Jae B.

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

What this example most confirms for me: it's all a matter of taste. And program. And luck.

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

Sometimes it's helpful to bring a laptop, if you have some kind of writing test or want to show a digital project or web page.

For my interview, I brought two copies of my résumé and some writing samples. It's a good time to bring in anything you wanted but didn't get to include in your application.

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

What if it's work done and collected the last day of class? Hence my use of "final" in the original statement; that was the built-in assumption. Sorry if it wasn't clearer. Still, a logistical problem - how is a TA/prof/instructor going to efficiently redistribute work back to everyone if there's no more class? I've offered ways to save students this trouble in the past (mailing final labs, scanned copies of midterms via email), and been rather surprised by the underwhelming response.

As an aside, a professor friend of mine recently had a new university decree: 1) all graded work must be returned, and 2) it now had to be done in such a way that there was NO opportunity to see others' grades. No more stacks of exams on a table at the beginning/end of class, or left outside of offices, for people to sift through -- he had to give up instructional time to individually hand them back, which amounted to 15-20 min in big lecture courses. Which is the more asinine - profs having to cut out curriculum to allow time for an overly-PC mandate, or expecting students to adapt their schedule and sacrifice 5-10 min if they genuinely care to see their grade and feedback?

The answers to your earlier musings are evident in this thread.



Your point is interesting, given many of your previous posts in other threads.

Nobody asked you to do all that stuff. If you decide to get a degree you should make time for it . I am very simpathetic with all my students endeavors but I treat them as adults with full respect to their choices. They have every right to prioritize their work /other study/ family life/love life but they do not have the right to complain about their grade if they decided to do something else . Life is full of trade-offs they have to take responsibility for their choices, and be happy with their choices, a failed class is not a huge deal.

Honestly, I never went to pick up graded anything. I felt like it is the TA or professors job to return graded assignments. It actually REALLY pisses me off when they tell us to "go pick it up". In undergrad, I had no clue where their office was, and wasn't about to spend precious study time figuring it out and picking up an old assignment, but I still want to know what grade I got!

This is just pure laziness, and it's attitudes like these that make professors want to make fun of the students' work. Part of studying is learning where you made past mistakes and doing better.

It's these students who irritate me the most - the ones who ask me 8 weeks into the semester where my office is or when my office hours are (it's been listed on the syllabus since BEFORE the first day of class), the ones who don't bother to pick up their homework even when I bring it to CLASS and then badger me about what their grade is. I had a student complain to me that she didn't realize that there was a late penalty on homework, so she felt like she had to talk to the professor because if she had realized there was a penalty, she would've turned it in closer to the due date. You're trying to tell me that you made it all the way to college (twice) and you didn't realize that there's almost always a penalty for late work? (And yes, we announced it.)

I also don't believe the sentiment that there are no stupid questions. It's simply not true. There are a variety of stupid questions students can ask during class - the ones that ask me something I've repeated 5 times already; the ones who ask questions that are unrelated to the subject at hand; "will this be on the final" questions (EVERYTHING is on the final. it's a statistics class!).

Are you serious? EVERY professor I EVER had listed their office hours and contact information on the syllabus. If you couldn't find it there, you could find it on the department website. Heaven forbid you spend 5 minutes figuring it out and going there.

I wondered a bit if this thread would (a) pick up steam, or ( seriously offend someone. Despite my attempts to temper my post with acknowledging that this is a bit of dark/black humor - and that in my years of being an educator, I never once encountered a real-life "holier-than-though" colleague that saw themselves above this sort of humor - it seems that ( is inevitable on Grad Cafe.

Grading is, by and large, a thankless job. In high school, the vast majority of kids will toss corrected papers in the trash after inspecting the grade and never look at your comments. Most that do read them don't do so for understanding or any ideals about "the learning process", but as leverage for an argument about the grade. In college, few will come to pick up their final labs, papers and tests that you've taken time to comment upon. I've done rounds of editing roughdrafts to help students, only to read final versions with the same mistakes. I've spent hours designing lessons and then activities to teach concepts, taken "Review Days," only to read answers about things I'd taken care to go over and over that were way off base.

