<p>That sounds amazing! I wish I did something that cool. Good luck, aquahobbist!</p>
<p>Question: Everyone talks about "national recognition." This seems like a "duh" question, but what constitutes "national recognition?" I once posted my stats on one of these boards, including my National History Day finalist placement at nationals, and someone said my application really lacked "national recognition." Humph. Being a finalists out of hundreds of thousands of entries. Apparently not good enough. Ha ha.</p>
<p>That is without a doubt national recognition jellybean, but what you have to ask is "Is it important national recognition?" I'm sure it means alot to you, but is it a big deal to the adcoms? I don't know, but I've never heard of national history day, hopefully they have. Examples of so-called "important" nat'l recognition, or maybe prominent is a better word, are National Champion in [insert sporting event] or [Insert Position] with National Symphony Orchestra, etc. etc...</p>
<p>IMO, national recognition is overrated, I bet there are more people at Stanford that arent nationally recognized than those that are. You could think of it as an excuse for people with below-average stats, but I don't agree with that mentality, and odds are at Stanford, those with recognition will have average or better than average stats.</p>
<p>I don't really know where I'm going with this so ill stop writing here</p>
<p>That's a good pount, run4fun. It's not nearly as NEARLY important as Westinghouse or a tennis championship, etc. So I don't think the adcoms will be swooning over it - meaning, it will be just another component of my achievments rather than a selling point. However, I think it's one of those things that shouldn't be discounted completely - NHD is very big in CA. 5 days of state run-offs. Whoo.</p>
<p>Yes, I do too, as much as I hate to admit it. Perhaps it's all about levels. Nationally recognized tennis player > academic competition > professional gumball chewer.</p>
<p>I think it really comes down to how many people hold that same level of recognition. Lets take cross country as an example. I competed in the Footlocker Regional Championships, but placed like 199th...just another face in the crowd. But for the guys that went on to National Championships, about 30 I think, they have a high profile. </p>
<p>Being a National History Day Finalist may be really important if there are only a few people with that distinction. However, I was a National Hispanic Recognition Program Finalist (highest level of achievement), and there are another 2999 people with that distinction, which kind of undermines its importance. </p>
<p>Theres also the "shock-effect" which I imagine comes about when an adcom reads about a person doing an activity they have never, or rarely, hear of. Although it may not be national recognition, I wouldn't be surprised if it carried the same weight. This would include stuff like "propagating aquarium plants" or starting your own fence-building company. </p>
<p>But again, don't worry about it too much, its something that can help you if you have it, but won't hurt you if you don't.</p>
<p>Er, there are probably about 150 finalists (14 per division) out of let's say 400 thousand competitors. Yes, no one has ever heard of it - it's really big in CA, NC, PA, TX, and Iowa, however. Congrats on you awards though! I'm not exactly worried about it in context of "oh, dear, what will they think," but I just thought it was an interesting discussion in context of the national recognition debate.</p>
<p>I agree! I wish I'd taken up aquarium plants. Ha ha! Good luck to all!</p>
<p>Well, I would say that if its big in CA, and there are only 150 finalists out of 400,000...then that is a pretty damn good award to have under your belt applying to Stanford...if you do the math you are in the top 0.0375% of National History Day competitors.</p>
<p>Ha, ha. I didn't do the math. Well, I think it's a pretty good award, again, it just depends on whether or not the adcoms have heard of it. CA has 5 days of run offs and the CA kids are finalists every year. So, I'll cross my fingers and hope they have.</p>