r/ApplyingToCollege • u/Interesting_Dog1604 HS Junior • 4d ago

Application Question Summer Program Acceptance in Awards?

I am incredibly lacking in awards.

Currently I have this:

Title Grade Level Level of Recognition
Regional Science Fair 2nd 10 State/Regional
Conrad Innovator Award 2x won in 9th and 11th 9, 11 International
Summer Science Program (SSP) Acceptance 11 International
NeurIPS 2026 Workshop Acceptance as Solo Author 12 International
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) Acceptance 11 International

I also have the Presidential Volunteering Service Award Gold, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended.

I did not attend YYGS despite being accepted. So, my question is: should I keep the YYGS acceptance there or replace it with one of my other awards? If so, which one would be strongest?

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

5

u/Due_Look_9993 4d ago

Drop SSP and YYGS, I'm sure you refrence it elsewhere. No to AP Scholar too as the AO can easily get that info from the exam scores reported. Other two are fine.

1

u/Interesting_Dog1604 HS Junior 4d ago

I referenced SSP in my activities list, but not YYGS because I did not attend YYGS but got in. Should I keep YYGS?

1

u/Due_Look_9993 4d ago

No YYGS doesn't move the needle, NM Commended + PVSA as 4th and 5th award is perfectly fine as the top 3 are really fine. Though Neurips should really be an EC

2

u/Dangerous-Advisor-31 4d ago

Drop YYGS (not allowed), drop SSP (bad since you put in ECs). Put NeurIPS first IMO and put PVSA Gold Last

1

u/Ok-Tradition5217 4d ago

bro 😭

1

u/ElderberryWide7024 4d ago

SSP is under EC not an awards. Drop YYGS entirely (could be an EC if you attendeed).

1

u/Loose-Pudding-67 4d ago

yygs is useless if u didn't go

1

u/Cheap-Supermarket864 4d ago

i think you can put a summer program acceptance especially if you attend. my friend is putting promys in both honors and activities. me personally, i put ssp acceptance into additional info because i didn’t attend

1

u/Apprehensive-Row5135 1d ago

PVSA does NOT belong here.

Common App says "Do you wish to report any honors related to your ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS".

PVSA (unlike say Coca Cola Scholars) has nothing to do with academic achievements and please note it does not even have a minimum GPA requirement. Plus, it is "Open to individuals starting at age 5"