How important are school honors in college applications? (2024)

FAQs

How important are school honors in college applications? ›

Colleges really want to see how you spent your time in high school. Having awards is great to have for an application, but they are by no means necessary neither are they dealbreakers. Awards can definitely enhance your applications. It's okay if you are not competitive; show colleges who you are!

Yes. Honors classes can demonstrate to colleges that a student has strong academic interests and high academic achievement.

It indicates whether they were able to study in an efficient way, were able to manage their time properly, and if they were able to work well with team members. For future employers, seeing a student graduating with honors can verify that the student has the competence to do the work they are assigned to do.

Remember that awards and honors can definitely play a role in college applications, but they're not the sole determining factor. Colleges and universities consider a multitude of factors like grades, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, and more when evaluating applicants.

The honors section is an excellent way for college admissions officers to gain an understanding of your strengths. Your activities section paints a picture of who you are outside the classroom, but the honors section is a demonstration of the things you really excel at.

College Goals

If your goal is to attend a college that significantly emphasizes AP coursework, it may be beneficial to prioritize AP classes. However, remember that colleges also value a well-rounded academic profile, so honors classes can still be valuable in demonstrating academic rigor.

Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript.

Having a high honors degree can be important for job candidates in certain fields. Those include finance, management consulting, and engineering. These jobs pay well at the entry level and are quite competitive, often with more than 100 applicants for each spot.

Hence, Honors students are eagerly sought by employers and preferred for admissions by graduate and professional schools. Your Honors research projects provide you with graduate-level research experience and prove your ability to work independently at an advanced level.

The Bottom Line. Cum laude is a Latin term used at educational institutions as a mark of distinction, representing honorable excellence in coursework. The cum laude designation is often included in resumes by potential job candidates to demonstrate their success in academics and to put themselves above the competition.

How much do awards matter for college apps? ›

Having awards is great to have for an application, but they are by no means necessary neither are they dealbreakers. Awards can definitely enhance your applications. It's okay if you are not competitive; show colleges who you are! Colleges care about passion and commitment towards your activities.

Please understand that every viable Ivy League candidate is at the top of their game - and only YOU know if you're a viable candidate or not. You do not need “national awards and crazy extracurriculars to be accepted by an Ivy League”.

Colleges typically operate on an honor system when it comes to extracurricular activities, meaning that they trust students to report their activities accurately and honestly. However, it's not unheard of for colleges to verify activities randomly or if something seems suspicious on an application.

Many students with superb, even near-perfect GPAs ultimately submit their applications with a blank Honors section. Here's the good news—you can and should include making the honor roll at your high school in this area. If your school uses different nomenclature (i.e. Principal's List), then list that.

You can enter up to five honors, for which you'll specify the title (up to 100 characters), the grade level, and the level of recognition, from school to state/regional to national or even international. It might not seem like much, but a strong track record in the Common App honors section can really pack a punch.

Benefits of an Honors Program

You will have the opportunity to think deeply about the purpose of your life and the career you hope to pursue. Honors students also often receive scholarships that assist with tuition and may be eligible for further financial assistance.

Yes, it will speak volumes about your abilities and aspirations. Students in Honors programs are widely recognized as being the best students at a college, having both superior academic ability and the motivation to make the most of their college experience.

Honors classes do add value to your transcript, as they show colleges that you're willing to challenge yourself academically.

School honors like Honor Roll and Principal's List certainly can add a positive component to your college application, but they're generally not as impactful as having a strong GPA and taking challenging courses.

For high-achieving students who want to stand out in a competitive admissions pool, the truth is that admissions officers are looking for As in the most rigorous courses. Admissions officers want students to take honors courses, even ones outside of their comfort zones, and find ways to succeed in them.