications if it does not get published?</p>
<p>Not really unless it’s of a quality level where an outside firm is willing to invest publishing it. That’s the real imprimatur.</p>
<p>(self publishing does not count)</p>
<p>Your writing a book of unknown quality would be akin to someone else painting a work for herself over the summer, again, of unknown quality.</p>
<p>There are a few organizations that recognize/award teen writing - including novels. That is probably a much more realistic avenue than legitimate publication:</p>
<p>[About</a> | YoungArts](<a href=“http://www.youngarts.org/discipline/writing]About”>Teen Writing Contests & Grants | YoungArts Programs)</p>
<p>[Scholastic</a> Art & Writing Awards | Scholastic Art & Writing Awards](<a href=“http://www.artandwriting.org/]Scholastic”>http://www.artandwriting.org/)</p>