Academic Awards in school

[biomed1010]

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Whats up fellas,
I was wondering: I won a couple of Biology and Physics awards. You basically finsh in the top 2% of your class, and you get this cool award.

Is it impressive to put stuff like this in your application, or is it considered redundant since they know you got A's in those classes?

 

[TooMuchResearch]

If it's a fairly rare award, then it's probably worth mentioning. Since I am assuming more than 2% get As, not everyone that gets an A gets the award. Is it as cool as...I don't know...winning a Nobel? No, but I don't think it will hurt you.

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

I'd throw it on there...they might ask you in an interview about WTH it is and you get to explain to them your academic achievement in core sciences...doesn't sound like a bad conversation to me...

 

[236116]

Not outstanding unless it's some national competition.

 

[binko]

I'd list it. If they don't care, they'll skip over it.

 

[AdmiralChz]

I'd list it. If they don't care, they'll skip over it.

👍👍 Definitely can't hurt if you list it, so go for it.

 

[235009]

list them...but just don't list each one as its own AMCAS EC....group them together under one EC called "Awards" and then write them out in the description

 

[vokey588]

How valuable is Phi Beta Kappa? Not in terms of importance vs. MCAT, GPA, extras, etc. But given two very similar candidates, how influential could Phi Beta Kappa be?

 

[Spiker]

Even if two canadiate only differ by PBK there is no way they are going to do exactly the same on interview, and that would be way more important than PBK I would guess.

 

[AdmiralChz]

How valuable is Phi Beta Kappa? Not in terms of importance vs. MCAT, GPA, extras, etc. But given two very similar candidates, how influential could Phi Beta Kappa be?

Much more valuable than the other "honor societies" - Golden Key, etc...

What the poster above said is right: there are no "all things being equal" candidates. Your essays, ECs, GPA/MCAT, and personal skills will set you apart from each and every applicant.

 

[biomed1010]

Appreciate the responses... thanks guys

 

[horo1988]

I dont really see the point of this thread. If you can throw out something that can make you look better or just the same, then why not?

Even if it is just a tiny award like ... "My son is a honor student of blah blah blah" ... its still an award after all, still good to throw out

 

[flip26]

Whats up fellas,
I was wondering: I won a couple of Biology and Physics awards. You basically finsh in the top 2% of your class, and you get this cool award.

Is it impressive to put stuff like this in your application, or is it considered redundant since they know you got A's in those classes?

What else are you planning to put on your app? Are you actually considering not putting it? Of course you are putting it, so why the questions?

Is it impressive? Maybe yes, maybe no, depending on where you went to undergrad. If at MIT, well hell yeah it is impressive...

 

[slight365]

Absolutely mention it! What I learned speaking to several deans of admissions for different programs is that, in general, they look towards the highest students in any school, if possible. While across the board, it may not be equivalent when speaking of tiers of schools, it is somewhat diagnostic and needs to be mentioned. Simply put, if you do extremely well in one school, there's a strong correlation you would do well in another school and it also indicates motivation and the ability to actually study the material.

I've received Math GPA awards, Biology awards that gave me NIH scholarships and research grants, service awards, and academic GPA awards. They can and will get you an edge over others. At the least, they absolutely WILL NOT HURT you.

Being a top student in a class, no matter how minimal, can get you further than someone who doesn't have such a rexognition. You never know how they will go. Sometimes they will side with the school that such an award is something to be proud of. Hell, I only shot for 91-93's just in case I got an 88 or 89 or something. I didn't care about the extra points, and that might even have put me out of the top 2%, so I know how much that more work that requires.