Some basic questions about filling in Common App!

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>I had some questions that I wanted to clarify about some of the blanks I need to fill in for the common app. My school counsellors don't know very much about the common application so I wanted to ask on CC :)</p>

<p>-Honours:
It says to briefly list any "academic distictions or honors".
This is school stuff only, right? What about awards for something extracurricular - for example, let's say a piano award. I don't write this here?</p>

<p>-Extracurricular activites & Work experience:
There is a blank for Positions held, honors won - so that piano award would be written here? If there are several, I just write them there?</p>

<p>Also, I took lessons for a long time for a language (outside of school). What would I write for Positions held? What would I write for "Activity?"
Position held: Student
Activity: Learned (name of Language)?</p>

<p>It also says that I may attach a resume. What normally is in the resume? A more detailed analysis of all the activities for each activity?</p>

<p>One more question:
In one of the pages where the counsellors are supposed to fill in the information, there is one that says "In comparison with other college preparatory students at your school, the applicant's course selection is: Most demanding, Very demanding, Demanding, Average, Below Average.</p>

<p>I know that for Ivy League schools, course rigor is important.
I live in Canada, and although other schools may have AP, my school doesn't. I took APs last year by self-studying, though. I finished the most 'rigorous' courses last year, so in my grade 12 year there aren't many rigorous courses left. In comparison with other students, I probably have an easier course load this year because everybody else is taking their difficult courses now whereas I took them earlier. The counsellor might not think my course load is therefore very demanding. She might mark it as 'average'. Might this affect my chances, anyhow?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance, I don't expect to have all answers from one person and I appreciate that you're putting your time into answering them! :)</p>

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<p>I know this isn’t terribly helpful but I’ve been having some of the same questions and talking to peers and those a grade ahead of me about what they’re doing/did.</p>

<p>Honors: I’m thinking school stuff or academic extracurriculars. Like I’m putting Speech & Debate team awards, community service awards, Rotary Student of the Month, etc. But yeah, I don’t think Piano goes there.</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars and Work: I’m putting more general info about the extra curriculars even if I listed an award for them above (assuming I have more to put than just the one award). Like I got a big community service award for volunteering with an organization I founded, and I listed the organization itself here with smaller awards I got here too. Mostly organized things like lessons, my job, etc., not just hobbies (I think that’s obvious and I don’t think that’s what you were asking but in case it was).</p>

<p>Course Rigor: I don’t know for sure, but I think you should just talk to your counselor and make sure they’re looking back at your schedule in the context of all four years not just this one. I bet they do that already, in which case I doubt you’d be rated “average” if you really took harder classes earlier. If anything, that should benefit you even more.</p>

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<p>I have been posting this in various threads because I found it to be very helpful. Read the entire site not just this link and see if any of your questions are answered.</p>

<p>[Guide</a> to the Common Application](<a href=“http://mycollegestreet.com/AppCAGuide.htm]Guide”>http://mycollegestreet.com/AppCAGuide.htm)</p>

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<p>Thanks :slight_smile: I think it’ll be helpful although I may have more questions in the future.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much. That link just saved me one huge anxiety attack.</p>