So, I apologize that I do not hold your ideals anymore about the grading process. Apologies if we take a few moments here and there to *anonymously* snicker at a comment or two. Trust me, this is not a fraction as bad as some of the words and snarky comments often exchanged behind closed doors. I found that learning support and guidance staff - those professing to be the primary go-to's for student assistance - were often the worst. Even I cringed to imagine the fallout or reactions if parents or students overheard. It is pervasive in the educational sector, and seen largely seen as a means of psychological survival. While I love teaching and the thought of having small classes I get to design curriculum for sounds amazing, I would hesitate to take a teaching-based job at a small school...solely b/c of the grading load. I have had my fill.

Above all, people need to laugh at themselves. I encouraged that in my students, and tried to model it when I made plenty of mistakes in front of them. I once submitted a very thorough application for summer work in Turkey that I desperately wanted, wherein I waxed poetic about how much I wanted to visit eastern Europe. I was selected, but you better believe my advisor on the project took me to task about that phrase. I had a PowerPoint of "What not to do in your lab report," with actual examples I'd received over the years. It was always one of the most engaging lessons/presentations of the year, and I received huge positive response from students about it, and the lab reports got better and better over the years. (Mostly.) I also wanted to emphasize to them that a strong work ethic, and being a professional down the road, means checking and re-checking your work again to eliminate mistakes, and I used the example of once seeing a PR liason for a large power plant project give a presentation where the slides mentioned "pubic policy."

Not to ruin the party, but I have to say that I have huge issues with sites like "Shit my Students Write." Laughing at at something snarky a student wrote is one thing, but sites like that really encourage teachers to rag on students for their lack of understanding, and for missteps they take as they try (their best, as novices) to begin navigating the waters of academic discourse.

I wrote really embarrassing, really silly things as an undergrad. It would have really hurt me to know that my professors were laughing at everything I turned into them and sharing it with all of their colleagues.

Students trust us to help them learn, and we're often repeating adages to them like, "there is no stupid question except the one you haven't asked." I still vent to my colleagues, and I still trade stories about unbelievable things my students have done and said. But my new goal is to keep my badmouthing about students to a minimum, especially online.

</steps off soapbox>

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

So, people don't magically recover from having once been a procrastinator when they enter grad school in their dream field? Uh oh, bad news for me....

But, seriously, I feel energized when I have something new to do. (Which is why I'm not in a field requiring lengthy research, but instead usually very short-term projects. But I've seen people in lengthy research fields struggle the same attention-span issues I have. And I feel for them!) When I do have to conquer a long-winded project, I try to find other new, exciting things to do with my spare time, to make up for the agonizing project.

Sometimes taking a brief break for an outdoor adventure, someplace I haven't been, is all I need to come back home and focus focus focus! Or treating myself to a silly movie. Or trying a new restaurant and bringing some of my work with me -- I can work on almost anything if good food's involved!

I don't save special things as rewards for doing my work, because then I'm sad looking forward to them, still procrastinate, never earn the reward but probably go get it anyway.... So I reward myself in advance and then get to work.

When that doesn't work, I try to find a friend who's interested in my research topic, and talk it over with them. Their energy can be really motivating and inspiring.

If I really still have a hard time, that means I need to tweak my research topic to something that will better sustain my interest. In general, I find it's better to tweak the topic sooner rather than later, because my disinterest will only grow over time. I finished my undergrad thesis last semester, and I actually altered my topic mid-way because, well, I was reading blogs, too, and I am not someone who reads blogs! My thesis turned out great with the revised topic, but I can only think of how great it could have been if I'd changed my topic earlier on, rather than being stubborn and sticking with something that lost its magic within the first month of research.

If you're drifting at this early stage, maybe you need to spice up your topic, too. I think early on should be the most fun part -- until you're almost finished and you're editing it!

So, people don't magically recover from having once been a procrastinator when they enter grad school in their dream field? Uh oh, bad news for me....

But, seriously, I feel energized when I have something new to do. (Which is why I'm not in a field requiring lengthy research, but instead usually very short-term projects. But I've seen people in lengthy research fields struggle the same attention-span issues I have. And I feel for them!) When I do have to conquer a long-winded project, I try to find other new, exciting things to do with my spare time, to make up for the agonizing project.

