Awards during undergrad - a big role in medical school admission?

[Dreaming big]

Hey,

I was perusing MDapps, and it seems that most applicants have some award or the other which they list. Unfortunately, I have nothing. How big of a deal is this in terms of medical school admission? Do they look for awards or anything?

Thanks,
Dreaming Big

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[armybound]

If it's something incredibly unique and prestigious it might make a small impact, but aside from that I don't see it playing that big of a role.

 

[Marcus Brody]

I won zero awards. I don't think they could really care less.

 

[GoSpursGo]

*shrug* Depends on what it is. If it's the sort of award that just says, "Congrats, you have a high GPA," that doesn't tell them anything new. If it's something like "Most Active in Community Service Award" or something, then that would probably look nice. But not having something isn't going to look unusual to them.

 

[drizzt3117]

Rhodes or Fullbright is a big deal, A random award that few ppl know about prolly isn't.

 

[BlueElmo]

I don't think it matters too much. There are other lots of important EC's.

 

[flip26]

I think these matter more at some schools than at others. They are nice to have - list them - but I wouldn't sweat it too much if you don't have any.

At one of the schools where I was accepted, in the group session before the interviews, the dean noted some of the accomplishments of the applicants, and he mentioned one of my honors specifically. And at most (? all - I can't recall...) of my interviews it was discussed, too.

 

[Catalystik]

Some applicants don't even list this as every applicant has some. Surely you've been on the dean's list?

 

[Dreaming big]

I think these matter more at some schools than at others. They are nice to have - list them - but I wouldn't sweat it too much if you don't have any.

At one of the schools where I was accepted, in the group session before the interviews, the dean noted some of the accomplishments of the applicants, and he mentioned one of my honors specifically. And at most (? all - I can't recall...) of my interviews it was discussed, too.

Could you say what your honor was?


and yes, I have deans list.

 

[GoSpursGo]

and yes, I have deans list.

Right, but that was her point: EVERYONE has that kind of honor, so if everyone has it, it doesn't distinguish you. That kind of thing never tells them something that they didn't already know from looking at your GPA.

 

[searun]

I agree that academic honors matter more at some schools than others. The med school that I attend had a section on its secondary that specifically asked the applicant to list acadamic honors and awards from undergraduate studies. So I put down Phi Beta Kappa and Academic All American in the varsity sport that I played in college. Since this was a distinct section on the secondary, it obviously mattered to the admissions committee of my school.

However, this question was not asked on most of the other secondaries that I completed. So the importance placed on academic honors appears to be school dependant.

 

[Catalystik]

Scholarships and Eagle Scout could go in that designation as well.

 

[Morsetlis]

I'd rather have more publications than honors 😛

 

[Narmerguy]

It's nice to look at but the lack of having any certainly isn't looked down upon.

 

[GlamDoc]

A scholarship could be listed, if that applies.

 

[ThaliaNox]

I mostly skip over awards when I'm reading applications. That's because usually if something is important enough to get an award for, the things you did to get the award are listed elsewhere in your application more specifically. For example, someone mentioned an award for community service. You would have listed the community service in your application too. It's mostly redundancy. Also, if it's purely grade-based, we have your grades. I don't really care what your school thinks is worthy of an award. I'm comparing your work nationwide to other applicants. It's like honor societies... honestly guys, nobody cares about Golden Key or other grade-related honor societies. They're scams which take your money and do you no good.

The only real exceptions to the above are things like Goldwater, Eagle Scout or Fulbright Awards, mainly because of the experiences that go with them. Experiences which I would hope you thoroughly outline for the application.

 

[iFearMCAT]

Wait, wouldn't the Truman, Marshall, Goldwater, etc. set you apart as an applicant?

Those are some rather prestigious awards.

 

[Dreaming big]

Wait, wouldn't the Truman, Marshall, Goldwater, etc. set you apart as an applicant?

Those are some rather prestigious awards.

I think these are considered to a extent

 

[Longshanks]

Wait, wouldn't the Truman, Marshall, Goldwater, etc. set you apart as an applicant?

Those are some rather prestigious awards.

please read the poster directly above you

 

[LizzyM]

Adcoms don't much care. It is more important to know what you did to get the award and that activity goes in the experience section. The only exception might be research being done as part of a Fulbright, etc after the application is submitted. Because you shouldn't include items in the experience section that haven't happened yet, you could list the awarding of the Fulbright or other research grant for research to be done in the future.