OFFICIAL Common Application Questions Thread

[runforfun529]

I'd say it'd be pointless to put more than one of them, unless you can superscore your SATI

[Aint_No_Mountain]

highest ^

[cory123]

another question:

i was orignally planning on writing my main essay about my passion, running, but it appears that the common app wants that in the 150word EC section?? What should I do if I think I can write a good main essay about my EC?

edit: well the 150 worder can be used for work experience too, so I think I'll just write about my internship. Main one i'll reserve for the EC

[k8thnotes]

I'd say write about running in the 150 word EC section. That way you'll be able to present a different facet of yourself in your main essay and you'll appear to be a very well-rounded person. Also, assuming that you can write decently, by writing about your passion, your 150 word EC section will probably stand out.

[k8thnotes]

Question: Is is to your advantage/against your advantage if you don't fill out the optional information section?

[cory123]

Do you mean things like the essays on schools' supplemental forms? I would assume those would be an advantage.

If you mean random things like every single minute detail about your parents and your school thats not required, I don't think it matters very much. just fill in everything you can

[bigp9998]

Where it says 'do you have any special talents or abilities' what would be some examples of this that would apply to this? I cant really think of anything but i dont want to leave it blank...

[Upsilamba]

I was wondering the same thing. I mean, I have skills, but I wouldn't consider them special. They're more like things I'd list under the activities section.

[poloruler23]

if you play 3 varsity sports do you have to waiste 3/7 ec lines
or can you combine it all into one??

[twiggerific]

Where it has a section for smmer schools, programs, etc. can you put a summer program at a college that you paid for? Because I can't think of anywhere else where that would belong.

[cory123]

poloruler: i just used 3 lines for sports. it might be a plus though, because 3 lines dedicated to sports may show a strong passion. Besides, i don't think theres any other way to put it

[SandyRun]

So say I'm in 7 school clubs. I am obviously not going to use every single EC line for each individual club. On the other hand, these clubs show up on my highschool transcript, so maybe it's not necessary to put them in the app?

Also, if i'm class president, and it asks me to put down 7 major activities in order of its importance to me, and I make president #1, but president also shows up on my hs transcript, does it look bad that I'm wasting an EC spot for something that they already see?

[SandyRun]

also could an admin plz sticky this thread that would be excellent

[runforfun529]

Hmm, where is the summer program section?

[koolmaria139]

I can't find the summer section you guys are talking about...I went to a kind of two-week science exploration program the summer after my freshman year, and I would like to include it.