*Reboot-ish* list of Ranked, Prestigious Awards.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
61

<p>I think that if all u get out of boy scouts is an eagle award, it should be a 6/7 max (it still takes at least 4 years to get and there are a whole bunch of other things u have to do besides your project) but I think that it would only mean something to the admissions if u got other BSA awards and honors with an eagle. There are ALOT of eagles, but few of them have high grades/tests and in our troop, some amazing projects get an award from the mayor and accolades from Obama and such.</p>

<p>Another question, where would u Put founding a charity (I haven’t made one, I am just wondering). </p>

<p>I think u should add president of a large club (NHS, csf, robotics, etc.) to 4/5 cause I’d imagine it does take a fair amount of dedication and service to get chosen.</p>

62

<p>I disagree - often president titles are pretty meaningless, so I would put them no higher than a 3</p>

63

<p>The problem with ranking “founding a charity” is that the actual work is rarely done by the teen. For one thing, nonprofits in most states require a board of a minimum of 3 adults over 18. Some states specifically ban kids from serving on nonprofit boards. No adult in their right mind is going to serve on a board of an organization whose paperwork has not been thoroughly vetted and all this takes time. For another thing, founding a nonprofit takes money, both money to file the legal paperwork and seed money to get the organization started. </p>

<p>In my experience in most cases it goes someone like this:
“Hey, Lawyer Dad, i want to start a nonprofit because I’d really like to help sick kids and I make these fun bracelets and I even have a cool name for it! Besides, it’ll look great on college applications!” Lawyer Dad then goes out and writes up the articles of organization, bylaws, IRS application, etc., etc.,etc., has them all checked by his buddy in the nonprofit group, buys a domain name and website hosting, signs himself, Mom, and another adult family friend up as the board, deposits a check into the bank account he’s opened and turns it all over to the kid. Six months later junior has tired of making bracelets and his or her passion has cooled. Besides, the kid is going off to college anyway, and who has time for this stuff with a full load of college classes?</p>

<p>The ARE kids who found meaningful nonprofits but in my experience they’re few and far between.</p>

64

<p>I think you should change ISEF (1-4) from being an 8. </p>

<p>I think places 1-2 should be a 9 because last year, there were 109 people in all categories who received a first or second place award. From these, unlike in STS or Siemens, all were not juniors in high school (planning to apply to college this year, I know STS/Siemens people are seniors, but they are applying to college during the announcements). It is really impossible to tell, but assume 1/3 of the ISEF winners were juniors. That gives 37 people with a first or second place award, which is less than the 40, who receive STS finalist. Also, I want to feel important with a 9 :)</p>

<p>I think ISEF best of category should probably be a 10 because there are 17 categories, and if you assume at most half were juniors, about to apply to college, then that leaves 9 people, less than the top 10 STS finalists. Also, I think the ISEF top 3 should just be taken out because that would be like 1-2 people each year, who are going to apply to college that fall. This year, I know at least 2 of the top 3 are not applying to colleges this fall, and the best of category being here would replace this.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I think places 3-4 are in the right spot at 8. However, I would not put ISEF finalist as a 7, I would probably do 6. As someone said earlier, this is often a regional decision, and while the vast majority of finalists have done solid research, there are still a few that aren’t so great.</p>

<p>Also, you put publication in Nature/Science as a 10, but I would put publication in some other journals as a 10, and quite a few more as a 9. </p>

<p>I know this doesn’t really matter, and this is just my opinion, but based on the numbers, I think those changes would make sense. It doesn’t make a ton of sense to me to group the top 8 or so people with the top 150-250 people (assuming from the same grade).</p>

65

<p>^Agree with this post. Nature Science pubs are practically impossible for undergrads, let alone HS kids. </p>

<p>I’d also add Cell as another important journal.</p>

66

<p>The Duke of Edinburgh award should be added. It’s pretty easy but still has some prestige.</p>

67

<p>Ok, i just want to note that there is not much difference between the scholastic gold and silver medals when you’re at that high of a level, so they should be consolidated into 7. I think the 8 gold award should be replaced with portfolio silver or silver with distinction (~100 students). 9 should be the level of a portfolio gold which are given out to 16 students (seniors) annually. :)</p>

68

<p>Are Scholastic regional keys/honorable mention even worth making this rank of awards? I think it’s like top 10% for gold key (15% for silver?) compared to around top 0.3% for gold medal…</p>

69

<p>in my experience, the regional awards for scholastic would be a 2 or 3</p>

70

<p>For scholastics everything depends on the category, because some are extremely competitive / subjective-- art in general, drawing and painting in particular-- while others are new and quality is lower (comic art and video games). in my region they gave out 30 art gold/silver keys for 6 counties, for example, and like 70 for writing. </p>

<p>and it’s usually easier to get an award with a regional affliate. so yeah, we’re trying to generalize things that have so many little nuances to them.</p>

71

<p>Where would you place winning State science fair Grand Prize? ($5,000~) Prereq is winning grand prize at regional, of course.</p>

72

<p>I think that would go to the regional area.</p>

73

<p>Club president I think varies. Lots of presidents don’t do much, but I think if a prrsident puts in enough hours a week, then it is worth a 4/5.
Also in my experience for speech and debate, ncfl is easier to qualify to go but harder to make it far once you get there. That’s just how it is in my area though. Winning your event at nationals is a pretty big deal though. Nationals starts with hundreds of kids in each event that are all already winners and really good. I’d put finaling at nationals an 8 and winning a 9, because it’s difficult and because good public speaking skills look great in a college’s eyes, especially if the college has a good debate team that needs new members. Qualifying can be a 5-7 depending on how competetive your region is.</p>

74

<p>@apollo: that seems unlikely xD</p>

75

<p>It’d definitely be a state to national level accomplishment. Obviously it varies depending on what state/city you hail from (Alaska is easier to do well in than say…NY), but it’s a great accomplishment :)</p>

<p>6.5-8.5, depending on what your project actually was.</p>

76

<p>Thanks Ecouter(: Makes me feel better LOL~!</p>

77

<p>How about the Ayn Rand Essay Contest Winners? There are usually over 25,000 participants, only 1 First Place award, 5 Second Place Award, 10 Third Place Award. I think this should be added and rated as 8. There are lots of finalists and semifinalists, maybe rating 6 or 7?</p>

78

<p>What about FBLA state and national awards? For some reason everyone is avoiding this.</p>

79

<p>May I ask why a 1st place on an NJCL exam is only a 5?
And by 1st place, do you mean 1st in division (which is only moderately difficult to achieve) or a high score on the exam (meaning you have the highest score out of all divisions, which is a quite the challenge and is considered an honor by the NJCL)?</p>

<p>Also, on the subject of JCL, how would the following Latin awards rank?

  • NJCL Certamen MVP
  • NJCL Certamen 1st/2nd/3rd place
  • NJCL Academic Decathlon winner
  • NJCL AcDec 2nd/3rd/4th/5th place
  • Harvard Certamen MVP or 1st place</p>

<p>(For the Certamen, assume Advanced Division)</p>

80

<p>FBLA depends on where you live. Awards at nationals are pretty tough to get, so maybe 8-9, and state awards…meh. I used to live in NY, which has hardcore FBLA people and my HS barely studied and we won a lot still, so, I don’t know. 6.5-8?</p>

<p>(When I mean barely studied, I mean: study the subject the day before the test for an hour).</p>