<p>I'm filling out my USC app right now, and I see it says to "list only college preparatory classes" and designated AP/IB. Does this mean Honors Classes are given no designation on the app? So for frosh year, I just put English 9, not Honors English 9?</p>
<p>Also where they ask to state the grade received, does it have to be a letter grade, or can it be a percent? And should it be the weighted or unweighted grade in AP/Honors classes?</p>
<p>My son put down the letter grade shown on the report card. By saying "list only college prep classes", maybe that means to leave out driver's ed., cooking, (i.e. non-academic classes). My suggestion about the designation (honors, etc.) is to list your classes the way it is on your report card. You might want to ask your guidance counselor/high school college counselor if this doesn't sound right or if you feel you need more assistance to make it sound right.</p>
<p>I think it would be appropriate to list the course as Honors English 9. </p>
<p>I'm sure USC wants your unweighted grade, which is why they ask for the notation of IB and AP courses, which gives them an idea of the course difficulty. </p>
<p>College prep classes would be the academic ones - you exclude PE, music, art. If your application emphasizes your depth of experience in art or music, though, it would be smart to include those as well.</p>
<p>I am only wondering if your anticipated major is "art or art history" or music (instrumental, marching band, etc.) if those classes should be listed as well if they reflect the passion/interest of the applicant. However, if art or music are just extras on your report card (and not related to your intentended academic pursuits) then to leave them out. Admissions will see all your classes on your report card.</p>
<p>Also, I go to private school where A is 93-100, B is 85-92. However, all the public schools around me have 90-100 A, 80-89 B etc. So if I'm putting letter grades when I got a 92 for example, should I say B? That seems unfair when I'm competing against people from schools with a different grading scale.</p>
<p>JR526:
Your counselor will include a school profile with his/her assessment form. Maybe ask your GC if this is supplied by your school? Generally the profile outlines your school's grading methods as well as a lot of info particular to your school.
I don't remember if there is an additional info box in the USC app, but you could also describe the grading there. If not, you could add this info on the one of the sheets that you upload as a brief addendum. USC is very flexible in how info gets related to them.
Regarding courses to list, at my D's school, a year of practical arts was required. She did include ceramics in her course list (and certainly AP Art History). It was understood at D's school (which sends a lot of kids to USC) that it was PE, drivers ed etc which are not listed.
Whether you add or not, USC will base things on the transcripts/ reports.</p>