Which section to put predicted Nobel prize win year in common app?
If I am expecting to win a Nobel prize in a few years in Chemistry or Literature or something like that, where can I indicate that on the common app for AOs to see? How are you all handling it? It has to be a common problem for everyone applying to HYPSM, no?
1 Answer
The Common App only has places for honors and awards you have already earned, so you shouldn’t list a predicted Nobel win in the Honors section—doing so would be misleading and could hurt your credibility. Instead, use the parts of the application where you can talk about your goals and motivations. If you have research projects, independent studies, or extracurricular work related to Chemistry or Literature, describe those in the Activities section and note what you hope to achieve long‑term. The Additional Information box is also a good spot for a brief, honest statement about your aspiration to contribute work that might one day be recognized with a Nobel prize, without presenting it as a certainty. Your main essay can weave this ambition into a narrative about why you’re drawn to the field and how you plan to grow. A concrete next step is to draft a short paragraph (about three to four sentences) that outlines what you’re doing now, what questions excite you, and why you
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