Are you also stressing out because you don’t have any National Award, and you’ve heard that you need a National Award to get into the top University or College?
No, this isn’t how it works. Having National and International Awards can surely strengthen your application, but they are not necessary.
It is a common misconception among the students applying for the top Colleges that only the students with National and International Awards can get into the colleges of their choice.
The colleges are looking for the zeal in you to achieve your goals; they aren’t looking for what you have won, but they are looking for what you have and what you can do in whatever is available.
Here’s what Top Colleges are looking for
Top colleges require passionate and enthusiastic students who are willing to work to achieve their goals and to make an impact in that area. Zeal in a student reflects how good a student can do, and how important the college is for the student, and equally how the student can benefit the college.
1. Intensity of Passion and Zeal:
Top colleges require passionate and enthusiastic students who are willing to work to achieve their goals and to make an impact in that area. Zeal in a student reflects how good a student can do, and how important the college is for the student, and equally how the student can benefit the college.
2. Consistency over the Recognition:
Sustained and continuous efforts matter more than one off recognition or an award. Consistency is the key to impressing the admission officers rather than running after a prestigious award or recognition.
3. Circumstances Matter:
The college admission officers are very experienced and understand the point that not every circumstance is available to every student. So, they see what you have done and achieved in the circumstances available. If you didn’t have access to the National Competition, it doesn’t mean you are not good.
4. Qualities Beyond Awards:
Being perfect in just one field of the domain doesn’t mean the person is perfect in every sense. The colleges are looking for a pack of qualities: leadership, creativity, initiative, problem-solving skills, and intellectual ability.
The National Awards work when:
You are applying for something in the field of recognition (for example, if you have a National math Olympiad and you’re willing to apply for higher studies in Mathematics, then the awards help to showcase your ability).
The National and International Awards can sometimes help you stand out in hyper-competitive applicant pools (e.g., for Ivy League, Stanford, MIT).
STRENGTHEN YOUR APPLICATION WITHOUT NATIONAL AWARDS:
- Lead powerful Passion projects.
- Try to excel in whatever is available to you, and win regional or school-level awards.
- Create your Opportunities.
- Write a meaningful and impressive Supplemental Essay that elaborates who you are.
- Secure strong recommendations from the teachers who know you well.
- Try going for summer courses, or do some independent research.
- If you are good at any extracurricular activity, reflect it through your portfolio.
- Do whatever best you can do, like being socially good and having good communication skills, doesn’t need a platform; you can build that yourself.
For Example:
Someone who didn’t win a national science fair but did a research project with a local university professor and wrote a compelling essay about it could be admitted over someone who had national awards but presented a generic application.
How The Princeton Review Singapore Can Help You Get Into Top Colleges Without National Awards
Though the national awards play an important role in college admissions, it isn’t the only way, and that’s where you will find The Princeton Review taking over your stress.
We specialize in helping students build an impressive application that highlights who they are.
The Princeton Review can provide you with:
1. Providing Personalized Guidance to build a strong Application
- Colleges are interested in the depth of your activities, not in a list of random achievements.
- The Princeton Review helps students build a strong application by discovering and highlighting the talent in the student.
- Expert guidance from international education consultant at top global universities
2. Starting a strong Passion Project
- Strong Passion Projects play an important role in impressing College Admission Committees.
- We help you start an impressive Passion project and also track your progress.
3. Writing Stand Out Supplemental Essays
- Supplemental Essay helps the admission officer understand to whom and why they should give admission. So, a good supplemental essay can turn the tables for you.
- The Princeton Review helps you write an impactful Supplemental Essay by helping you avoid the common mistakes that students usually make.
4. Academic Support and Test Prep
- Test scores stand as the very first impression of your intelligence in front of the College Admission Committee. So, good scores are vital to get into top colleges.
- We can provide you with excellent one-on-one test prep classes, which ensures good scores for you.
5. Highlighting Impact and Context
- If you are lacking in National Awards because of limited opportunities available, you need to present your story to the Admission Officers.
- We can help you in writing your story in an impactful manner, which will make the admission officers believe that you can excel if you are provided with the required opportunities.
You don’t need national awards to impress top colleges—you need authenticity, focus, and expert guidance to present your strengths effectively. Admissions committees value passion, consistency, and genuine impact over accolades.
With The Princeton Review Singapore by your side, you’ll receive personalized support, strategic direction, and the tools to build a standout application.
Whether it’s crafting compelling essays, launching impactful passion projects, or acing your tests, we help you showcase the best version of yourself. Take the first step toward your dream university with confidence.