Optomcas Application (Awards and Honors)

[nc2tarheels]

For the "Awards and Honors" section, what type of thing is this referring to? Of course, I understand if you've won awards but what about just making the Dean's List etc? Does that count?

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[zyg0te]

You can if you want.

I did. I didn't have too many so I put deans list, as well as things such as the integration bee awards, etc.

 

[blysssful]

You can if you want.

I did. I didn't have too many so I put deans list, as well as things such as the integration bee awards, etc.

What if you won spelling bees in elementary school? That counts too right?

 

[jymezg]

"Most improved T-ball Left fielder" also counts in my book 😀

 

[blysssful]

I lied... I never won any spelling bees. 😳

 

[cloud99]

LOL, we can tell by your name, blysssful!!!

 

[blysssful]

LOL, we can tell by your name, blysssful!!!

You caught me. Thank god for spell check

 

[xoforever]

im acually curious about this too, lol. Can you put awards won in high school? like Character awards? and do you need proof of these?

 

[yyk]

LoL.. darn, I left out any awards I got in high school, I thought they weren't to be mentioned, I read that somewhere here that I shouldn't mention them 🙁.. Now I wonder if I should have, kinda late though.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Perhaps i should have contributed to this thread by saying that i will in the future put down that i WAS valedictorian of pre-school....so that everyone can catch on to the sarcasm?

But anyways...pretty sure you should leave out things in highschool UNLESS they were continued throughout college or ended sometime during college years.

 

[jymezg]

But anyways...pretty sure you should leave out things in highschool UNLESS they were continued throughout college or ended sometime during college years.

Hmmmm. I wonder if they frown upon that. I LOOOOAAAADDDEEEDDD my app with College AND High School awards/honors/clubs/etc, and was asked about some in my interviews...

But, that was without OPTOMCAS, and who knows if it even made a difference, prob not...

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Hmmmm. I wonder if they frown upon that. I LOOOOAAAADDDEEEDDD my app with College AND High School awards/honors/clubs/etc, and was asked about some in my interviews...

But, that was without OPTOMCAS, and who knows if it even made a difference, prob not...

wow..i mean thats what i read in just about every time i saw this come up. I mean i guess summer after high school was ok..but why is a club you joined in high school relevant? I thought the whole point of these things were (without the exception of looking good) to show that you have some types of dedication and show that you can balance EC's while maintaining a good GPA and doing well on the OATs.

Just out of curiosity...were you asked about H.S stuff?

 

[jymezg]

The goal of the app is to make yourself look good 😀 (Without exaggerating or falsifying info of course). Maybe this can give you some perspective, even give you something to add to your app.

I added FBLA and TSA as my EC's and included all the leadership positions I had held throughout high school. After HS I was a mentor/member/chaperone/volunteer for trips and events for the clubs, so I included those on my app.

but why is a club you joined in high school relevant?

If you took dual enrollment classes in High School, thats college, your official college transcript starts before you get a diploma.

Just out of curiosity...were you asked about H.S stuff?

Yea, and I talked about it in my interviews. When asked about say FBLA I responded, well I've been involed for 8 years and then explained that I started in HS and still participate.

 

[blysssful]

wow..i mean thats what i read in just about every time i saw this come up. I mean i guess summer after high school was ok..but why is a club you joined in high school relevant? I thought the whole point of these things were (without the exception of looking good) to show that you have some types of dedication and show that you can balance EC's while maintaining a good GPA and doing well on the OATs.

Just out of curiosity...were you asked about H.S stuff?

Okay, I think that you should just use your discretion about this stuff. The clubs/activities that aren't relevant, don't put... but if you were valedictorian of your HS, I would FOR SURE put something of that magnitude. Or, if you started an optometry club in HS (or were a member of one), I would definitely put that too.

BUT, I don't think the adcoms are going to be all that impressed if you were the assistant treasurer of the underwater basket weaving club freshman year of high school.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Okay, I think that you should just use your discretion about this stuff. The clubs/activities that aren't relevant, don't put... but if you were valedictorian of your HS, I would FOR SURE put something of that magnitude. Or, if you started an optometry club in HS (or were a member of one), I would definitely put that too.

