Where to Put Significant Middle School Achievement?

Applying to College
1

<p>I went to the National Spelling Bee in sixth and seventh grade (skipped eighth, so was not eligible for a third year). Both years I placed in the top 30.</p>

<p>I think that, while no USAMO or Intel STS, it's something that has made me a more interesting person, and could be a fun thing to put on college apps to distinguish myself. </p>

<p>However, apart from putting it into an essay (something I most likely will not do-I have had some more significant character-building experiences since then), I have no idea where to put it on my application. It feels kind of weird to just stick it in "Additional Info" without explanation.</p>

<p>Can I put it in the "Awards and Honors" category, even though it's not an award since 9th grade?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>No, you can't. It has to be 9th grade and above. Middle school stuff doesn't count in admissions at all.</p>

3

<p>Middle school achievements are typically not of much value for
college applicatins - what was the applicant doing the ensuing 4
years?</p>

4

<p>Unless you convey it in your essay (that focuses on OTHER things), ...no.</p>

5

<p>Sometimes, colleges will only want to see sophomore year and up (Stanford's application before it switched over to the Common App requested you to list accomplishments 10th grade and up). Middle school accomplishments really shouldn't be listed. Perhaps if they were big accomplishments, you might make passing mention in the additional info section. Or if it shows a continuing focus of your application (say, a passion of yours).</p>

6

<p>Unless the spelling bee was a precursor to some other notable achievement, I'd leave it out. Otherwise it may seem to the adcom that the biggest accomplishment of your educational career happened in MIDDLE school -- and that you handn't done anything significant since...</p>

7

<p>burnitblue, I'm PMing you.</p>

8

<p>Am I the only one who thinks that the Spelling Bee thing is cool and totally worth mentioning?</p>

9

<p>My D. also had some national level middle school achievements before we moved to another city for high school. Her middle school activities really showed a creative side of her that wasn't obvious in high school, so it was hard to let go of them when filling out college applications. She did put the awards on her resume, since they were significant, but there really wasn't anywhere for them on the Common Application.</p>

10

<p>top 30 is a national spelling bee sounds worth mentioning, even if it was in middle school.</p>

11

<p>i would like to see a documentary on the lives of spelling bee wizes twenty and thirty years later.</p>

<p>interesting</p>