<p>1) I've done part time work as a cashier over two summers. I was paid, but I didn't report it on my family's tax returns. I accepted well below minimum wage because I was working for a close family friend, didn't really care about the money, and just wanted to get some experience/knowledge of small businesses. (Though undecided, I am interested in Business as a possible major.) Thus, I decided not to put it on the tax return. So my question is...should I (and can I) put it on college apps under paid jobs? Or should I not, since the tax return says I didn't work...? </p>
<p>2) All these college apps are asking me to list awards that I have obtained throughout my years in hs, except there's one problem...I have none. Absolutely none. I go to a prestigious public hs, but it doesnt give out awards like principal's list or high honor roll, and apparently the school didn't nominate me for any national awards (but I believe it doesn't nominate anyone for that matter). I have no special talent that can get me such awards as the ones relating to piano competitions or the suchlike. I'm applying to some ivies/top 25 USNWR-ranked schools -- will this lack of awards harm my chances? severely? The only "awards" I got were Who's Who and National Honor Roll, but from what I've heard they mean nothing and may even make you look bad on the app (kind of makes you look desperate and like an excuse for having no real awards). SO, what should I do...leave that section black, or put on these bogus awards? And how will this affect me?</p>
<p>1) I caddied and I'm putting that on mine. I was paid "under the table" (directly by the golfers) so no taxes were involved. They would probably assume you were just paid under the table too or something. I don't think as a kid you have to pay income or related taxes anyways...
2) Not sure.</p>
<p>Regarding Awards- what you are being compared against are other students in
your school and within the region that the admission officer dealing with your
app will be considering.</p>
<p>If you are applying to top schools you would need to account for what you do with your
time. Awards are usually an outcome based on passionate pursuit of activities. Schools
are looking for passion and focus in the applicants they choose to admit.</p>
<p>(Who's Who particualrly may come across as a bogus honor)</p>
<p>honor roll is worthless, because its just a repition of your gpa. Really what awards are used for is qualifying your ECs. You can say that you write poetry, but if you have won contests, they will believe that it is a true passion of yours. Its all well and good to say you are on the science whatever team, but if you are captain and leading the team to state level competitions, etc etc, then the eC is more meaningful. If you dont have it, why worry now? too late, no one here can tell you what it will do to your admissions chances, you have to find out by applying.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input guys. I believe that what I l do doesn't need to be confirmed by any awards to show that I love it; I do it because I enjoy it, and I need not receive any formal recognition to tell me that. But all in all, that's probably not what the admissions officers at these top schools would believe. </p>
<p>People in my school and region most likely have awards. Few or plenty, I do not know, but I'm sure they have some. But this is because they have already found their passion and what makes them, them. But I have yet to find my passion and am still exploring many options as well as learning about myself every day. </p>
<p>So, despite it being too late, what should I do? =)</p>
<p>Oh, and any second opinions on if putting a job that was supposedly paid "under the table" on the app is okay?</p>
<p>As a dependent on your parents tax return you would not even have to do a tax return if you earned under the personal allowance (somewhere around $5300 for 2007). You do not have to report your earnings on the families tax return but can do a return in your own name if you either earn over the personal allowance or if you overpaid taxes and want a refund. Usually students who earn below the personal allowance for the year file a return in order to get any tax refunded to them that was deducted from their paycheck. For instance when my daughter was 16 she worked as a lifeguard in the summer - taxes were deducted but she ended up not earning enough for the year to pay any taxes as she earned well under the personal allowance so she filed a return - in her own name - to get the tax refunded to her. </p>
<p>Did your employer deduct taxes? If so you should file to get your refund.</p>
<p>You s/b fine putting the job down on your application.</p>
<p>Thanks swimcatsmom! I earned well below the personal allowance and no my employer did not deduct taxes, so I guess I don't need to worry about it. Thank you for clearing this out.</p>