Application Requires Tax Information?

[carebthenarb]

So I'm writing my application, and it asks if I filed my taxes in 2014 and 2015. Do you think it hurts me if I say I didn't file in 2014? Cause I didn't have any income whatsoever in 2014, while I filed taxes in 2015 when I got some scholarship money. 

 

Also, under the Awards section of the application, what type of awards should I be putting there? I mainly have academic awards, like the Louise McKinney, a U of A undergrad scholastic achievement one, and valedictorian. I do have some leadership awards, but its from high school but those feel kinda minor.

[Thermophilus]

I submitted two leadership awards (uni) and the others were academic and fairly common (also uni).  My thought was to submit the awards that helped me stand out the most and were the most recent.  Honestly, just present yourself the best way that you can and know that it's probably more than good enough.  As for the tax question I guess it doesn't matter whether it hurts your app or not because there isn't anything you can do about it anyway, so why worry?  Good luck with the rest of the admissions process Careb!

[Friendly Magpie]

Hi careb,

 

I don't think it would hurt you to say you didn't file. I believe they just ask that question to determine whether or not your IP. For example, if someone claims to be an Alberta resident, but filed taxes for the last two years in Ontario, then it might raise a flag at MD admissions.

 

As for awards, you can list both monetary and non-monetary awards like Thermophilis alluded to. If you've received leadership awards outside of the university environment, list them too. I listed awards from my workplace, from an organization I do a lot of leadership work with, and from an organization that I volunteer with.