BUT, I don't think the adcoms are going to be all that impressed if you were the assistant treasurer of the underwater basket weaving club freshman year of high school.

I mean i was in student government...we did a lot of fund raising and went on walks. Also did many things inside and outside of school. I got to participate and be apart of our District Attorneys office leadership team because of that....I mean i havent done much of that stuff (except going on walks like aids, lupus etc..) but is that something i should put on in the future? the student government and DA's stuff? I didnt think i should because im not exactly continuing the majority of the things i use to do but then again if its "acceptable" i would add it because those things look good and got me into good colleges when i applied.

 

[jymezg]

Just use your better judgment. If you would put it on your CV, probably ok for the application.

***As for fundraising: if it was for tshirts, a trip, or pizza party prob won't help the app out too much, especially if your asked about it.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Just use your better judgment. If you would put it on your CV, probably ok for the application.

***As for fundraising: if it was for tshirts, a trip, or pizza party prob won't help the app out too much, especially if your asked about it.

The fund raising was all for causes...cancer, aids, lupus, leukemia & lymphoma and things of that nature donated to their respective organizations...so im sure that would be ok i suppose.

 

[jymezg]

The fund raising was all for causes...cancer, aids, lupus, leukemia & lymphoma and things of that nature donated to their respective organizations...so im sure that would be ok i suppose.

Yea I'd definitely put that then. Speaks of your character and sets you apart.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Yea I'd definitely put that then. Speaks of your character and sets you apart.

Good to know, thanks...but just to clarify...even though i did do this in H.S its still valid? also if i won scholarships or got plaques and awards do they count? I dont want to sound on the application like most of everything i put comes from high school..its just that its true. Now that im in college all ive been doing is volunteering (eye clinic) and doing clinical research...and i probably wont do anything else..except try to get more research experience...because my actual aim (hopefully i still feel this way later) is an OD/PhD..but ofcourse i wouldnt pursue it if i dont have the gpa and oat's to back it up.

 

[jymezg]

Does the "Awards and Honors" section specifically as for only items in college or do not include High School?

That would be the only reason I wouldn't include them.

 

[blysssful]

Good to know, thanks...but just to clarify...even though i did do this in H.S its still valid? also if i won scholarships or got plaques and awards do they count? I dont want to sound on the application like most of everything i put comes from high school..its just that its true. Now that im in college all ive been doing is volunteering (eye clinic) and doing clinical research...and i probably wont do anything else..except try to get more research experience...because my actual aim (hopefully i still feel this way later) is an OD/PhD..but ofcourse i wouldnt pursue it if i dont have the gpa and oat's to back it up.

If it doesn't specify, just list it and let the adcoms decide if it is relevant or not. Worst case scenario, they don't think its relevant. I doubt that it would hurt you though.

 

[ElaineC]

I have a question on consolidation of employment awards etc for the OPTOMCAS universal app:
1. Should I consolidate all the Dean's List awards into ONE entry, or list them individually? (Optomcas asks for a specific award date in the entry)
2. For research, I did a number of honors research papers for quarter-long periods, should I list these?
3. Should I include all employment history, or just what is applicable to Optometry? Not sure if they're interested in everything I've done, or just what....

Thanks!
Elaine

 

[zxcutiemdr]

i put my deans list stuff in one entry and then described in the little box the years that I received them, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 just like that.
when I took my resume to my school's career center I originally had my deans list awards listed out three times but the lady told me to list them into one because in essence it is one type of award.
i dont know what you could put in for your research stuff sorry.
definitely put up all the jobs you ever had. I eliminated the one I had in high school because it was too long ago but I put up everything from the summer after high school until now. there is that other optometric experience option on optomcas so thats why I put everything, all the jobs I ever had as well as the optometry related ones and my shadowing experiences. hope this helps 😀

 

[Winggirl2]

What if my life isn't as exciting as all of yours and I don't have any achievement or honors to put, leave blank??