How to Approach the Common App Honors Section
by Sarah M.
While college essays provide the most direct opportunity to tell admissions officers about who you are, it is important to use the other sections of the application to support and expand that portrait. Your activities section paints a picture of who you are outside the classroom, but the honors section is a demonstration of the things at which you really excel. This section might not make or break your application, but used properly, it can help you stand out.
There are 5 slots to fill in the honors section section. Many students with perfect GPAs and excellent records end up leaving some slots blank because they think that only the most prestigious and well-known awards count, but that’s not the case at all!
Here’s a list of common honors that you should absolutely include, if applicable:
- National Merit Scholar – Commended Student/Semifinalist
- AP Scholar
- Honor Societies
- Arts awards
- Publications
- Outstanding achievement awards
- Athletic character recognition awards
- Community service recognition from your school, town, or state
For other students, 5 slots are just not enough. If you have more awards than spaces provided on the Common App, pick the awards that are the most unique and impressive. Combine awards from multiple years (like honor roll, for example) into one entry. And keep order in mind: your achievements should be listed from most impressive to least impressive.
You only have 100 characters to describe each award, so be concise and avoid complete sentences. Still, your description must highlight not only what your achievement was, but what it was for: squeeze in as many details as you can about the purpose and meaning of each award. Consider the following example:
- First Place, Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. I invented a robotic police unit that a policeman could wear. (125 characters – too long)
- 1st Place, Siemens Competition; built biomechanical, wearable police unit. (73 characters)
Finally, note that the Common App explicitly requests honors “beginning with ninth grade.”
As spectacular as your 7th grade feats might have been, do not include middle school awards.
