This is one of those questions that sounds awful. Regardless, I am actually asking for advice. My school gives awards to the top two students in many classes. They publish the list.

I'm a 1L. Based on the (one) midterm we have had (where I scored highest), and the participation/conversation from my peers, there is a strong possibility that I will get an award in at least one of my classes. I am worried that if I am on the list (possibly multiple times) it will impair my peer relationships (which are surprisingly OK at the moment).

There is a FERPA non-disclosure form I can fill out that will prevent the school from publishing my name if I receive one of the awards. The awards would still appear on my transcript.

If you knew you were the only full-scholarship student in your class, and you were doing really well (based on midterm/legal writing feedback) would you choose the non-disclosure option?

Being smart doesn't make you hated around school. It's being an asshole that does that. If your peer relationships are currently fine, I don't think recognition that you are a top student is really going to cripple those relationships. I mean, if you go to a really crappy, notoriously cutthroat school, I guess it could earn you some enmity or jealousy. But if your school is remotely civil, don't worry about it. If that's the case, then just do what you want. That is, if you want it disclosed, disclose it. If you don't, don't.

Incidentally, congratulations on having such a... problem, if you can call it that.

So (hypothetically) if it was one of the schools that accepts almost anyone, but fails out the bottom 20% you might feel differently?

Yes, because that would mean you could transfer to a better school and thus have better options, which is something that people go into those schools gunning for.

As for your problem, I think Caoyun hit it on the head. I have a classmate who got an A- in the summer. He posted it to his FB. Everyone hated him, because that's a dick move. So if you do, in fact, get one of these awards, just be humble about it. Good luck resolving this, ah, issue?

Ego clean up on aisle three!

Seriously. The rest of the world doesn't even approach caring about whether or not your name is published for booking your 1L classes.

If you do, your class is going to put the pieces together when you transfer to a T14 / grab a clerkship or biglaw job w/o transferring. There's no point in theatrics to pretend you're an EveryMan.

Don't gloat and you'll be fine.

If you follow the no gloating option and there are people who still dislike you as a result of your success, then fuck them. You don't need to be friends with everyone and you shouldn't want to be friends with someone who is jealous of your success if you are being modest about it.