Honors/awards section?

Question

Now that I'm filling out my applications, I've realized that nothing makes me feel more inadequate than seeing a fully blank "Honors/awards" section. I didn't get the Rhodes Scholarship or win an outstanding thesis prize, or any trophies for community achievement, etc. The honors I've had since high school have been more informal and less ceremonial, i.e. promotions, invitations to join committees at work, etc.

The only thing that might come close is that I was accepted to a summer undergraduate fellowship program back in college (definitely not at all the level of a Rhodes, Marshall, or Fulbright scholarship). Basically, I was awarded a competitive grant to do summer research. Does that count? Isn't that the same as just getting a job?

cheetarah1980 · Answer

It counts so use it!

I don't have much for the Honors/Awards section either (especially from college). I won a team award at work last year. I'm hoping I might get an award for some work I did last year (work related again). But other than that I'm not working with much. You're not the only one. I highly doubt that not having an award will keep you out of a school.

From talking to some adcoms and alums I'm starting to realize that MBA admissions isn't about laurels and accolades. All they want to see is that you can do the coursework, be a team player, contribute to their community, and most importantly get hired after graduating. Seems simple but you'd be surprised how many people cannot convey all of these things in an application. If you're able to do these things, not being a Rhodes scholar won't make a bit of difference.

hello212 · Answer

Haha, thanks. I'll list it but I don't want to go overboard. There are some less significant awards I've earned in college that I don't think I'll bother listing.

With the fellowship, professors joke that getting it as an undergrad at x university is harder than getting into the PhD program at said university. I know adcoms won't care but it was a pretty big deal when I was in college!

MBAPrepSchoolTyler · Answer

I think it is worth including this honor; furthermore, if you are given the space to briefly describe the qualifications for the award this will will help the admissions committee to understand what you did to distinguish yourself. I have also seen applicant including a brief metric that would indicate the degree of competition -- e.g. (one of only 3 fellowships awarded in a class of 2,100).

MDF · Answer

I'm lacking in this section to.

I put something on the lines of: Dean's List, Academic Honors X semesters in a row, ABC Scholarship recipient

Kind of weak, but it's better than nothing...

LionsSBC12 · Answer

Are things like Phi Beta Kappa and/or Summa Cum Laude appropriate to list in this section?

MBAPrepSchoolTyler · Answer

Yes, I believe so.

jko · Answer

Phi Beta Kappa wouldn't be an honor/award, that'd be an activity/organization (which generally would be designated in a separate section).

hello212 · Answer

Phi Beta Kappa is an honor society membership conferred only to the top 10% of a graduating class. It counts as an honor in my book.

jko · Answer

Ah, yeah my alma mater doesn't do class rank / percentiles, so I was unaware. Yeah that should definitely be listed.

LionsSBC12 · Answer

Let's say that I don't actually do anything as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
In that case, it's really more just a title than an activity.

But in all seriousness, I'd rather not list it as an organization and then put the hours per month as 0.

blg529 · Answer

Phi Beta Kappa would definitely go under honor/awards. One of the applications I did recently (Haas I think?) specifically listed under the heading for the honors/awards section "e.g., Phi Beta Kappa"

firsttimer2 · Answer

Do research assistant-ship during grad studies count?

Award section makes me feel inadequate too..my college hands out very few awards.

I presume conference or book publications and admission to phd program does not count in this section...

gijoedude · Answer

Would winning case competitions as undergrad go under Honors/Awards?

MBAPrepSchoolTyler · Answer

Winning a case competition is something you'd definitely want to highlight as it provide evidence of strenghts that admissions committees value. Arguably, winning the competition was an award; so I think it would fit in the awards section of the application form.

Honors/awards section?

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