As we enter the summer, one of the ways you can stay ahead of college application season is by opening a Common Application account. Home to more than 1,000 colleges, chances are you will apply to at least one school using this portal. As you start entering your information, you might be confused as you encounter the “honors” part of the Education section.
The honors section offers the following prompt: “Do you wish to report any honors related to your academic achievements beginning with the ninth grade or international equivalent?” This is an open-ended question on purpose. There is quite a bit of flexibility in what constitutes “academic achievement.”
The honors section allows you to report impressive awards and accomplishments from the past four years. Alongside the activities list, adding your honors can help admissions officers understand your prowess in different fields inside and outside the classroom.
You’ll have 100 characters to describe each honor/award in as much detail as possible. Use this space wisely. Not all admissions officers will be familiar with all acronyms, especially if it’s a niche school award. So, use the character count to go into as much detail as possible with what you mention.
You’re also allowed up to five honors total. So, you should list your most impressive awards and group any similar types of awards together. For example, if you’ve won multiple prizes in the Scholastic Art & Writing competitions, you can group them together; “Scholastic Writing Award: Gold Key x2 (2022, 2021); Honorable Mention (2020)” is a perfectly detailed way of grouping your achievements, while staying under the character limit.
If you’re early on in your high school years, it’s helpful to know that the Common App asks for this information. Try your hardest to find opportunities and competitions in order to stand out among your peers. It also helps to perform well in school so you can win schoolwide academic awards.
Another question students often ask is: exactly what kind of awards can go into the Common App honors section? This can be a wide range. Examples include:
- If you’re a STEM student, this could include research papers and journal articles, or if you’re more of a writer, it might be published stories or awards from well-known publications.
- Awards in prestigious competitions such as AMC, Olympiads, Decathlons, and National History Bowl.
- Any schoolwide awards or competitive opportunities such campus representative, “best in Biology,” prefect, etc.
- Sports/athletic awards, especially if you’ve won championships at the state or national level or individual awards such as Most Valuable Player.
- Community awards such as Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Goal awards. Your community might offer other prestigious prizes for making an impact on those around you.
- Music or arts awards/achievements, for example being selected for an exhibition or chosen to perform at a concert at Carnegie Hall.
- Well-known national awards, such as National Merit Scholar or AP scholar—with the caveat that these are quite common. Always aim to add more unique honors before adding these.
On that note, the order of how you list your honors matters. Make sure you list your most impressive award first.
Alongside the title of the honor, the Common App asks you for the following information on each award:
- Grade Level – Colleges want to know when you received the honor or award. You have the ability to select multiple grades for each award because you might have won MVP in both 10th and 11th grade. This question also helps you stay aware of whether your list relies heavily on things you did in your freshman year. It’s advisable to have a range and add achievements from the last couple of years as well.
- Level(s) of Recognition – The Common App allows you to select the scope of the award. You can check any one or more of the boxes between “school,” “state/regional” “national,” and “international.” If you’re confused which category your award falls under, you can always double check with the award organizer website or with a representative before clicking one. Don’t undersell yourself!
Accomplishing impressive feats in high school isn’t enough—you have to know how to articulate your achievements in an impressive way. Mastering the honors section descriptions is an effective way to optimize your profile for colleges. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
FAQs
You'll have 100 characters to describe each honor/award in as much detail as possible. Use this space wisely. Not all admissions officers will be familiar with all acronyms, especially if it's a niche school award. So, use the character count to go into as much detail as possible with what you mention.
How to fill out honors section on Common App? ›
Make sure to lead with your most impressive achievements. The most competitive and well-known honors should be listed first, followed by awards that are lesser known. A general rule of thumb is that national awards should be listed first, followed by state, local, and school awards.
Do you put NHS in the honors section of the Common App? ›
If the answer is yes, don't worry – you should still list these awards. Common achievements like National Honors Society, AP Scholar, and Honor Roll are honors that admissions officers often see fill this section, but they still help demonstrate your academic excellence!
Should I fill out all 10 activities on the Common App? ›
You can add up to ten activities to your application, but that doesn't mean that you need to enter ten. On average, students applying through Common App report 6 activities. Don't forget, this section is how colleges can get to know more about you.
Should I put AP Scholar with distinction on Common App? ›
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.
How important is the honors section of the Common App? ›
Alongside the activities list, adding your honors can help admissions officers understand your prowess in different fields inside and outside the classroom. You'll have 100 characters to describe each honor/award in as much detail as possible. Use this space wisely.
How many honors should I put on Common App? ›
There are 5 slots available, and you should try and fill all of them if possible, even if you may initially think you have nothing to include. Honor roll, membership in an honors society, AP Scholar — such awards are fairly common and can all serve to add another dimension to your application.
Is 7 activities enough for a Common App? ›
Filling Out the Activities Section of the Common App. The “Activities” section is effectively your resume, where you share information about your extracurricular activities with colleges. You can add up to ten different activities in this section, along with a bunch of information about your participation in each one.
Do hobbies count as extracurricular activities on Common App? ›
According to Common App, “activities may include arts, athletics, clubs, employment, personal commitments, and other pursuits.” In other words, pretty much anything pursued outside the classroom qualifies as an activity.
How many hours is too much for Common App activities? ›
Academic Work As with many things related to college admissions, it depends. Some students can manage 20 hours of activities per week while still maintaining their academic work, while others are only able to handle eight.
You'll have a chance to include five formal awards you received in the “honors” section of the Common App, but the activity descriptions are the perfect place to include achievements for which you did not receive awards.
How many kids get AP Scholar with Distinction? ›
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.
How impressive is AP Scholar with Distinction? ›
AP Scholar Award Levels
| Award | Criteria |
|---|
| 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 |
3 more rowsIn general, honors that are tied to your extracurricular activities should be listed in the activities section, while those that aren't connected to a specific activity should be listed in the honors section.
Where to put certifications on common apps? ›
Firstly, you can include them in the 'Honors' section if these certifications have been awarded as a form of recognition. Now, this is typically for academic and merit-based accolades, but if your certification is prestigious or particularly selective, it might fit well here.
What are honors related to your academic achievements? ›
Academic Awards: These include honor roll, Principal's List, National Honor Society membership, AP Scholar Awards, and subject-specific awards (e.g., Science Olympiad medals, Math Team awards, History Day awards, etc.).
How do you fill out class rank on Common App? ›
If your high school does rank, then it's likely that the rank is weighted – so select “weighted” in response to the Rank weighting question. The Cumulative GPA should be the highest one reported on your transcript, if there is one. If not, it's OK to leave it blank, as it's not a required field.
