Common App questions too weird/difficult to answer??

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey.
I'm an international student from India, and I don't know if I'm the only one troubled by the bazillion questions on Common App, purportedly there for colleges to get to "know us better". Seriously? Are you telling me colleges care about my counselor's title (BTW, what is the difference between a counselor's title and his/her prefix)?
And then there is the one concerning your 'education'-- I would like to know why there isn't a separate set of questions for international students. It is such trouble asking people what to put in GPA, because hey guess what?! A lot -- I repeat, A LOT-- of countries do not use the GPA system, and it is a downright hassle.
And the 'education interruption' question. Cue said question:
Please indicate if your progression through secondary school was or will be delayed or interrupted in any way. Check all that apply.
-did or will not graduate
-did or will graduate early
-did or will graduate late
-did or will change secondary schools
-did or will take time off
-did or will take gap year
-did or will receive GED
-I have no interruption to report</p>

<p>Seriously?! "-did or will take time off" and "-did or will take gap year"?!?! What's the difference between these two?!?! And which one am I supposed to pick if I am ON a gap year right now (which I am. Actually, I'd really like to know which one to pick)?!?!</p>

<p>I could go on, but I have to complete my essays. Seriously, Common App, you suck. You need to up your game before colleges themselves realize how crappy you are. It's a surprise they still haven't.</p>

<p>Sincerely,
Int'l student</p>

2

<p>Pick the gap year one! Calm down! Common app is as easy is it’s going to get! Half that info is just for technicalities, chill! The only GPA that matters is the one reported from you’re high school, not whatever you do or do not put on common app. Seriously. Calm.</p>

3

<p>The Common App was designed for American students attending American colleges, not for cranky and demanding internationals. There’s no special provision for internationals because first, the vast majority of users are American, and, second it would be impossible to account for the educational systems of every country. Of course, if completing the Common App is all that irritating, you can certainly attend college in your home country and avoid the problem altogether, right? </p>

<p>Okay, I understand that you’re just stressed out and not really as ill-tempered as you seem. So to get to your particular questions, a gap year is specifically a year between completing secondary school and attending college, while any other period when one is not attending school (for illness or any other reason) would be considered “time off”; we don’t really have “pre-fixes” per se in the US, where even the principal of a school would be addressed to his or her face as “Mr. _<strong><em>” or “Ms. _</em></strong>”, whereas the counselor’s title could be something like “Assistant College Counselor”. As for the rest, complete the form to the best of your ability. Colleges know that it can be difficult for an international to deal with the Common App. and will make appropriate allowances. Best of luck.</p>