Perhaps CommonAppGuy has another idea, but I would advise against it. Many organizations that use online forms have “scrubbing” software that takes the information from the forms and drops it right into their databases. Users can then get reports that list the data in the database. “See resume” doesn’t work for that purpose; it may appear that you have nothing to add. A human may or may not look for the “attached resume.” And you don’t want to send an application that requires someone to transcribe your information into the database by hand.</p>
<p>Fill out the form with your most important information; add a resume only if it adds something to your application that is not apparent from the application itself.</p>
<p>Remember, your goal is to make your application as easy as possible for the admissions counselor to read, report on and digest.</p>
<p>is for counselors and not for students? The counselors mostly know how to fill it out. Colleges have to rethink what each high school’s grade average MEANS anyway, because different high schools have different curricula and different standards.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m just curious on how it will be filled out. It makes a big difference with my GPA, and I wanted to see if my GPA would fit the “range” of my colleges.</p>
<p>What would be people’s advice about filling it out online and printing to send it in, especially if I need to need supplements with my app. I know the Common App website suggests against this. Would schools rather get my supplements separately (I really want them to read my letter addressing my age BEFORE they go through my app, and I don’t know if this will happen if I send it separately…) or get the printed Common App with them?</p>
<p>You do not have to fill in all they ask for on the apps. As one college counselor advised me … they do not need to know where your parents went to school or what their professions are … it has no relevance to the decision (unless you are a legacy) and could work against you if your parents are too successful. Do not be too specific … just think how you might start reacting to applications after reading dozens and dozens and dozens … you might draw a few inaccurate conclusions from small bits of information… keep the focus on you.</p>
<p>^If you’re first gen though, definitely make sure to put that your parents didn’t attend any college. That will definitely give you a leg up (even though it might only be a small one).</p>
<p>what’s the best way to fill out the current year courses section? if the credit is both semesters should I put the class under both 1st semester and 2nd semester? also is it ok to put the credit value in parentheses?</p>
<p>Yep. Put it under both first and second semester if it’s full year. Unless it’s a college course, it’s not necessary to write the credit value (it’s different at many schools!). After all, they can check that on your transcript.</p>
<p>Parent Education Levels, School attended, etc, are required fields. If you try to submit the application while leaving them blank, you’ll get an error message.</p>
<p>The single best way to really annoy the admission officer reading your application is to ignore the application instructions. The extracurricular activity instructions are very clear – even if you plan to submit a resume, you MUST still fully complete the extracurricular grid. That is where the admission officer can quickly and easily find the precise data they’re looking for in the place they know they will find it. The person reading your application may have 10-15 minutes at most to spend on you - there’s simply no time to read most resumes.</p>
<p>This is a decision your high school makes, not the colleges to which you’re applying. You need to ask your high school counselor what s/he will report on the form.</p>
<p>Your high school decides how they will report their student’s GPA’s - colleges have no control. You need to ask your counselor how it will be reported.</p>
<p>What would be people’s advice about filling it out online and printing to send it in, especially if I need to need supplements with my app. I know the Common App website suggests against this. Would schools rather get my supplements separately (I really want them to read my letter addressing my age BEFORE they go through my app, and I don’t know if this will happen if I send it separately…) or get the printed Common App with them?</p>
<p>Part of your question is based on a faulty premise. If you send a letter explaining something about your age, this letter is uploaded in the “additional information” section of the application. The letter goes to the college with the application; it does not go with a supplement.</p>
<p>Colleges like to get things online. If you send something on paper, it takes longer to arrive, and a human being has to hand enter all the data on your application into their computer system. If you send it online, a human doesn’t have to do all this work.</p>
<p>On the Common App, in the Activities section, you can’t type in the name of your activity; you have to select one from the drop down menu. This is perfectly fine when you have Dance or another specifically listed activity, but for something such as math bowl, you can only pick ‘Science/Math.’ Do I use the ‘If relevant, describe details’ part to just put Math Bowl? Is that all I would put in that section, or do I describe details about what Math Bowl is? Or do I describe how much effort I’ve put into a leadership role (if I have one?) If anyone could answer this I would be so grateful!!!</p>
<p>Thanks Chedva! One more thing, if I’m in a club that isn’t really well-known and the adcoms probably wouldn’t know about, would it then be okay to describe what it is? Or should I still just assume they do know what the club is/does ? Thanks again!</p>