<p>Since my kid completed her EA application to Harvard, she has won two additional scholarships (one is $1500 grant for exisitng research publication and a $5000 grant to particpate in an international relation related symposiums). She wants to major in international relation and is active writer. </p>
<p>Does she give her update – Her previous awards list is already three pages long and filled with RSI, and similar high profile awards explained in one or two liners. Or she risk annoying adcom. She (family too) is nervous about her chances. Is it worth it?</p>
<p>My advice is that three pages of high profile activities and awards should be plenty. Plus, it might be a good idea to put this new info aside and then if she happens to be deferred, you have something new and substantial to update the adcoms about for the regular round. That would be my suggestion, and CONGRATS to your daughter on the two new honors!@</p>
<p>I would send a brief letter with the update. At many schools the horse-trading among the adcoms, with applicants coming on and off the accept pile, continues right up until the letters go out. You never know what will tip your D on to the right pile. If it's a significant honor or achievement, I'd make sure Harvard knew about it.</p>
<p>These two awards are first awards from private non-school entity, which happen to be in history and International relation field. These awards actually establish her passion for the major for which she is applying as an economics and international relation major.</p>
<p>Otherwise, she has received most awards in science/math related awards; awards that are based on essay competitions; or debate activities. There are numerous awards that she received based on volunteer related activities or academic achievements.</p>
<p>One award is allowing her to travel for free to attend an international relation submit in Russia. Other option is she can go to an international relation submit in an Arabic country. </p>
<p>Second award is for her passion in journalism field but more related with social sciences. She needs this grant money to carry a social science journal that she started along with another student. She works as high-level editor for one of the oldest school newspaper. In addition, this summer she participated for Yale newspaper along with participating in RSI and other activities. </p>
<p>Marian:</p>
<p>These scholarships are grants which she will be spending before even starting to college.</p>
<p>When my D was applying, she won an award just couple of weeks before the RD decisions were due. I made sure she FedExed a letter to Harvard telling them about it. A couple of weeks later she was accepted. Did that push her over the top? I have no idea, but apparently it didn't hurt.</p>
<p>Newparent: I do not believe it will annoy the adcom. Over and over, the admissions people at Harvard stress that they read everything they receive. My kid wanted to update this time a year ago. She called and asked how best to do it ... email, etc. She was told, don't bother, decisions have already been made for SCEA. So I'd suggest calling and asking if there's still time to send it in. It can't hurt.</p>
<p>Well, newparent, even if it's too late for Harvard to consider these awards, it's great that your daughter has a chance at such interesting opportunities.</p>
<p>here's our D's experience:
during early spring '06, won 2 national 1st Place awards (including an all-expense paid trip to Lib. of Congress!)
we did not update these to any of the RD schools.
(She already had SCEA Yale acceptance)
Probably OK, as she ended up with 100% RD accept to Cornell, Harvard, & Princeton.</p>