Do grants count as honors/awards?

[fas376]

I received a ton of grants and scholarships each year so I was thinking about including it. I've heard mixed opinions - some say include it, while others say no. What are your thoughts?

Note: TMDSAS has a separate tab for awards/scholarships/honors/academic recognition.

For example, this is from the first semester of my freshman year:

James A. Bush Scholarship 1,500.00
Texas Public Education Grant 332.00
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant 375.00
TEXAS Grant 2,585.00
Federal Pell Grant 1,380.00

Thoughts?

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[Aerus]

I received a ton of grants and scholarships each year so I was thinking about including it. I've heard mixed opinions - some say include it, while others say no. What are your thoughts?

Note: TMDSAS has a separate tab for awards/scholarships/honors/academic recognition.

For example, this is from the first semester of my freshman year:

James A. Bush Scholarship 1,500.00
Texas Public Education Grant 332.00
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant 375.00
TEXAS Grant 2,585.00
Federal Pell Grant 1,380.00

Thoughts?

Generally, I follow the rule that, if I won some kind of contest, I count it as an award. If I achieved something amazing and was recognized, I would count that as an award.

Getting grants because of financial need is NOT an award. What part of this made you think that it was? Because you're poor, you've achieved something?

If you received ANY money based on financial need (or partly based), I would not count it. If it was 100% academic merit based, I would still be safe and not put it. Only put it if there was a non academic/financial need aspect of winning money, like you won this international contest for a design and received a $10,000 grant or something. That would be suitable as an award.

 

[fas376]

Generally, I follow the rule that, if I won some kind of contest, I count it as an award. If I achieved something amazing and was recognized, I would count that as an award.

Getting grants because of financial need is NOT an award. What part of this made you think that it was? Because you're poor, you've achieved something?

If you received ANY money based on financial need (or partly based), I would not count it. If it was 100% academic merit based, I would still be safe and not put it. Only put it if there was a non academic/financial need aspect of winning money, like you won this international contest for a design and received a $10,000 grant or something. That would be suitable as an award.

Didn't have to be so harsh, but I see what you're saying.

But grants such as 'Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant' are based on your academic performance. Still a bad idea to include?

 

[Aerus]

Didn't have to be so harsh, but I see what you're saying.

But grants such as 'Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant' are based on your academic performance. Still a bad idea to include?

I wasn't being harsh. Welcome to reality.

Usually, academic grants (unless something truly amazing like the Rhodes Scholarship or something like that), are on quick sand territory and research should be done to see if you really get the "I achieved something great!" feel or the "I got this because I'm smart and poor" feel.

But, to answer your question, anything with "Federal Grant" in it shouldn't be an award. Even if you somehow can include it, it might make yourself seem desperate, like you're trying to make your list longer. Just be safe and don't list purely academic grants unless it's a huge thing.

 

[Frazier]

Getting grants because of financial need is NOT an award. What part of this made you think that it was? Because you're poor, you've achieved something?

I like your style.

 

[Morsetlis]

No need to get all over the guy. It's two different concepts using the same word; the confusion is understandable.

 

[Ebola4Breakfast]

I received a ton of grants and scholarships each year so I was thinking about including it. I've heard mixed opinions - some say include it, while others say no. What are your thoughts?

Note: TMDSAS has a separate tab for awards/scholarships/honors/academic recognition.

For example, this is from the first semester of my freshman year:

James A. Bush Scholarship 1,500.00
Texas Public Education Grant 332.00
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant 375.00
TEXAS Grant 2,585.00
Federal Pell Grant 1,380.00

Thoughts?

I'm not sure how TMDSAS does it, but for AMCAS I was able to group my scholarships/grants. I grouped the less impressive scholarships together into a single category. Particularly impressive awards got their own category followed by a careful explanation of the award. This allowed me to list all my scholarships without looking like I was merely taking up space. Don't include scholarships or grants that are only based on financial need.

As for not listing less impressive scholarships, I strongly disagree. If students only listed impressive accomplishments, most applicants would have a blank application. At the end of the day, it's your choice. Take any emphatic advice on SDN with a grain of salt.

 

[ccrone]

Ah. When you used the word "grant," I thought you meant that you'd secured research funding, or something to that effect. On my CV, I list the types of money you mentioned (ie, merit-based tuition grants) as "merit scholarships." If the merit scholarship(s) you received are big awards with lots of cache, I'd definitely include them on your AMCAS. If they are more modest, it's a tougher call.

Oh, heck--include your merit-based tuition grants. An award is an award. Make yourself look good. Leave no stoned unturned; include everything that bolsters your standing.

Except, don't call them grants. I promise you an admissions committee will think the same thing I did when they see the word "grant" being used.

 

[theseeker4]

Generally, I follow the rule that, if I won some kind of contest, I count it as an award. If I achieved something amazing and was recognized, I would count that as an award.

Getting grants because of financial need is NOT an award. What part of this made you think that it was? Because you're poor, you've achieved something?

If you received ANY money based on financial need (or partly based), I would not count it. If it was 100% academic merit based, I would still be safe and not put it. Only put it if there was a non academic/financial need aspect of winning money, like you won this international contest for a design and received a $10,000 grant or something. That would be suitable as an award.

I would disagree with the bolded part. In my n=1 experience, I listed a scholarship that I received that was entirely merit-based, and the interviewer brought it up in a positive manner. Was it something that was make-or-break to my application? I am sure it wasn't. Was it something that stood out to my interviewer in a way that may have tipped the balance with the adcoms? Maybe not, but positive mention of it in the interview is a good sign.

I agree with not including need-based awards of money.

 

[TheShaker]

Going off the same branch, would you guys include research grants? Even the really small ones? I have some for a couple hundred and a few for $50 .

 

[CanadianPremed]

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.

 

[izalexzi]

Going off the same branch, would you guys include research grants? Even the really small ones? I have some for a couple hundred and a few for $50 .

Yes, it's more about the fact that you achieved the award as opposed to the amount.

 

[fas376]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to go ahead and not add my grants since the minimum cutoff requirement was a 2.5, which is fairly easy to get.

For the scholarships that I DO include, should I include the amount I was awarded?

 

[fas376]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to go ahead and not add my grants since the minimum cutoff requirement was a 2.5, which is fairly easy to get.

For the scholarships that I DO include, should I include the amount I was awarded?

One month later, and I'm filling out my app. Still have the same question. Should we put how much we were awarded for our scholarships? (Mine was 3,000 per year)

 

[semicharmed]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to go ahead and not add my grants since the minimum cutoff requirement was a 2.5, which is fairly easy to get.

For the scholarships that I DO include, should I include the amount I was awarded?

No, don't put the amount. If you want, you can use qualitative indicators (i.e. "full-ride" or "partial scholarship") but not actual money. Better to use the description part to explain why you were awarded it (the qualifications of the award: GPA, community service, research, etc).