Common App Honors Section: What to List & How to Stand Out

The Honors Section of the Common App is a crucial part of your application, as it allows you to highlight your academic, extracurricular, and personal achievements. While this section may seem brief, it’s a powerful opportunity to demonstrate your dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence. In this blog, we’ll guide you on what to include in the Honors Section, provide specific examples, and offer tips to ensure you stand out in the admissions process.

What Is the Honors Section on the Common App?

The Honors Section of the Common App is a dedicated space where you can list any awards, recognitions, or honors you’ve earned during high school. This section allows you to showcase your most significant academic and extracurricular accomplishments, giving colleges a deeper understanding of your strengths and abilities.

While it’s a small part of your overall application, the Honors Section can help set you apart from other applicants by highlighting your achievements beyond grades and test scores.

What to List in the Honors Section

Here’s a breakdown of the types of honors to include, along with specific examples for each category:

1. Academic Honors

This category focuses on awards, recognitions, and distinctions that reflect your academic performance and excellence.

• Honor Roll: If you’ve consistently made the honor roll or dean’s list, be sure to include this recognition.
  
  • Example: “Honor Roll (Grades 9–12, all four years)”
    
• Class Rank: If your school ranks students by GPA, include your rank if it places you in the top percentage of your class.
  
  • Example: “Top 5% of Senior Class”
    
• Subject-Specific Honors: These awards are given for excelling in a particular subject area, such as mathematics, science, or literature.
  
  • Example: “Best in AP Biology (2019)” or “Top Scorer in Regional Chemistry Olympiad”
    
• Academic Competitions: Recognition from local, state, or national competitions can show your commitment to intellectual challenges.
  
  • Example: “1st Place in State Math Competition” or “National Merit Scholar Semifinalist”
    

2. Extracurricular Honors

Here, list awards that you’ve received for achievements outside of academics. This could include recognition for leadership, athletic performance, arts, or community service.

• Leadership Roles: If you’ve been recognized for your leadership in clubs, sports teams, or organizations, this is the place to highlight those honors.
  
  • Example: “President of National Honor Society (2020–2021)” or “Captain of Varsity Soccer Team”
    
• Sports Achievements: Awards such as MVP, All-Conference, or State Championships can highlight your athletic dedication.
  
  • Example: “All-Conference Soccer Player (2021)” or “State Champion in Track & Field (2020)”
    
• Artistic Accomplishments: Recognitions in music, drama, or visual arts demonstrate your creativity and commitment to the arts.
  
  • Example: “Lead Role in High School Musical Production” or “1st Place in Regional Art Competition”
    
• Community Service Awards: If you’ve received any recognition for volunteering or community involvement, be sure to list it here.
  
  • Example: “Volunteer of the Year Award (2020) for Local Homeless Shelter”
    

3. Special Recognition

This category includes unique and prestigious honors that don’t neatly fit into academic or extracurricular categories. These could be based on merit, talent, or specific projects you’ve worked on.

• National or International Recognition: If you’ve received recognition on a larger scale, such as national or international levels, this should absolutely be listed.
  
  • Example: “Finalist in National Science Fair” or “Invited to Global Entrepreneurship Summit”
    
• Scholarships: Merit-based or competitive scholarships showcase your academic excellence and potential.
  
  • Example: “Awarded Full Scholarship to Summer Leadership Program” or “Received National Merit Scholarship”
    
• Research Opportunities or Fellowships: If you’ve participated in prestigious programs like research fellowships, include them to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity.
  
  • Example: “Research Fellowship with University’s Environmental Science Department” or “Intern at National Institute of Health (NIH)”
    

How to Make Your Honors Section Stand Out

It’s not enough just to list your honors—how you present them can make a significant difference in your application. Here’s how to optimize your Honors Section for maximum impact:

1. Be Specific About Each Award

When listing an honor or award, don’t just name it—provide specific details to give context and weight to the achievement. This helps admissions officers understand the significance of the award.

• Vague: “Winner of a science competition.”
  
• Specific: “1st Place in Regional Science Fair (2021) for developing a solar-powered water filtration system.”
  

2. Prioritize Meaningful Honors

You have a limited number of spots (typically five) in the Honors Section, so be strategic. List the honors that are most impressive and impactful—those that reflect your dedication, leadership, and passion.

• High-impact awards: National or state-level recognitions or prestigious scholarships should take priority.
  
• Avoid listing minor awards: Don’t use up space with honors that don’t add significant value, like minor participation trophies or certificates from small, local events.
  

3. Keep It Concise but Clear

Admissions officers don’t have time to read lengthy descriptions in the Honors Section. Keep each entry clear, concise, and focused on the key details. The goal is to present your accomplishments in the most impactful way, without going overboard.

• Concise: “All-State Choir Member (2019–2021)”
  
• Overwritten: “I was selected as a member of the All-State Choir after months of rigorous auditions and rehearsals that culminated in a final performance at the state convention.”
  

4. Don’t Repeat Achievements from Other Sections

If you’ve already mentioned an achievement in your Activities Section, don’t repeat it here. The Honors Section is specifically for formal recognitions, not a place to rehash everything you’ve done.

• Do: Mention your “Volunteer of the Year” award in this section, as it’s an official recognition.
  
• Don’t: Mention your “volunteer work at the animal shelter” again if you’ve already detailed it in the Activities Section.
  

5. Link Your Honors to Your Future Goals

While the Honors Section doesn’t require explanations, you can use your Personal Statement or Supplemental Essays to further explain the significance of your awards. If you received honors for a specific project or activity, you can explain how it influenced your goals and future aspirations.

