What are these "national awards" that every kid on here has?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

This.

[Anonymous]

Full ride scholarship recipient to international study abroad summer program.

[Anonymous]

College Board gives out awards if you have a certain number of high scores. They are by definition national-level (or international), since College Board attributes these to students regardless of where they live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I think of national awards, I can only come up with National Merit Scholar and Regeneron.

But every last kid on here has "multiple national level awards".

How is every kid on here distinguished at a national level? Are they all literally in the top 100 science kids in the US?

Following is the list of EC awards. In my opinion, any awards 6 or above would be considered as national awards.

National Award Levels

10: Congrats, this is your ticket

D1 athlete
IMO/IPHO/ICHO/IBO/IOI/IOAA/IOL medals
Intel STS Top 10; Siemens Finalist; ISEF Top 3 Grand Prize; Google Science Fair age group winner
History Day National Winner
Single/First Author in High Impact Factor Journal

9: Almost a ticket to a prestigious school

Siemens Westinghouse finalists; Google Science Fair Finalist; MOP; Intel STS Finalist; ISEF Best of Category
FL Nationals winner
RSI (Research Science Institute)
Published in a relatively prestigious journal

8: Amazing accomplishment; Large boost

TASP, USAPhO/USNCO/USABO/USACO National Finalist
Google Science Fair Semifinalist; Siemens Semi-finalists; Intel ISEF 1st-4th place category; Intel STS semifinalist,
Running your own successful business
USAMO qualification
AMC 12 Perfect Score, Presidential Scholar, Davidson Fellow
Writing Portfolio Gold Award, Presidential Scholar of the Arts, Scholastic Art
FIRST Dean's List winner, top 5 at FIRST World Championships,
Google Code Jam Round 2, 3 Qualifier (Vast majority of Competitors are College students and professionals)
Facebook Hacker Cup Round 2, 3 Qualifier (Vast majority of Competitors are College students and professionals)
MIT PRIMES Participant

7:

SSP, Simons, Clark Summer Program, NIH Research, and MITES and other selective programs
Science Olympiad national medals, EUCYS prizes
State governors schools with acceptance rate <15% (PGSS, NJGSS, most other science governor's schools)
USACO Platinum Division
ARML Tiebreaker Round / Top Team, YES Competition (Young Epidemiology Scholarship), USAMTS Gold Medal
Intel ISEF Finalist, History Day National Level
Scholastic Art & Writing National Gold Medal. NFL Nationals (speech and debate) "breakers" (elimination rounds), Tournament of Champions (debate) "breakers," Congressional Award Gold Medalist,

6:

USAPhO/USABO semifinals, Science Olympiad Nationals qualification
USACO Gold Division
AMC 10 Perfect Score
Less competitive governor's schools (Acceptance rate between 15% and 25%), any other scholarship summer programs not aforementioned
Congressional Award Silver Medalist, NFL Nationals/Tournament of Champions Qualifier, FBLA Nationals
Science Bowl/Ocean Science Bowl/NAQT winners, Technology Student Association Nationals
FIRST Dean's List finalist
Top 5 FIRST Super Regionals (FTC)
Scholastic Art & Writing National Silver Medal
Academic Decathlon State (CA) Honors Top 3
(6.5) Google Code Jam Qualifier (Vast majority of Competitors are College students and professionals)
(6.5) Facebook Hacker Cup Qualifier (Vast majority of Competitors are College students and professionals)

5: Pretty good; will complement an already strong record

USAAAO
USNCO semifinals
AIME
National Latin Convention 1st Places Academic Contests,
All-Eastern/all-regional music, State History Day top 3 place
Top 5 FIRST State Championship (or Regionals for FRC), JETS TEAMS National Finalist, Skills USA Nationals
State Science Fair Winner/Top Award
Academic Decathlon State (AZ/TX/MA/WI), Nationals Top 3 Honors & California Event Golds

4:

USACO Silver Division
Science Fair Regional winner
Science Olympiad state medals (depending on what state you're from)
Science Bowl national qualification
Perfect Score (Multiple Years) on National Latin Exam
State awards (all-state music, etc)
Academic Decathlon State (AZ/TX/MA/WI) Event Golds
MUN Gavel
AMC 10/12 school winner (depends on your school)
Art and Writing Regional Gold award
Top 5 FIRST Regional (FTC)

3: Some effort involved, but not uncommon

Winning at local/regional science fairs
All-County music,
Eagle Scout, National Merit Finalist
Head of a competitive club that you did not found (ex: Mock Trial, Model UN, Science Olympiad)

2: Your average go-getter

Bank of America Awards
Local awards/trophies
Essay Contests
Regional History Day

1 : Common activities

National Honor Society
Beta Club
School Departmental Awards
School Honor Roll
Key Club, CSF, Interact Club
National Merit Commended
Member of a club with no distinctions earned

0: A dime in a dozen; meaningless

Who's Who, National Honor Roll, National Society of High School Scholars

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere (Yale podcast?) that various AOs specialize in understanding a particular activity and can distinguish amongst different competitions as to which matter more than others. So I wouldn’t get overly excited about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

I’d probably call a multi-state thing a “regional” event but there are lots of sanctioned and recognized “national” competitions that have nothing to do with STEM. Our DC have competed in several National level events (for which there are usually several levels of qualifying). Ours weren’t individual “winners” and were only runners-ups in a team competition but a few of their teammates/club members certainly finished first and could and should highlight those accomplishments on a college app. Whether an AO is impressed or not is immaterial. They are, in fact, National Champions (one is/was even a Junior World Champion).

