Some questions about the CA

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Hi! I'm just about to finish the main CA and work on supplements. I have a few questions, and I'll work in order from how they appear on the CA.</p>

<p>1) Under Demographics, what defines proficiency? I have taken Spanish 1-5 (and while this doesn't define proficiency, my teacher even complemented me on my ability that was above my peers (not to sound braggish)), and I took French 2, skipped 3, took 4 and 5 one year ahead of my peers and now aid in French 1 and 2 every now and then. Would proficiency pertain to your household, fluency, or semi-fluency? I think I could consider myself semi-fluent, or near to it, in both.</p>

<p>2) Honors: Should I put Honor Societies (NHS, French)? Should I put awards I won for Science Olympiad? </p>

<p>3) For activities, should I fill the 10 or just put my favorite ones? I have done more than ten in HS, but I have only seven down. I feel that my participation in those activities wasn't anything accomplishing, so I didn't put them, but would it look better anyway?
I was also thinking about submitting a brag sheet in the additional information that had an explanation and personal reflection on every activity, so that colleges could see all that I did, and could compare it to the 7 that I chose for the Activities section. Is this a good idea or a waste of time for the admission officers?</p>

<p>4) For the extracurricular writing, the two extracurriculars I would do are mentioned slightly in my essay, one moreso than the other. Should I write about the one that I mentioned more, since it was my favorite, to keep the consistency, or should I write about the other to give a more broad view of me? </p>

<p>5) For the essay, would anyone possibly be willing to check mine? I have one written with a good anecdote about my passion for learning (and my counselor has told me my teachers all talk about this in their recommendations, so it would have consistency), and I am going to write a second about how I've moved three times in my life and can redefine myself. I think the love of learning essay would go under "Topic of your choice", but you could tell me. I might write a third, but I think the first two are the better choices.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I’ve struggled with the same question in my application so I played it safe and put myself as proficient in reading French because I’ve read several novels & newspapers. I wouldn’t say I was proficient in spoken because I definitely can’t say I’m fluent. If I were you I’d put the aspect(s) that I was best at (spoken, reading, or writing) and err on the side of caution.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t know about science olympiad but I would def. put honor societies under Academic honors.</p></li>
<li><p>On my activities sheet, I just happened to have 10 that I was very to relatively active in so I listed all. But if you don’t think you were active enough in a club then don’t list it. Its up to you. I don’t know about the brag sheet.</p></li>
<li><p>I would talk about the EC that is most important to you personally. Which one shaped you the most?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Ok, thanks!</p>

<p>I’m going to ask my language teachers just to check, but I’d say I can read the worst, and speak/write equally, although my speaking is starting to dwindle since our actual classes are the best (and I’m not in a French class this year), but I am still able to speak it well.</p>

<p>2) Ok, if I have extra room I’ll put medals</p>

<p>3) For some of them, I was relatively active in, but it wasn’t much I cared for. Others, I was neither relatively accomplishing or interested. </p>

<p>4) I’ll probably go with Science Olympiad then, which I mention slightly in my college essay</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>I’ve also taken Spanish 1-5 and I put myself as proficient. I can carry a conversation fairly well and reading isn’t difficult for me.</p></li>
<li><p>I know an admissions officer and she told me that for activities, you should put the ones you are most proud of first!! So I suggest putting everything and place the fairly insignificant ones at the bottom.</p></li>
</ol>