OFFICIAL Common Application Questions Thread

<p>In the commonapp activities section, can I write about my summer volunteer experiences?</p>

<p>I was also wondering which of these topics would be better for my commonapp essay?</p>

<p>My diverse schooling or my best friend who became my foster brother for a year</p>

<p>Also, for my elaborate on an extracurricular essay, I was wondering whether I should do:</p>

<p>skiing
volunteer work
Camp counselor job where I got best counselor of the year two years in a row</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

<p>Hi does anyone know if I should or shouldn't add an arts suppliment to my early application?
I play a unique instrument and I've performed with a decent orchestra, but it means that I have to submit in the application a whole half month in advance (October 15!).
Also, I'm not like, a genius at it or anything, and I only played with the orchestra for three years and went back to practicing on my own. If I list that in extracurriculars, should I just list the instrument, check all 4 years, then list the orchestra name in the description area, or list the orchestra in the activity names section?</p>

<p>2 Questions about the common app:</p>

<p>1.) There isn't a lot of room in the activities section, so I plan to include an activity list that lists hrs/wk, positions, what I did, etc. Should I still write in a short summary for each activity, or write, "Please see attached activity list" for each one?</p>

<p>2.) This was asked a page or two back but it still wan't answered. I have played baseball both Varsity, JV, and outside of school in summer leagues. Would I have to have 3 activity lines dedicated to baseball then, because they are all different levels?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>The whole Common Application locking deal is incredibely inconvenient. Does anybody know why they made this change?</p>

<p>Making different accounts is a burden.</p>

<p>Apparently, making different accounts is not possible, so no burden there.</p>

<p>From what I read, they wanted to make the CA truly common. They felt that if people changed it for each school it was no longer common. I think that decision should have been left up to the applicant.</p>

<p>When I check the box for "race" on the common app, it also asks you to pick a country...is that the country that you originated from or where you live now?
Also, for the activites section, i have been volunteering at one place for a long time but i don't actually have a title or anything. does anyone have ideas for what i could put in the little description next to the activity (letters earned, positions held?)</p>

<p>Thank You!</p>

<p>
[quote]
When I check the box for "race" on the common app, it also asks you to pick a country...is that the country that you originated from or where you live now?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>well, im white, so i am not totally sure on this....but since the "country" comes up after you choose your race, i think they would mean what country you originated from. like if you pick "hispanic" they want you to pick "chile", not "united states".</p>

<p>
[quote]
I was also wondering which of these topics would be better for my commonapp essay?</p>

<p>My diverse schooling or my best friend who became my foster brother for a year

[/quote]
</p>

<p>if i were you, i would write about the best friend/foster brother. my reasoning is that it will set you apart more, because diverse schooling would probably be more common than a best friend who became a foster brother.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, for my elaborate on an extracurricular essay, I was wondering whether I should do:</p>

<p>skiing
volunteer work
Camp counselor job where I got best counselor of the year two years in a row

[/quote]
</p>

<p>whichever is most meaningful to you.</p>

<p>
[quote]
They felt that if people changed it for each school it was no longer common. I think that decision should have been left up to the applicant.

[/quote]

i wholly agree. it's not really fair...</p>

<p>
[quote]
They felt that if people changed it for each school it was no longer common. I think that decision should have been left up to the applicant.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>i agree. it is especially unfortunate for someone who is applying ED and then has something in their app change by the time they apply RD.</p>

<p>i also have a question, what if i need more room in the additional information section? can i take off my community college grades, and just attach an official transcript? the directions say that a transcript should be sent asap but to list the courses and grades on the additional information section also.</p>

<p>Hey, sorry if this was already answered, but on the Teacher Evaluation form it says to give the recommendation to an academic subject teacher (English, Social Studies, Science, etc), so does this mean I couldn't have my newspaper advisor/teacher write it? I've had her for 3 years and I go to a large school so I'm not that close to a lot of other teachers.</p>

<p>
[quote]
on the Teacher Evaluation form it says to give the recommendation to an academic subject teacher (English, Social Studies, Science, etc), so does this mean I couldn't have my newspaper advisor/teacher write it?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>yeah, unfortunately you are supposed to give it to an academic teacher. but if you get english credit instead of elective credit for that newspaper class, maybe you could give it to her.</p>

<p>I really doubt I will be getting financial aid ( my father makes too much..i'm assuming) but we are STILL going to fill out FAFSA.</p>

<p>Should I mark yes or no for the below question?
Will you be a candidate for need-based financial aid?</p>

<p>I have the same problem as Tweetjazz. I am planning on giving my rec. to my Gifted and Talented Teacher. The class is an AP weighted independent reasearch class. Im hoping it's okay.</p>

<p>xxshorty and Tweetjazz, go ahead. you'll be fine. They just don't want like your band director giving you a rec on your academic skills</p>

<p>I don't know if this has been asked (don't have the time to go through 23 pages of replies), but I can't find a place to put AP Scores on the Common App online!</p>

<p>I found a section for AP scores on 2 supplements, but it's not on Stanford's, Dartmouth's, Northwestern's, or Yale's. </p>

<p>Am I just retarded for being unable to locate the AP Score section of the Common App, or are these schools not concerned with AP test results? (The latter seems unlikely to me..)</p>

<p>above the test scores section where where put SAT stuff, it says to put AP scores under the academic honors section</p>

<p>Oh, thanks!! I fail at reading instructions.</p>

<p>So, for the schools that have an AP scores section on the supplement, do I write the scores again? .... That seems kind of repetitive...</p>

<p>well, you have to send the same common app to every school. so i guess i would put it on.</p>

<p>Am I allowed to print one of each of the school forms that I need and then make the necessary copies needed?</p>

<p>Such as:
Secondary School Report
Midyear Report<br>
Final Report
Teacher Evaluation 1</p>