To include honors/awards from high school? Forum

[marklg89]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about including honors/awards from high school. I'm a college senior right now, so I'm about 4 years removed from high school. I didn't garner any honors/awards during my college years (except for Dean's List honors, which I mentioned in my resume), but had a few notable awards during my senior year of high school.

I've been advised to NOT include anything from high school when applying to grad school, simply because admissions officers are more interested in your collegial accomplishments. Since I haven't had any significant awards in college, should I just leave that section in the applications and my resume blank? Will this detract from my overall file? I'm curious if others have faced this dilemma, and what your thoughts may be. Any answers are greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

[2014]

List dean's list on your resume under your school and put it under awards/honors on applications. If your GPA is enough that you can anticipate some sort of cum laude, you could put anticipated ____ there too probably. Under no circumstances should you include the high school stuff though...that's the general opinion here which seems very credited.

[txadv11]

I have heard do not include 99.9% of high school anything.
Are you SURE you only have dean's list to claim? President's list? Did you ever attend your UG school's "student activities club" (or whatever they are called) At my school I believe attending the university made you a member of this group. No honor's society? FYI I graduated in May and actually was awarded post-gradation admission to a honor society for my major- check into this kind of thing for what you studied. (it was purely off of a GPA requirement and a small lifetime fee)

[ivantheterbl]

How hard and fast would one stick to this rule? I finished second at a national race for junior athletes and was invited to represent the United States at world championships for the event, so I have that on there but certainly don't want it to be a problem

[094320]

..

[005618502]

How hard and fast would one stick to this rule? I finished second at a national race for junior athletes and was invited to represent the United States at world championships for the event, so I have that on there but certainly don't want it to be a problem

You could put this is your PS, but its not a big enough deal to include on a Resume as something from HS. Almost nothing is

[ivantheterbl]

What if it is going to be vastly more interesting/impressive than what I would put instead of it (just a participant in a club)

[005618502]

What if it is going to be vastly more interesting/impressive than what I would put instead of it (just a participant in a club)

Still no because it was in high school, and hopefully you have accomplished much more then you had 4 years ago....

But like i said, it can go in your personal statement, but if you have high school items on your resume you will look like you were lazy in college and that will look bad. The club participant will look better

[2014]

What if it is going to be vastly more interesting/impressive than what I would put instead of it (just a participant in a club)

It's not about whether it looks more impressive or not, it's about what the adcomms are going to think. Even if it is true, the last thing you want for them to think is that you literally did nothing in college to the point where your high school achievements are the best you have. They will assume you have unlisted things on your resume otherwise, but if you have to get into high school to fill it up, it is a clear signal that you do not.

[kalvano]

Never put anything from high school on your resume. Ever.

You're applying to graduate school.

[marklg89]

Thanks for the replies, guys. The people here always have great insight to offer.

I have heard do not include 99.9% of high school anything.
Are you SURE you only have dean's list to claim? President's list? Did you ever attend your UG school's "student activities club" (or whatever they are called) At my school I believe attending the university made you a member of this group. No honor's society? FYI I graduated in May and actually was awarded post-gradation admission to a honor society for my major- check into this kind of thing for what you studied. (it was purely off of a GPA requirement and a small lifetime fee)

Sadly, aside from Dean's List and anticipated magna cum laude, I don't have any honors... I worked during the school year, and was promoted to greater responsibilities in my job (which I discuss in my resume), but no specific honors. I also have good extracurriculars within the school that were quite fulfilling, so hopefully these factors will combine for a solid application even w/o crazy school honors.