<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>I am in 12th in a CBSE school. I have a few questions about sending applications via commonapp.</p>
<p>a) I don't have a school counselor. Should I ask my principal to fill the forms that are to be filled by the counselor?</p>
<p>b)Should both my teacher recommenders be from the school I'm doing my 11th and 12th in, or can they be from the school I did my 9th and 10th in? ( I think my old teachers would do a better job, and they've known me for longer)</p>
<p>c) Should my teacher recommenders attach separate letters of recommendation to the commonapp teacher evaluation forms, or are they just supposed to write in the comments box? If they have to attach a separate letter, should it be in a particular format? Or would a plain old letter in a Word doc do?</p>
<p>d) I interned at the local Times of India Office in the summer, and I want to send an additional letter of recommendation from the journalist I worked under. Is there any way I can send that through commonapp, too, or will he have to mail it separately? Would email do or will it have to be post? Is it okay that only that part of my app will be via mail/post?</p>
<p>e) What exactly are the school 'transcripts'? Attested and scanned copies of my marksheets/report cards?</p>
<p>f) Do I need to get my documents (Like the International Supplement) filled in by officials from both the schools I've attended or only the school I'm doing my 11th and 12th in?</p>
<p>Also, for getting letters of recommendation written, I have a choice between a teacher who knows me quite well but is not that articulate and cannot write very comfortably in English, and a teacher who doesn't know me THAT well, but will be able to write better. Who would be a better choice?</p>
<p>Any help will be appreciated guys! Really need it! :)</p>
<p>a) Yes, the principal should replace the counselor.</p>
<p>b) The letters should come from teachers from 11th or 12th grade. Most universities either recommend or require this.</p>
<p>c) Teachers should preferably write in the comments box. The forms can be submitted on-line by the teacher per the instructions found in the common app or the teacher can mail the form with or without printed Word doc via regular mail, directly to the school. You should provide the teacher with stamped, addressed envelopes if they are mailing for their convenience.</p>
<p>d) You should do regular mail, again, provide envelopes.</p>
<p>e) Transcripts are the official record of all your classes, grades, and disciplinary issues if any. They must be sent directly from the school without you being involved in the transmittal. Usually the high school places a special stamp on the envelope which proves authenticity and that the envelope was not tampered with. If your school only has marksheets/report cards I suppose that may suffice along with a letter from your principal which attests to your good academic standing. It may help the application reviewers if the school could prepare a listing of all the grades on a single page which is sent with the individual report cards.</p>
<p>f) In general, the school you will receive your diploma from is responsible for your records.</p>
<p>I would ask the teacher who is more articulate. I would give this teacher copies of all your application essays, a copy of your resume, and have a frank discussion about your aspirations for college in the U.S. and life in general. Colleges want to know “who you are” beyond grades and test scores and the teacher’s letter of recommendation is a way to validate what you are presenting via your essays and other applications materials.</p>
<p>Thank you Keesh! A few more clarifications :
I think transcripts can be uploaded via commonapp, right? Or do they have to be mailed by the school via post?
And is it okay that only one part of my app, i.e. the additional rec letter, is sent via mail?</p>
<p>The transcript can be uploaded electronically but the format of the document needs to be compatible with the common app software. Since your school may not have transcripts at all it may not work. If you feel at all iffy about your schools administrators to handle computer/web stuff I would do the printed forms sent via regular mail route. Applications can definitely be a mixture of electronic and paper components. Make yourself a spread sheet/checklist to track what everyone is supposed to do especially if applications for U.S. schools is not routine at your school.</p>
<p>Idledevil
You can get a lot of info on transcripts if you go to CC Home on top left and then in the search box which will appear on top right, type “Sending transcripts from India”. You may find it very helpful, as in India there is no standard format followed for this. Some just send the copy of mark sheets for 9/10/11/12 grades with school stamp and signature. Some like to squeeze it onto single page format. The idea is to effectively convey not just your grades but also how they compare with rest of your class ie. top 10% or top 20 %</p>
<p>Thank you anialways, I will do that. Btw, do you guys know any other resources for Indians/Internationals filling the commonapp? It is just SO confusing, and in the absence of school staff experienced in these matters, enough to drive you crazy.</p>