But specifics help so I’ll list a few ours and others we know have competed in (and/or won):

FIRST Robotics, IIHF World Juniors (Hockey), JROTC JLAB & Drill, JOAD Archery Nationals, Nike/New Balance Indoors, USARS Roller Sports Nationals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid had NMSF and a national coding honorable mention. Also an Eagle but I did not consider that a National Award. There is no national level competition for it.

What is the name of the national coding competition?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Latin Exam

And the other national language exams.

Back in the 198@s, I had the third highest score on the natonal Spanish exam. That went on my application! I feel like there may have been like a $20 prize and a certificate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

I’d probably call a multi-state thing a “regional” event but there are lots of sanctioned and recognized “national” competitions that have nothing to do with STEM. Our DC have competed in several National level events (for which there are usually several levels of qualifying). Ours weren’t individual “winners” and were only runners-ups in a team competition but a few of their teammates/club members certainly finished first and could and should highlight those accomplishments on a college app. Whether an AO is impressed or not is immaterial. They are, in fact, National Champions (one is/was even a Junior World Champion).

But specifics help so I’ll list a few ours and others we know have competed in (and/or won):

FIRST Robotics, IIHF World Juniors (Hockey), JROTC JLAB & Drill, JOAD Archery Nationals, Nike/New Balance Indoors, USARS Roller Sports Nationals.

Where did kid end up?

[Anonymous]

Odyssey of the Mind
YoungArts
NMF
Presidential Scholar
National Championship of sports

Just to name a few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

I’d probably call a multi-state thing a “regional” event but there are lots of sanctioned and recognized “national” competitions that have nothing to do with STEM. Our DC have competed in several National level events (for which there are usually several levels of qualifying). Ours weren’t individual “winners” and were only runners-ups in a team competition but a few of their teammates/club members certainly finished first and could and should highlight those accomplishments on a college app. Whether an AO is impressed or not is immaterial. They are, in fact, National Champions (one is/was even a Junior World Champion).

But specifics help so I’ll list a few ours and others we know have competed in (and/or won):

FIRST Robotics, IIHF World Juniors (Hockey), JROTC JLAB & Drill, JOAD Archery Nationals, Nike/New Balance Indoors, USARS Roller Sports Nationals.

The sports related ones couldn't go in the honors slots, though. They'd have to be referenced in ECs.

[Anonymous]

Why are you only focusing on science? Presidential scholar comes to mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

I’d probably call a multi-state thing a “regional” event but there are lots of sanctioned and recognized “national” competitions that have nothing to do with STEM. Our DC have competed in several National level events (for which there are usually several levels of qualifying). Ours weren’t individual “winners” and were only runners-ups in a team competition but a few of their teammates/club members certainly finished first and could and should highlight those accomplishments on a college app. Whether an AO is impressed or not is immaterial. They are, in fact, National Champions (one is/was even a Junior World Champion).

But specifics help so I’ll list a few ours and others we know have competed in (and/or won):

FIRST Robotics, IIHF World Juniors (Hockey), JROTC JLAB & Drill, JOAD Archery Nationals, Nike/New Balance Indoors, USARS Roller Sports Nationals.

The sports related ones couldn't go in the honors slots, though. They'd have to be referenced in ECs.

Is that right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you compete in nationals in anything: Quizbowl, a sport final, a music or chess competition, a national poetry contest with lots of entries -- it's a national award. If there are kids from multiple states (not just the DMV) and your kid wins, fair game for being called a national award. And if there are kids from multiple countries, it's an international award.

I’d probably call a multi-state thing a “regional” event but there are lots of sanctioned and recognized “national” competitions that have nothing to do with STEM. Our DC have competed in several National level events (for which there are usually several levels of qualifying). Ours weren’t individual “winners” and were only runners-ups in a team competition but a few of their teammates/club members certainly finished first and could and should highlight those accomplishments on a college app. Whether an AO is impressed or not is immaterial. They are, in fact, National Champions (one is/was even a Junior World Champion).

But specifics help so I’ll list a few ours and others we know have competed in (and/or won):

FIRST Robotics, IIHF World Juniors (Hockey), JROTC JLAB & Drill, JOAD Archery Nationals, Nike/New Balance Indoors, USARS Roller Sports Nationals.

The sports related ones couldn't go in the honors slots, though. They'd have to be referenced in ECs.

Is that right?

It says Academic Honors