• Example: If you received an award for community service, you can elaborate in your personal essay on how this experience inspired your desire to pursue a career in social work or public health.
  

Common App Honors Section: Final Thoughts

The Common App Honors Section is a great opportunity to showcase your most significant achievements and set yourself apart from other applicants. By carefully selecting and presenting your honors, you’ll give admissions officers a clear picture of what makes you unique, driven, and committed to excellence.

Remember to focus on quality over quantity, be specific and clear about each honor, and use your essays to explain their impact on your personal growth and future aspirations. With these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to crafting an Honors Section that leaves a lasting impression on college admissions committees.

How The Princeton Review Can Assist You in Understanding the
Common App Honors Section

The Common App Honors Section is a critical part of your application, where you have the opportunity to highlight your most significant achievements—whether academic, extracurricular, or personal. However, figuring out what to include, how to present your honors, and how to ensure that your application stands out can be tricky. That’s where The Princeton Review can help.

The Princeton Review offers a range of resources, guidance, and personalized consulting services to ensure that you navigate the Honors Section—and your entire application—successfully. Here’s how they can assist you every step of the way.

1. Personalized Admissions Consulting

One of the most valuable services that The Princeton Review provides is personalized college admissions consulting. Their experienced consultants work with you to understand your strengths, achievements, and future goals. When it comes to the Honors Section, they can help you:

• Identify Your Most Meaningful Honors: It’s easy to get lost in a long list of accomplishments, but The Princeton Review can help you determine which awards, honors, and recognitions are most impressive and relevant to your application. They’ll help you focus on the honors that best showcase your skills, leadership, and commitment.
  
• Tailor Your List to Your Goals: Your consultant can advise you on how to choose honors that align with your intended major or career path. For instance, if you’re applying to a STEM program, they’ll help you prioritize academic honors or achievements in science and math competitions.
  
• Provide Expert Feedback: Once you’ve compiled your honors, your consultant will provide feedback to ensure that you’re presenting them in the best possible light. They’ll help you refine descriptions, ensuring that each honor conveys its significance and impact clearly and succinctly.
  

2. College Application Boot Camps and Workshops

The Princeton Review offers college application boot camps and workshops, which can be incredibly helpful for students who want to tackle the entire Common App process, including the Honors Section, in an intensive, structured way. These boot camps typically include:

• Workshops on Crafting a Strong Honors Section: Learn the best practices for selecting and presenting your honors, with expert guidance on what to include, how to list it, and how to make sure it adds to your overall application narrative.
  
• Real-Time Application Reviews: In these workshops, you can get live feedback on your Honors Section from professionals who know exactly what admissions officers are looking for. They’ll help you fine-tune your entries and make sure they reflect your achievements in the most impactful way.
  
• Group Discussions: You’ll have the opportunity to hear from your peers about the kinds of honors they’re including, giving you a broader perspective on what’s important to showcase.
  

3. Test Preparation and Academic Support

While the Honors Section focuses on your awards, it’s important to remember that your academic achievements are often the foundation of many of the honors you list. The Princeton Review’s test prep services can play an essential role in helping you maintain strong grades and perform well on standardized tests, which will enhance your overall application, including the Honors Section.

4. Essay and Application Strategy Support

Your personal statement and supplemental essays are your opportunity to expand on your achievements, including the honors you list in the Common App. The Princeton Review offers writing and application strategy support, helping you connect the dots between your Honors Section and the rest of your application.

• Link Honors to Personal Story: When you list honors, it’s important that they tie back to your personal story and motivations. In your application essays, you can explain how specific honors shaped your academic or career goals. The Princeton Review consultants can help you incorporate this into your personal statement and other essays.
  
• Polish Your Essays: Whether you’re working on a general personal statement or school-specific essays, The Princeton Review’s expert writing coaches can help refine your writing, ensuring that your essays highlight your achievements and the story behind them, including any honors that shaped your journey.
  

5. Access to Online Resources

If you prefer self-paced learning, The Princeton Review also offers a variety of online resources, such as:

• College Application Guides: They offer step-by-step guides that walk you through every part of the Common App, including the Honors Section. These guides explain what to include, how to prioritize your achievements, and tips on writing descriptions that will impress admissions officers.
  
• Webinars and Video Tutorials: The Princeton Review hosts webinars and video tutorials that cover the Common App in detail, including how to effectively list honors. These resources are a great way to get a deeper understanding of how to approach your application in general and the Honors Section in particular.
  

6. Specialized Programs for Highly Competitive Applicants

For students applying to highly selective colleges, The Princeton Review offers specialized consulting and programs designed for top-tier schools. These programs include more advanced strategies for crafting your entire application, including the Honors Section.

• Advanced Admissions Strategies: If you’re aiming for Ivy League schools or other highly selective institutions, The Princeton Review can offer specialized advice on how to make your Honors Section truly stand out. They’ll help you select awards that align with what these schools value most—whether it’s leadership, academic excellence, or creativity.
  
• Insight into What Top Schools Value: The Princeton Review consultants have extensive experience with competitive admissions. They can give you insider insights into what top schools are specifically looking for in the Honors Section, ensuring that you’re not just checking boxes, but strategically positioning yourself for success.
  

Conclusion: The Princeton Review as Your Guide to the Common App Honors Section

The Common App Honors Section is your chance to present your academic and extracurricular achievements in a clear and impactful way. With the help of The Princeton Review, you can ensure that you make the most of this opportunity. Whether you need help choosing the right honors to list, presenting them effectively, or linking them to your personal story, The Princeton Review offers expert support through personalized consulting, workshops, resources, and more.

By utilizing their services, you’ll be well-equipped to craft an Honors Section that strengthens your application and sets you apart from other applicants.