Sometimes taking a brief break for an outdoor adventure, someplace I haven't been, is all I need to come back home and focus focus focus! Or treating myself to a silly movie. Or trying a new restaurant and bringing some of my work with me -- I can work on almost anything if good food's involved!

I don't save special things as rewards for doing my work, because then I'm sad looking forward to them, still procrastinate, never earn the reward but probably go get it anyway.... So I reward myself in advance and then get to work.

When that doesn't work, I try to find a friend who's interested in my research topic, and talk it over with them. Their energy can be really motivating and inspiring.

If I really still have a hard time, that means I need to tweak my research topic to something that will better sustain my interest. In general, I find it's better to tweak the topic sooner rather than later, because my disinterest will only grow over time. I finished my undergrad thesis last semester, and I actually altered my topic mid-way because, well, I was reading blogs, too, and I am not someone who reads blogs! My thesis turned out great with the revised topic, but I can only think of how great it could have been if I'd changed my topic earlier on, rather than being stubborn and sticking with something that lost its magic within the first month of research.

If you're drifting at this early stage, maybe you need to spice up your topic, too. I think early on should be the most fun part -- until you're almost finished and you're editing it!

To clarify, not everyone here is aiming for a career in academia -- not anytime soon in my case, at least.

I do think certain club or organizational activities could look good on a résumé, or even a CV. But it would definitely depend on the type of activity and the depth and quality of your participation, and how it relates to your overall goals. Professionally, in some cases outside academia at least, it can be a deal-maker to show potential employers you are not a drone:


you have interests beyond just your area of education and / or employment (making you a more interesting, mature and probably more stabile person to be around -- I know people who have not gotten opportunities because they seemed too narrowly focused in one academic / professional area), you know how to work and organize in groups even outside of contemporary organizational settings, people trust you with responsibility, and -- finally -- you know how to manage your time well enough to comfortably take on responsibilities beyond your academics or employment. If you can demonstrate those aspects within some meaningful activity, then it might be good to note such an activity on a résumé or CV that needs a bit more meat. If you have a ton of stellar experience, you probably don't need it. But I'm noticing more and more people include this kind of stuff, I believe mainly to demonstrate leadership ability, application of learning outside the classroom or workplace, and their time management skills.

These things could also be mentioned separately in a job interview, however, if there were some compelling reason. For example, if faced with one of those dreaded "weakness" questions, it might be good to say extended public speaking has been a challenge for you, but participating as a ____ in your campus Toastmaster's club has helped you become more effective at delivering lengthy presentations, as demonstrated by ____....

Would you want to put Toastmaster's club on your résumé or CV itself, though? Probably not. Not unless you happened to know the person looking at your application was a major Toastmaster's buff!

That said, while I might include other skill building activities or leadership, I have not included any purely volunteer (or "charity") work on my résumé, in the spirit of it truly being voluntary -- not something for credit. Maybe I correctly interpret fuzzylogician's stance as similar? Good to know someone else feels this way. I've rejected the notion of credit for volunteer work since high school, where it was required to document it to earn an "honor crew" notation -- I didn't go for it, because it felt wrong to me. Perhaps because:


it promotes self-interest motivated volunteerism, and while I like to be realistic and not all warm and fuzzy, I know the most helpful things others have done for me in my life had nothing whatsoever to do with self-gain and instead were about caring and a desire to generate equity, and it disproportionately validates documentable, "measurable" kindness and effort for others, through traditional, socially accepted means (that not even everyone has the means to regularly participate in or have transportation to), not rewarding general helpfulness or kindnesses outside of the mainstream or things that are difficult to document -- some of the most generous and thoughtful community leaders could hardly ever solidly document all the good they do...kind of unequal and unfair.
While I tend to wince at "look at all my charity work" résumés, I do respect that at times it is wise to list it -- it's hard to keep volunteering if you haven't got means to sustain yourself because most of what you do is volunteer work, and in that case some credit is needed -- and agree it conveys a lot about someone's character and commitments, and may inspire more people to get involved where they see a need if they read about someone else's involvement.

Well you obviously are not an adult yet, since you rely so much on your parents and cannot stand up for yourself.