So I was just randomly thinking about this.
In MS (late elementary school for one but they don’t need to know that lol), I won two state awards (two years in a row) for spelling bee, aka I almost qualified for the Scripps National spelling bee. It was televised on the news and everything. High schoolers can’t participate in the bee or I would have kept up with it, but I’ve always loved English/ writing and have gone on to do other things like win scholastic awards (although I’ve actually only gotten an honorable mention so far but that’s ok) and get published in local literary magazines, write on my school paper, etc. would the spelling bee win be a good thing to include on college apps because it fits with a long lasting interest on my application (and maybe a potential major/ either that or polisci) or does it make me look like I’m grasping at straws??
any opinions welcome.
To clarify it was in 5th and 6th grade. I would probably only list the 6th grade one, but maybe I wouldn’t put the year so it would seem less lame
Oh and I was third place in the state! That seems important to mention
They don’t care what you did before high school. On the Common App you can’t even input a year that’s not freshman / sophomore / etc.
That’s weird. I mean I knew that there was speculation that it wouldn’t be viewed as important, but I have read people on this site having full conversations about whether or not to include X random middle school accomplishment, but now you’re saying that that’s not even a remote possibility (I haven’t looked @ the Common App)
You could stick it in “Additional Information” or something but it’s seriously not worth it. Small potatoes.
Same topic on this page. Read this.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1991634-mentioning-awards-from-middle-school.html#latest
Alright. Fair enough. Thanks everyone!
You may mention that in your essay or in the addition information section. It should not be listed in 5he award and achievement section as that is for high school years only.
Maybe if you actually competed in Scripps but “almost qualified for Scripps” doesn’t really seem worth it.
If you won the Scripps spelling bee I’d find a way to include it…other than that no.
Yeah, even if you’d made the final round at Scripps I’d find a way to work it in. But don’t think it belongs in otherwise.
My daughter participated in the 2013 National Spelling Bee as an 8th grader. It was her 4th attempt and every year prior to Nationals she competed against 165 other spellers at the regional level. Each year she improved (30th, 7th, 4th, 1st). She wrote in her Common App essay about her perseverance throughout her 4 years of competition and its lasting impact throughout high school - now 2nd in her class. I know that topic has been handled before, but her essay was honest. She applied to 11 universities and was accepted into all 11, directly into the colleges of engineering and several Honors colleges (U of Washington Honors, George Washington Honors, etc). My point is, yes, I agree “almost competing at Scripps” is not the same, but if you learned something from your middle school experiences which had a genuine impact, and your essay is honest and not trite, you could discuss those achievements, or maybe lack thereof in your essays.
^^^^Yes, as noted in a recent similar thread, hopefully your accomplishments in middle school wee a springboard for further accomplishments in HS. But as a stand alone accomplishment, it should not be included in a college application.
The exception would be if you made Eagle Scout in middle school, as one kid on this site did. That’s an honor that means something for life, so it should be included in his application.
^ Still, it cannot be listed as achievement in high school. Just put it in the additional information section.