Hey guys I have some questions about the common app that I have been writing down and want to just let them all go on one post and clear up space on this forum. The first question is on the “testing” section of the common app, what does this mean:
“In addition to sending official score reports as required by colleges, do you wish to self-report scores or future test dates for any of the following standardized tests: ACT, SAT/SAT Subject, AP, IB, TOEFL, PTE Academic, and IELTS?”
I said No but IDK what it means.
I also don’t know what this means in the writing portion: “Do you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application?”
Also, I have about 7 colleges selected, so underneath the writing portion it shows “Courses & Grades”. I click on it and go to like 9th grade or 11th grade or whatever, (I’m in 12th grade)
What does this mean:
“To add courses for 9th grade, click the link below. Be sure you have reported all schools you have attended in the Education section of the Common App, and have your transcript(s) on hand. If you have no grades to report for 9th grade, just check the box to indicate you have completed this section.
Add 9th grade courses and grades
Please indicate that you have reported all courses and grades for 9th grade
I have reported all of my courses for this grade”
Is this my transcript? I thought I send my common app, THEN my grade transcript? I thought I send it like 2 weeks after or something.
Also for the “My colleges” section, On the left when I click on a college it has 3 options. Questions, something about ferpa and “review and submit”. Is this where I submit the common app TO that college? It has some questions that need to be answered as well, do I need to answer those? Thanks
Also some colleges of mine have separate prompts in the “questions” section. How serious are those prompts? Do they need to be formal with a header and formatting and stuff?
@cooledwhip - I have been in the same boat. I find parts of the Common App confusing and this board has been so helpful, otherwise I would be in GC’s office everyday. My GC did say not to use the self-reporting grades section. None of my colleges require it and school sends a transcript. Common App should show whether you need to do this or not. The FERPA is a waiver that says you will not get to see your recommendations. GC said to check off that waiver - it looks better to colleges. Good luck.
It is typical to self report your test scores including AP test results, in that section, unless you are submitting your application to a test-optional school and planning not to report any of these tests. If they help you or you need to submit them anyway, report. If you are not are not submitting them and they are poor, do not report. Often people do not send an official college board AP score report until they have already matriculated, but they communicate to the colleges in their application that they have good AP scores by entering them in here.
Unless you have an ususual circumstance, in which case this a good place to explain it, you can leave the “details of circumstances” question blank.
Only six colleges in the United States require the new Courses and Grades section to be filled out. You can see which ones right on the Common App’s site. Common App says none but those 6 schools will bother to look at it, so don’t bother unless one of the six is on your list.
Your high school still needs to send your transcript, no matter what. It can be sent either before or after you submit the Common App. You also need to have any test scores sent separately by CollegeBoard or ACT.
Many colleges have additional questions, beyond the common app’s, that they want answered, sometimes including additional essays to write. Yes, you should answer those.
Review and submit is your last step.
You may want to sit with your guidance counselor and go over everything.
It is up to you to self report any test scores. For some schools, they do not need your official score report until you are matriculated. In that case, you should self report your test scores. For some schools that requires all scores but offer to accept self report of additional test for financial reason, then it is the place for you to report the other scores.
For the additional qualification thing, it is rare. For instance, you may have received a certification or diploma in something outside of your school that it is not listed on your transcript.
For course and grades, basically it is a self reporting transcript. Just copy the courses and grades from your transcript from all grades they want.
If there is/are supplemental question(s) required for a school, you have to answer those before the submission. When you are done, you hit the button to “Review and submit” then follow the instruction.
Are you an international student? It seems you have trouble in following the instructions.
Billcsho…so I was a little bit confused at your first paragraph, so what’s the bottom line? If none of the colleges I’m applying to require me to fill out the courses and grades, do I have to? Or SHOULD I even if they dont require it? will they even look at it, or will they disregard it and just look at my transcript? thanks
If you mean the CommonApp sections for grades. It is only for your GPA. You should report it there as it appears on your transcript. The current course list is also required as it is part of the evaluation. These are different from the list of individual courses and grades which would be on the transcript unless the supplemental section ask for it.
For test score self report, it is usually up to you. The only exceptions are those that do not require official score report until matriculation. If you have nothing to hide, I don’t see why you would not self report the test scores.