Application question scholastic and non-scholastic distinctions

Application question scholastic and non-scholastic distinctions One new section of our application this year distinguishes between scholastic and non-scholastic distinctions. The questions read: List any scholastic distinctions you have won since entering high school and indicate the level of distinction. List any non-scholastic distinctions you have won since entering high school and indicate the level of distinction. It seems that the distinction between scholastic and non-scholastic has been causing some confusion, based on web comments and phone calls. In an attempt to alleviate confusion, I sat down with my colleague McGreggor Crowley 00, MD, who directs the admissions process here, and together we tried to make the distinction. One way to think of it would be this: academic and co-curricular awards will usually be scholastic. Extracurricular awards will usually be non-scholastic. However, an important message is this: there is no wrong way to fill out this section. Dont worry about putting an award in the wrong section, as there really is no best way to fill this out. Do your best to place things where you think they belong, but dont stress out over it. McGreggor and I also brainstormed a list of awards and distinctions, and how we might categorize them. (Again, these are not the right answers, but rather some insight into how we might do the sorting). Here goes Examples of what might be considered scholastic distinctions: Math (e.g. AMC, ARML, Mu Alpha Theta) Science (e.g. Science Olympiad, USABO) Robotics (e.g. FIRST Chairmans Award, firefighting robots) Computer science (e.g. ACSL, USACO) Engineering (e.g. bridge building, rocketry) Research science fairs (e.g. school/regional science fair, ISEF) Academic summer programs (e.g. Governors school, SSP, RSI, MITES, WTP) Academic competition (e.g. Academic Decathlon, Quiz Bowl) Exam-based awards (e.g. AP Scholar, National Merit) Grade-based awards (e.g. Honor Roll) Awards linked to a class or department (e.g. History department award, NCTE, National Latin Exam) Honor societies (e.g. National Honor Society) Book awards (e.g. Harvard Book Award, Rensselaer Medal) Examples of what might be considered non-scholastic distinctions: Leadership (HOBY, Rotary, student government) Music (e.g. competitive orchestras, concerto competitions, All County, Interlochen) Art (e.g. placing in a competition, having a gallery show) Athletics (e.g. All League, varsity letter, Wendys High School Heisman) Volunteering (e.g. Prudential Spirit of Community Award) Work-related accomplishments (e.g. employee of the month) Politcal (e.g. Model UN, debate, Boys/Girls State) Dance (e.g. arangetram) Scouting (e.g. Gold Award, Order of the Arrow) Random stuff (e.g. Prom King/Queen, Most Likely to Succeed, I have read all of Modern Librarys Top 100 Novels) Now, if you happened to list debate as scholastic, or FIRST as non-scholastic, dont worry. As I said above, these are not the right answers, rather one attempt at sorting. As long as youve done your best to list those distinctions of which youre most proud and best show your talents, you have done this section correctly. I hope this is helpful!