Winning an award

[sociologygradgirl]

I have not declared to any school let because I am still in the process of trying to leverage for fellowships and such. At my current institution, I just found out I ended up winning an award for my thesis. Should I email prospective schools and tell them this? Or would that sound too cocky?

[yoshiko]

Honestly, I don't think an award for your thesis would really push any school in giving you more money or a fellowship at this point in the app season. Plus, I'm not sure how you would word that or sneak that into a conversation without sounding like "look at me look at me" type of a thing.

If a school wants you, it is normally because your research interests match very well with a professor's and he/she sees quality in your ability to be a scholar. I don't think an award is going to really make or break anyone's decision BUT that is just my opinion.

[sociologygradgirl]

It's not for the department- I know research match was why I was admitted. This is for a competitve, university-wide fellowship.