<p>Hey guys, I was wondering which academic honors I should list on my Common App. I have been named a National Merit Semifinalist, which I'm definitely listing. But I was wondering between some of the other ones. I have also gotten AP Scholar with Distinction, which I believe is technically a national award, but I feel that many students probably get that. I have gotten a Wellesley College Book Award, awarded from my school's English department, Exemplary Interest in Science (school science department award), Academic Achievement in French (similar to Exemplary Interest in Science), and I've won first place at my regional science fair in the Earth and Space Sciences category. I was the only one who received the book award last year, and only two students in each grade at my school get a department award (my Science and French awards). Any suggestions for which ones I should list, since I can only list five?</p>
<p>I’d skip AP Scholar and go with NMSF, Wellesley (I got that too, way back when!), Science, French, and science fair. Good luck!</p>
<p>You don’t need to list AP Scholar with Distinction - which is essentially awarded for taking a certain # of AP classes. That can simply be seen by looking at your transcript.</p>
<p>The value of your awards descending:</p>
<ol>
<li> AP Scholar (passing 5 AP tests and averaging 3.5 is superior to a single high score PSAT test)</li>
<li> NMSF</li>
<li> Regional science fair</li>
<li> Wellesley college book</li>
<li> French</li>
</ol>
<p>If you received any scholarships from anyone, they will top any of the awards already listed.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input guys! I’ll certainly take your comments into consideration. I also wanted to add that I’m in National Honor Society. Should I put that as an honor, and list my science fair award in my activities description (I have researcher/competitor as my second ranked activity on my activity list)? Or vice versa, in which I put my science fair award in honors and list NHS in activities? I’m just worried about looking impressive enough because I’ve never participated in a physics, chemistry, math Olympiad, etc. I’ve won some awards in my extracurriculars (many of which are academic) but nothing too impressive and I just put those awards under those categories, so I’m nervous. </p>