Okay, so I’ve been lucky enough to earn the AP Scholar with Distinction award and I'm pondering over whether I should include it in my Common App. Would colleges care about this, or is it considered a minor achievement that's not worth mentioning? I don't want to come off as boastful or fill the application with fluff.
5 months ago
Absolutely, you should include the AP Scholar with Distinction award on your Common App! Recognitions like these showcase your academic strengths and commitment to challenging coursework, which is something colleges look for. It's definitely not considered fluff—in fact, it's quite the opposite. It's an achievement that reflects well on your work ethic and intellectual curiosity. The Honors section in the Common App is the perfect place for this, and it certainly doesn't come off as boastful to share your accomplishments. Think of it this way: if you've earned it, it's worth mentioning!
5 months ago
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Absolutely, you should include the AP Scholar with Distinction award on your Common App! Recognitions like these showcase your academic strengths and commitment to challenging coursework, which is something colleges look for. It's definitely not considered fluff—in fact, it's quite the opposite.
Should I list AP Scholar with distinction on Common App? ›
Yes, the AP Scholar Award is a great example of an honor that you can include in your Common App honors section! This award demonstrates that you have had success in college-level courses already.
Should I put AP Scholar with Distinction on resume? ›
Even better, the AP Scholar designation will appear on the AP score reports you send to colleges and universities. Plus, you can mention the award on college applications and resumes. It demonstrates that you've taken rigorous courses in high school and have excelled.
Do colleges care about AP Scholar with Distinction? ›
AP Scholar and NHS type awards are pretty generic. Colleges that attract many high performing applicants won't care about those, but colleges that don't attract a lot of high performing applicants might be glad to see those awards.
Should I list honor roll on Common App? ›
What type of honors can I include in the Common App Honors Section? Many students with superb, even near-perfect GPAs ultimately submit their applications with a blank Honors section. Here's the good news—you can and should include making the honor roll at your high school in this area.
How rare is AP Scholar with Distinction? ›
Nationwide, less than 10% of students earn the distinction of AP Scholar or higher by the time they graduate and less than 20% of those who take AP exams earn this distinction.
What percent of people get the AP Scholar with Distinction Award? ›
Although the exact number is not disclosed by the College Board, it is estimated that around 10-15% of students who take AP exams receive the AP Scholar with Distinction award.
Does the AP Scholar Award look good on college applications? ›
In a short answer – yes! An AP Scholar Award shows that you have been successful in completing several college-level classes and suggests that you'll continue to succeed should they admit you to their school. However, it's worth noting that significance may vary by school.
What type of honor is AP Scholar with Distinction? ›
The AP Scholar Awards are academic distinctions that students may cite among their credentials on applications, résumés, etc. Students do not receive any monetary award from the College Board.
What does AP Scholars with Distinction mean? ›
AP Scholar with
Distinction. Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Interpreting AP Scores in Admissions is a Human Process
But there are no hard and fast rules, such as not submitting 4s or 3s, as some suggest because, in some cases, students should submit those lower scores since admissions officers will assume even worse if they withhold them.
How important is the AP Scholar Award? ›
If you have an AP Scholar award, you can list it on resumes and college applications. It will signal that you did well on multiple AP exams. The designation will appear on your official AP exam scores, and you will receive a certificate in the mail the September following the time you receive the designation.
Can you get AP Scholar with distinction twice? ›
Exams taken multiple times count only once; the highest score will be used for the award calculation.
Should I put NHS in honors or activities? ›
If you have an activity classified as academic, put NHS under community service or other club/activity. If you have an activity classified as other club/activity, put NHS under academic or community service. That way it shows that you have more of a variety of activities.
Do honor societies look good for college? ›
In short, you don't need to join an honor society to get the most out of college. But if you want to connect with students in your major, apply for scholarships, or simply bulk up your resume, an honor society can be a great option.
Where do you put honors and awards on Common App? ›
While the activities section of the Common Application allows you to list up to ten activities, the awards section is much simpler. Here, you can list up to five honors and you will not be asked to describe them.
Where do I put AP Scholar Award on Common App? ›
- Academic awards go to the Education section, into Honors.
- Other awards could be mentioned in your essays when you write about your activities.
- If something important doesn't fit into any section of the Common App, then you can put it in the Additional Info section.
It's an impressive achievement that demonstrates to colleges, universities, and internships that you have completed several college-level courses and excelled in them. This could help tip the scales on admissions decisions by colleges and potentially even on scholarships.
How selective is AP Scholar with Distinction? ›
To qualify for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of three or higher on five or more of these exams.
Do colleges like AP Scholar Awards? ›
Since most colleges seem to give credit only for scores of 4 or 5, an AP Scholar Award is not really significant. Any award is useful for your college application, so list it. However, thousands of students receive this award. Your actual 4.0 GPA and SAT/ACT scores will carry more weight.
