10 - When The Top Colleges Try To Recruit You
D1 athlete,
IMO/IPHO/ICHO/IBO medals (International Science Olympiads)
Intel (top 10), Siemens National Winner/National Finalists, ISEF top 3 Grand Prize, Google Science Fair age group winner, History Day National Winner
Published in Nature or Science, RSI (Research Science Institute)
9 - Really Close to a Ticket to Prestige Closet
Siemens Westinghouse (finalists), Google Science Fair Finalist, MOP, Intel Finalist,
FL Nationals winner (speech and debate)
8 -
TASP, USPhO/USChO/USABO/USAC (USA Level of Olympiad Competition) National Finalist
Google Science Fair Semifinalist, Siemens Semi-finalists/ISEF(1-4 places), Intel semifinalist,
Running your own successful business,
AMC 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,
7 -
Selective summer programs or competitions, such as SSP, Clark Summer Program, YESS, NIH Research, and MITES
State governors schools where acceptance rate < 15% (PGSS, NJGSS, most other science governor’s schools)
USAMO qualification, ARML Tiebreaker Round / Top Team, YES Competition (Young Epidemiology Scholarship), USAMTS Gold Medal
ISEF Finalist, History Day National Level
Scholastic Art & Writing National Silver or Gold Medal. NFL Nationals (speech and debate) “breakers” (elimination rounds), Tournament of Champions (debate) “breakers,” Congressional Award Gold Medalist,
6 -
USPhO/USChO/USABO/USACO semifinalist, Science Olympiad National medals, qualification
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)
5 -
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
1st Place/Category Award State Science Fair
4 -
or 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, or other languages, some state awards (all-state music, etc), State History Day, MUN Gavel, AMC 10/12 school winner (depends on your school), Art and Writing Regional Gold award
top 5 FIRST Regional (FTC)
3 - County Level; Takes some work to get, but not uncommon (e.g Eagle Scout)
Winning at local/regional science fairs
All-County music,
Eagle Scout, National Merit Finalist
2 - Took more effort to win these, a step above regular local awards
Bank of America Awards, most local awards/trophies (art, music, community - although they will say something about your character), Essay Contests, Regional History Day
1 - Normal, common activities such as regular club membership or easy to get awards
National Honor Society, Beta Club, School Departmental Awards, School Honor Roll, Key Club, CSF, Interact Club, National Merit Commended
0- A dime in a dozen, meaningless in the end.
Who’s Who, National Honor Roll, National Society of High School Scholars
