ACTIVITIES & COURSES AND GRADES

Understanding the COMMON APP

WWW.COMMONAPP.ORG

What is the Common App?

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• The Common Application (CA) is designed to make applying to college faster and easier. �
• With CA you only need to use one system to apply to multiple colleges and universities. Over 1,000 schools use it, including 22 in Minnesota.�
• There are two main parts you fill out: a set of common questions and each college’s own specific questions. �
• The “Activities” and “Courses and Grades” sections are both part of the common questions. You only have to fill complete these once!

The Activities Section:

How do you spend your time?

• This is your “resume”
• Activities include in-school, community engagement, work, family responsibilities, athletics, and more
• Focus on “depth over breadth”
• Don’t be humble here–be detailed in your descriptions
• Proofread!

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Where to Find the Activities Section

1. Log in to your Common App account�
2. Click on the “Common App” button�
3. Find “Activities” in the menu�
4. Choose “Yes” to enter activities

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Start Adding Activities!

Activities Tips & Tricks

• Many scholarship applications require you to list your high school activities. When creating your list for the Common App, do it in a Google Doc so you already have them ready to go for future applications.
• You can add up to 10 activities; rank them in order of importance to you. It’s okay if you don’t have 10, just be genuine.
• Include activities from 9th-12th grade, even if you didn’t participate for 4 years.
• Activities include things you do at school (athletics, clubs, etc.) and also outside of school (a job, club sports, volunteer work, etc.).
• Use brief, concise language and be specific about your role.
• Highlight leadership roles.

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Don’t forget family responsibilities!

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“10 Tips for Making Your Activities List Awesome”

from College Essay Guy

1. Aim for variety, making sure your verbs aren’t redundant.
2. Use the present tense if it’s something you still do.
3. Trim ruthlessly.
4. State role, leadership description, and the organization name in the top two sections so you don’t waste characters in the 150-character description section.
5. Emphasize tangible, measurable impact.
6. Include any responsibilities that demonstrate leadership skills.
7. What if there isn’t much to say or it was a one-time event?� Instead of: Tutored students.� Try: Provided support to fourth graders with particularly difficult math concepts. (This works because you’ve explained the� significance of the activity: why the event mattered and to whom).�
8. Describe selectivity. This is key if the reader might not understand the achievement your activity represents.
9. Avoid extreme language.
10. If your role was simply “member” or “participant,” it’s okay to just list the activity.

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https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/guide-college-activities-list-common-app-example-application

Strong Examples

Member (9th, 10th), Vice President (11th, 12th)

Student Council, Washburn High School

Serve as school ambassador & student advocate; plan & promote school-wide events for 1,500 students; liaise with admin; manage social media.

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Summer Camp Volunteer

Boys & Girls Club of Minnesota

Supervised and served as mentor for 20 K-8 grade kids; Prepared lunch, entertained, and tutored students in math and science.

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Player (9th, 10th); Varsity Co-Captain (11th, 12th)

Washburn High School Basketball Team

Three-year City Champions; planned team banquet; Coach's Hustle Award Recipient. Led practices and motivated teammates to perform at high level.

Check Your Work

Use the “Preview” button to view your application how it will appear to admissions rep. This is available for every section, but especially helpful for Activities and Writing.

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Self-Reported Grades in the Common App

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Some schools require students to manually enter their grades for all classes taken during high school. This will be cross-referenced with the official transcripts that counselors send. Examples include:

• Amherst College
• Arizona State University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Pitzer College
• Purdue University
• Stanford University
• University of Oregon
• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• University of Southern California
• University of Wisconsin-Madison (and UW-Stout)

It’s important this is done accurately! Colleges will compare it to your transcript in the future.

How to determine if your school requires self-reported grades

Schools that require them will be listed under “Courses & Grades” in the Common App section.

You can also click on “Application Requirements” on top right of the My Colleges page. If there is a checkmark in the “C&G” column, self-reported grades are required.

Ready to get started?

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1. Have a copy of your transcript (found in Infinite Campus) in front of you and select “Yes.” A paper copy is helpful.

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1. Select “Continue” or click on whichever grade you would like to enter first

Enter your grades

(Course names should exactly match how they appear on your transcript!)

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WHS uses an A-F grading scale

WHS is on a quarters schedule

WHS does not do final grades– leave blank!

Most courses are 0.25 credits per quarter w/ final being 1 credit

How to enter semester-long courses

Some electives are 2 quarters (1 semester) instead of a full year. Enter grades into the quarters you had the class, and leave the other quarters blank.

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Continue to enter grades until every class on your transcript with a grade has been recorded.

The whole process may take 30-60 minutes. Don’t rush!

Frequently Asked Questions

There are classes from middle school on my Washburn transcript. Do I need to list them?

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Yes. Sometimes classes you took in 8th grade fulfill your high school graduation requirements, so they are listed on your transcript. Enter them in the “Other Courses” section of Courses & Grades. Telescoped math is considered “Accelerated.” The school is still Washburn.

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If there aren’t middle school classes listed on your WHS transcript, you don’t need to include any.

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Frequently Asked Questions, cont.

Do I include the classes I’m currently taking?

You should only include classes on your transcript that have a grade, so it will depend on when you are applying.

Should I include a release hour or teacher’s aide (TA) hour?

Do not list a release hour. If you are a TA, you should include it because you received credit for it. The subject will be “Other/Elective” and you will choose “Pass” for the grade.

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How do I know what the course level is?

Most classes will be easy to determine based on the name of the course. If you are unsure, ask the CCC or your counselor. The most commonly used levels are: Regular/Standard, Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, and International Baccalaureate (IB).

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How do I list my PSEO classes?

Your PSEO classes will be listed on your Washburn transcript. When adding the course, you will enter it during the year you took it and will still select Washburn as the school. Choose “Dual Enrollment” for course level.

Use the WHS Common App Cheat Sheet for more guidance

Questions?