A Common App Expert Is Needed!

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Okay, so... July 1st is finally here. I decided that I would look through what the application looks like, just to get a feel of what they were asking for. But, as I looked through, I was floored at some of the questions that they were asking. Any answers to these questions will be much appreciated!</p>

<p>1) Family Section: My parents are divorced. They are asking for my mother's last name. She never actually changed her last name back to her maiden name, but I don't know if they want her maiden name or her formerly-married name?</p>

<p>2) Family Section: My mother attended Adelphi University for 1 1/2 years until she dropped out. Under the Degree Received tab, I put Some College. Then, it says Degree Received... but I don't know what to put??</p>

<p>3) Family Section: My father is a dentist. He is also the owner of the dental company. Under employer, what do I put?</p>

<p>4) Family Section: For siblings.... I have one biological brother. Also, my father got remarried and just had a new child. He was born in July and is less than one month old. Does this count as a sibling since we have the same biological father? If so, what would I put for age?</p>

<p>5) Academics Section: They ask for graduation date. How are we supposed to know the exact graduation date?</p>

<p>6) Academics Section: Under Current Year Courses.... it's the summer! What courses do they want (junior or senior year or ALL years?)</p>

<p>7) Tests Section: I plan on submitting the ACT to all of my college choices. But, I only want to submit my SAT II Subject Tests to the only college that requires it. How can I set it so that only one college recieves the SAT II Subjects?</p>

<p>8) Writing Section: In the Additional Information area, can I attach my resume of activities? I have Microsoft Works, not Word... will it be accepted?</p>

<p>I realize that these are a lot of questions, but please take some time out to help me. Thanks!</p>

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<p>5.) Senior year courses. Fill out the entire application as if you were filling it out the day you were submitting it.</p>

<p>7.) Don’t self-report your subject tests. Wait until the college gets the official score report.</p>

<p>8.) I believe all Microsoft Words documents can be opened by Microsoft Word. I recommend submitting everything as a rich text format document, since those are always virus free and can be opened with almost any program.</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, I have a lot of these same questions and I’m not certain of any intuitive answers, so I don’t want to give you any wrong information. </p>

<p>But for #5, I’m pretty sure that you could ask your guidance counselor or an administrator at your school to find out. I’m probably just going to wait until school starts, I don’t know if they know for sure yet. And if you end up not having the EXACT date, I don’t know that it would matter that much…? Don’t trust me though, I’m new to this too! Haha. Good luck!</p>

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<p>5) Are they asking for the exact date? I’m planning on putting down June 2010</p>

<p>8) You can also use Google Docs to create MS Word files</p>

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<p>Should I put my writing contests in the Honors/Awards section? I’m assuming so.</p>

<p>Also, when are AP Scholar and NMSF announced? I would like to add them in (I am a probable candidate for both), but I might have to submit my app before then.</p>

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<p>To applicannot: Are you suggesting that I should not write down ANY scores or just not the SAT II Subjects? And if I have 4 Subject Tests and only want to send 2… can I just choose the top 2?</p>

<p>To terp: Yes, they want the exact date for some odd reason.</p>

<p>To wigman: Yes, you would put the writing contests there. AP Scholars are I believe October and NMSF is October too. But, not really sure since I won’t be a NMSF.</p>

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<p>Just don’t write down the SAT Subject Test scores. That way, no one will know as long as you don’t send them the scores.</p>

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<p>Well… in your personal opinion, would two subject test scores of 710 be beneficial / neutral for schools like Brown/Boston College/Brandeis/Dartmouth etc?</p>

<p>Maybe I’ll send them to all of the schools if they will help or be neutral.</p>

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<p>Check here to see what schools want in terms of sending scores:</p>

<p><a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf[/url]”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board;

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<p>Team-Most schools have the graduation date for 2010 on the school website somewhere. We actually had it on some mailer they sent.</p>

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<ol>
<li>They want her current legal name. Ask your mom what that is.</li>
<li>What are your options? If it’s a free-write section, put “none” or “N/A”.</li>
<li>Put the name of his company.</li>
<li>Put down your half-brother. Say his age is “less than one year”, or if that’s not an option, just say he’s 1. I doubt they’ll care, anyways.</li>
<li>Call your school this summer and ask if they know. If they don’t know, wait until the school year starts and ask again, because the date definitely should be set by then, and I assume you have no reason to submit your application before senior year starts.</li>
<li>They want your senior year courses, since they assume you’ll be applying during your senior year.</li>
<li>After you submit your application to one school, you can replicate it and make changes before submitting it to other schools. So just make sure you send the right application to the right schools.</li>
<li>Yes, you can attach a resume. Save the resume as a .doc file, which you can do in Works.</li>
</ol>

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<p>hi guys! </p>

<p>i wanted to know where to attach or how to send in an extra letter of recommendation? (on top of those required by the commoon app.)</p>

<p>i read on another thread that you can request online for an extra recommender through the common app.</p>

<p>or do you get the person to write the letter and send it by mail to be added to you file?</p>

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<p>Thank you so much pFNMCp! You were tons of help! And thanks to everyone else!</p>

<p>To oeij: Attach it in the additional information section as a document. I am not really sure about the reccommender thing… but I know that it is possible to send in another recommendation. Maybe attach it in the additional information again?</p>

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<p>thanks teamfrangela92!</p>

<p>i’ve thought abt it. but ur recommender is supposed to write u the letter and technically ur not supposed to see it. u know what i mean?</p>

<p>i understand that ur resume with EC’s, AP’s, Honors can be attached under our personal ‘ADDITIONAL INFO’ but I’m not sure how recommenders will send it. </p>

<p>I’ve read that some send it in a serpate envelope to the universities and its added to your file (but i’ve doubts as to whether the admissions offices will be efficient enough to add it to your file =s)</p>

<p>I think I also seen somewhere in one of the threads that a Common App official or staff said someone who is close to or knows you well such as a sport coach can write an extra recommendation through the common app? </p>

<p>Really need an expert to help clarify this…</p>

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<p>To oeij: Actually, in the book I am reading right now “A For Admissions” by a former Dartmouth Admissions Officer… it mentions how countless letters of recommendation and other forms come in seperately and are put in that applicant’s folder. I had to waive my right to see the recommendation forms before I could make a Common Application account. I believe that sports coaches can to, I would just give them stamped envelopes with the addresses of the admissions colleges on the envelope and let them send it.</p>