What Qualifies To Put In The Awards Section On The Common App?

<p>My s. is using the common app. for most of his applications and there is a large and intimidating box for academic awards. How critical is it if he doesn't really have any? He has made a huge upward swing since 9th grade and I so wish there were an award for that but, there isn't. I mean what really classifies as an award?</p>

<p>Honor roll
Receiving certificate for completing over 200 comm. service hours
being recognized in local paper for fundraiser that he helped to create</p>

<p>Please help,...we are both stumped! If there is anything he can possibly list he really wants to be able to do that. Any one who can outline parameters, we would love to hear what you have to say.</p>

<p>all three that you listed are definitely great to put down. (honor roll might be a little redundant since they wil see your grades)
here;s what I put for your reference:
Alexander Hamilton National Citizenship Award Gold Winner, National Merit, member of Ohio Team for ARML national math contest, top scorer on OCTM Ohio math contest - qualify for OHMIO, American Math Contest school winner, essay published in Ohio Association for Gifted Children Review, Winner of "Imagine If" essay contest, Honda-OSU Math Medal, AP Scholar, Wright State University High School Poetry Contest Runner-up
the thing I don't like is how they limit it to academic honors.
most people (except the people on this forum) will have very little to put here</p>

<p>John, I am impressed, my S does not have those distinct honors to list but if you think what I wrote above is appropriate then I will tell him to list it.....its a tough area to negotiate because the lines are a little fuzzy. Technically comm. service is not academic, but I guess its OK. He would just love to be able to put SOMETHING!!</p>