Award/Honors on the Common App Have 5 Spaces. Are Yours' Blank?

Generally speaking, an academic honor or award is any major achievement you’ve made and been recognized for in some way. For international students pursuing US college admissions for international students and wondering how to get into Ivy League as an international student, demonstrating these achievements is essential.

If you’ve won any awards for specific activities—such as a sport you play or a club you’re part of—it’s better to list these in the extracurricular activities section of your application instead of in a separate awards section. However, while the focus of this section will be on academic honors and awards, it’s acceptable to list other significant awards that you’d like to highlight, especially if you are using college profile-building strategies for top US Universities or seeking free U.S. college admissions help for international students.

Academic Awards are:

• Distinction, honor, or honorable mention for which you typically receive only the title

• A diploma or certificate indicating the completion of a program or recognizing an accomplishment

• A prize or award won from a contest, competition, or tournament

• A scholarship given in recognition of an outstanding academic accomplishment—important if you’re searching for the best scholarships for international students in the U.S. or wondering how to get a full-ride scholarship to a U.S. college

• Membership in a highly selective and competitive group or society

Common App Honors & Award Section

The instructions for this section are simple: you can list up to five honors in 100 characters or less. For UC applications, you have 20 spaces for all of these combined.

Here are the fields that need to be completed:

• Rank (in terms of importance)

• Honors Title (100 characters)

• Participation grade levels (9, 10, 11, 12)

• Award Level (Local, Regional, National, International)

Strategy for honors & awards

The Honors & Awards section is an extension of your Common App. You need to balance the two to maximize the impact of your application. For international students using a US college admissions guide - step-by-step approach, this section should capture the same strengths as your overall profile. If you’ve showcased your leadership or academic excellence in your Common App, your honors should reflect that consistency.

Why Academic Awards Are Not Great

If you are applying to the top 30 schools in the USA, most candidates will likely have an academic award. Think of it like our calculation for sports teams—there are millions (crores) of recipients for common academic awards. This is why standing out is critical, especially when you’re aiming for the best extracurriculars for US college applicants and trying to answer the question, "what extracurriculars do Ivy League colleges look for?"

Actually Writing Your Honors & Awards

Do not simply start typing into the Common App form. Treat this as a strategic exercise. Brainstorm and go through each step to capture all the relevant information before entering it into the description.

1. Step 1: Brainstorming – Answer these questions to ensure you capture all necessary details

   1. What award did I win?

   2. Which organization gave the award? (Explain the organization if it is not internationally recognized)

   3. Which strategy or theme does this fit into, considering your overall college profile-building strategies for top US Universities?

   4. Is this award local, regional, national, or international?

   5. How selective is this award?

   6. Are there any additional benefits (e.g., prize money, flight ticket, speaking opportunity)?

   7. Is this award related to any Common App activity? Could it also be added in that section?

   
   

   

   
   

2. Step 2: Input into Common App Award Format – Using the information gathered, create a detailed description. Don’t worry about length at this stage.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Step 3: Adjust the Rank – Your most important award should be listed first. Consider: a. Its selectivity—highly selective awards are harder to achieve.b. Its uniqueness—common awards like honor roll or National Society honors are seen frequently. Unique or rare awards will help you stand out, especially when applying to the best U.S. universities for international students.c. Its relevance to your academic interests and strengths—relevant awards demonstrate your commitment to the field you wish to study and position you as one of the top candidates.d. Its ability to highlight your leadership potential—awards that involve teamwork or leadership roles can strengthen your application.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Step 4: Adjust the Text – Use every character allowed. To improve your description, consider downloading a worksheet on tips for enhancing word descriptors.

   
   

   

   
   

5. Step 5: Keep Editing Until You Are Satisfied

Examples

Below are a few examples formatted as preferred by the Common App to give you ideas. These examples can serve as inspiration if you’re looking for a free college admissions consultation for international students or advice on how to choose the right U.S. college as an international student.

Honor & Award	Award Type
Published in 4 national newspapers including the "The Times Of India" for upskilling 100 girls	National
Global Winner, Diana Award, for outstanding community service in preserving 1 ton of waste (12th)	Global
Speaker, TedX - Bangalore, on adolescent mental health; only youth selected city-wide (10th)	Regional
Ashoka Young Changemaker; 1 of 14 adolecents selected from India, Brazil, Banglesh, Indonesia, USA	Global
Selected. "John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth"; recognized from 19,000 students in 84 countries	Global
Best Delegate Award, Harvard Model United Nations India; selected from 75 delegates	National
Published in "ABC Action News" for self-created AI device which reduces gun violence in USA. (10th)	Global
2nd Place. Young Tycoon's Business Challenge. Selected globally for improving financial literacy.	Global
1st place @ Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship	National
Debate: (4) 1st place finishes, Dade County Forensic League, 19-3 career policy debate record	Regional
DECA 2x Regional & State Champion and Int’l Finalist out of over 200K members worldwide	National
Gold Medalist, The Congressional Award, for 400+ hours public volunteer service	National
Student of the Month (1 of 350 students chosen) for “positive impact on school culture." Won twice.	Local
Silver Knight Award, Journalism. Given to 1 in entire county, included $2,000 prize.	National
Won 3rd in nation, Desktop Application Programming (Future Business Leaders of America)	Global
Gold Medal from the President’s Foundation for volunteering 200+ hrs at animal shelters	National
1st place, NC Youth & Government, wrote and defended a bill on raising the minimum wage, Grade: 11.	National
Winner, R.J. Simmons Award for Community Service, performed 100+ hours of service work, Grade: 10	National
Chosen from a field of 10 art students to paint a permanent mural on the gymnasium wall.	Local

Takeaways

When crafting your Honors & Awards section, keep these points in mind:

1. Consistency is key: Ensure your awards align with your overall application narrative, whether you’re aiming to learn how to get into Ivy League as an international student

2. Prioritize uniqueness and selectivity: Unique awards are far more impactful than common ones.

3. Strategic planning is essential: Use this exercise as an opportunity to highlight what sets you apart, complementing your extracurricular activities and academic record.

These guidelines not only help you document your achievements effectively but also serve as part of a comprehensive strategy for US college admissions for international students.