What do students get if awarded recognition?

The awards can help academically deserving students stand out when pursuing college and scholarships. Students are encouraged to share their awards on applications to demonstrate their distinguished academic achievement in high school. Students receive a downloadable certificate accessed on BigFuture.org through their College Board accounts that they can share with their high school, family, and community. In the past, awardees have been featured in media stories and celebrated by their schools and districts. 

Additionally, colleges can identify and contact awardees who have opted in and are participating in Student Search Service™. When students are opted in, they may receive mail and/or email from colleges and universities that want to recruit awardees like them. On average, students contacted by colleges through Student Search get 29% more offers for admission, are 25% more likely to go to college, and are 31% more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree. 

Learn about the National Recognition Program