Don't worry about it. I will be starting at one of these schools in the Fall and I don't have any honors, awards, or exhibits to my name. Everybody on this forum has said it, but I'll say it again: It's all about the portfolio, personal statement and recommendations, in that order. The rest might help for an extra push, but do your best to focus on the things you can control. Work like mad on your portfolio and statement to make them the best that they can be. And don't slack with your recommenders. Choose them well and get the forms to them ASAP.

"26. Don’t enter awards competitions. Just don’t. It’s not good for you."
-- An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth -- Bruce Mau Design

Thanks, dekho. I just sent you an email, btw.

Barrett: heh, heh...I know, I know. That point was on my mind even while I was writing my above entry down.

I'm with dekho. The most important components of your application are your portfolio and your ability to think. Awards and honors are irrelevant, not to mention subjective in their intent.

I don't think they're all subjective or irrelevant. You're all thinking "architectural/competition awards," and the people who wrote the applications are thinking "honors/scholarship/fellowship awards." Graduating summa cum laude is neither subjective nor irrelevant. Have you ever received a merit-based scholarship or anything like that? That's what they're expecting to see, not that you won such-and-such architectural competition.

in my experience, they were irrelevant, because i got rejected first time around from every school i applied to. i then got a job at an architecture firm, changed my portfolio completely (changed, as in improved) and got in 5/6 ivy/prestigious schools (three of which i applied first time around) with the same scores, same "honors", or lack thereof...oh yeah, and one of them did give me a merit based scholarship based on "my potential" and it was an ivy.

i'm not saying that i'm an idiot by any means, i was on the dean's list, but didnt graduate cum laude or anything.

wow lenav, great to know, the application process sometimes becomes more confusing and frustrating by looking at the treads on this site.

thanks for posting something that is'
a. personal experience
b. helpful

it is confusing at first, but i think that as long as you were a good student, not necessarily an overachiever, have interesting travel experience or experience in general (i traveled a lot and was a dj, for example), can think for yourself and have a promising portfolio, you'll be fine. working in the field also tremendously helps, because it shows them that you are serious about architecture. don't get caught up in the cum laude/ academic awards aspect if that's not your thing. focus on the components that make you stand out. if merit is your strength, then by all means, milk it for what it's worth, but you can definately still get in if you market your other strong points as well.

don't worry about it. they just look at your work, and letters of recommendation, and in my case, i'm sure i was part of the minority quota. i got into risd, and trust me, the only awards i got in school were camel cash and a lousy lava lamp.