AP credits, community service hours, etc on transcript

Just saw my d’s official transcript at school and was surprised to see several things on it. Besides classes and grades, it has a “community service hours” spot for each year, along with spots for standardized test scores - both categories were blank. I asked the counselor if they were going to add the test scores - they have them already - and they said they don’t since schools want them sent directly so it’s useless. When I asked if it looked bad to have blank community service hours, they offered to fill it in with the hours my D has documented for NHS the last two years. Her hours are around 50 each year so I don’t know if that would help or hurt. Just so busy with shows, etc that is the best she can do during the school year and they only count 8 Summer hours. I know this won’t help get her in a MT program but does it matter otherwise? The other thing is there is no mention of AP test scores. Is that normal? How do schools know about your AP credits then? Do you only submit those to the school you end up going to? If so, then it doesn’t help you with the application process which is how I thought you were supposed to stand out. We go to a private school so I m just not sure if this is normal or not since they like to do things a little differently sometimes - they don’t weight grades at all for example - so any info on what’s standard would be appreciated. Thanks!

Re: AP Scores. My daughter’s scores weren’t on her transcript either. I paid to have them sent to the schools she wound up attending. I didn’t even think about them helping her to stand out because what you hear is “the audition is what matters”. However, I’m sure the scores may help for the schools that place high focus on academics. In that case, the scores can be sent to those schools during the process just like standardized testing scores.

Our school lists service hrs because they have a 75 hr graduation requirement.
Our transcript doesn’t list SAT or ACT scores on transcript if that’s what you mean by standardized tests… As for the state required standardized “common core” tests they aren’t listed and colleges could care less about them.

I’ve been concerned about the service hours issue as well. Between honors classes, 20 hours per week of dance, voice, guitar, rehearsals…there’s just no time for volunteering. I’m concerned that could work against my D as well.

@Cornycollins18 I wouldn’t stress too much about the service. That being said, It’s nice to have something even if it’s some hours over the summer. Our state requires it so its something you must squeeze in which i admit is tough as my D goes to an arts high school. She has volunteered as an usher for community theatre which is relatively flex on the schedule and you usually get into the show free:) plus it’s nice on a theatre college app so they know you support your local stuff. Plus I am a strong proponent of volunteering in some capacity . It makes a well rounded theatre kid. My D sorts clothes at a clothing room in the summer a few days too , it’s really just a matter of finding things that work out and engages your kid. My kid loves clothes so that works lol.

@theaterwork those are great suggestions. Lol she loves clothing too! Definitely ushering would be fun - I didn’t even think of that!

With schools where the audition is everything I don’t think the volunteering thing is an issue. But in schools with separate academic/artistic admits (esp where academics are competitive) it could be a thing

I also think that having volunteering experiences can be helpful in an interview situation for admissions. It makes for a great conversation starter and again… shows that you have interests other then theatre. In a recent summer program interview , my D was asked about " what else do you do?" " what are your interests besides this?" & she talked to them about the clothing room and the fashion blog she has. They seemed quite interested in this and stated that they thought this to be a good thing.

@ourturn2 - For my S who was not strong academically, I believe his volunteer hours helped with at least three of the six schools he applied. Those three schools mentioned his volunteer hours to him at some point during the process. He accumulated almost all, except school required hours, during the summer. One summer he clocked over 200 hours on one project and later received an award for that. These hours and award were not on transcript, but on uploaded resume and documented in appropriate places on app. We secured letters listing hours from all non school organizations at the end of each summer and filed them away with other awards. We were prepared to show proof if asked, but never received request to validate.

Re: AP scores helping you stand out. The academically-challenging colleges we visited were interested in seeing that you’re taking/have taken AP courses to show that you’re taking the most academically-rigorous classes that your school offers. They weren’t specifically interested in the scores on the exams. We only sent our kids’ to the colleges they attended to help with scheduling/course credit. If you think it would be helpful to send your scores to any colleges though, it’s only $15 to do that, I think?

@ourturn2 @Cornycollins18 and anyone else needing community service hours - check out www.hearts4arts.org You can create your own heARTS project which you can do on your own time. They can help you with coming up with an idea and getting it set up. Kids have done everything from collect old shoes and leftover recital costumes at their dance studio to doing a talent show and donating the money to heARTS which they use to help schools and programs who lack arts programs. Or you can create inspirational backpacks (heARTS supplies the backpacks) you fill with art supplies you collect like crayons, markers, journals, writing pens, etc… which can then be donated someplace in your community or heARTS can find a place that needs your donation for you. Or they have lots of other ideas. At any rate, it is an easy way to get community service hours and you can come up with something that has a flexible schedule that you can fit in with all of your other activities. They will send you confirmation of the hours you worked at the end of your project if you need to provide that to someone.

Thanks so much @vvnstar - will check it out today! Where we live, it seems like every kid we know takes a bunch of AP classes so that in itself didn’t seem like it would be as interesting as the scores they get since we hear of a pretty wide range. Little bummed to realize scores don’t show up unless we send them but for the few schools where it may help, I’ll probably go ahead and do it. This whole process is just so strange to me since I m realizing on paper things look so different than I expected. This is my first to go thru the process so at least u all can help us figure it out!

The importance of AP classes on transcripts is to show rigor - did you take highest levels offered. I don’t think AP scores are really important to the college until you are admitted (for those that accept AP credits)

Yes send all test scores and all community service hours, involvement, it absolutely makes a difference when reviewing applications. The scores will have to be sent for a fee to each school that you want them to be considered by. I would do this with the app not after acceptance, It not only helps with academic scholarships but as told to us by admission reps it gives them an idea of what kind of student they are looking at. How involved in areas other than theater (well rounded), time management in juggling different responsibilities, what your kid can contribute to their school and community, it also shows rigor of schedule, did they take the easiest courses or the toughest. For many of the scholarships we had to specifically list all community service projects with hours. We had a separate “resume” for lack of better name that had it broken out by category of service. ( we are from a private hs also)

Our public HS did not include AP test scores or community service hours on transcripts. The common app and other school-specific applications ask the students to self report extra-curriculars and service hours. A student can also submit AP scores to the schools where the scores might make a difference, like Ivies. Our D will graduate with more than 30 AP credits. She didn’t report a single AP score. She was accepted regular decision to Northwestern and Vassar, both academically selective schools, and waitlisted at Yale, regular decision. She was accepted early decision to Michigan’s LSA program, a separate admission from MT. I’m sure reporting AP scores to Ivies can tip the scale positively so I would certainly do it in that situation but otherwise I wouldn’t stress about what your school reports. Your student will have plenty of opportunity to make the case for acceptance via the applications/essays.

A little late for the OP, but for future folks reading this thread: many colleges accept SAT/ACT scores from a transcript - my D applied to over 20 schools and they all were fine with getting scores on her transcript versus sent directly. This is a big money saver since you would otherwise have to pay for each test score to be sent directly to each school. So if you took both tests, and are applying to lots of schools, this could add up to big bucks that you do not need to spend. Definitely check with the school to see if they will just take the scores from the transcript.

^^^ That’s what we did, too. We spent so much on this process that every little bit saved helped! I think all but one or two of D’s schools said they’d take the official scores after acceptance into the program. It just took about 30 minutes of phone calls to save $150-200. Not bad.