How to Choose the Best Awards and Activities for College Applications

Chasing medals and certificates rarely tells the real story of a student’s growth. In this episode of Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, Cathy and Meredith break down how to approach the activities and awards sections of college applications. They explain how some achievements, like character awards, stand out more than others, and why colleges care less about collecting trophies and more about demonstrating character, commitment, and impact. From deciding which awards to include to making sure each activity passes the “so what?” test, they share insider insights from years in admissions and coaching. Tune in for a clear, no-nonsense guide that can ease the stress of application season! Key Points From This Episode: [0:00:44] Introducing today’s topic: Awards [0:03:08] Choosing which awards to highlight and where to list them. [0:05:00] Our thoughts on how to determine which awards are impressive. [0:05:56] Why kids shouldn’t try to win awards to be impressive. [0:07:21] The importance of showing meaningful impact. [0:08:36] Providing thoughtful answers during interviews. [0:11:10] Why we (and colleges) love a ‘coach’s award’ and character awards. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram