<p>When I’ve downloaded the PDFs, how do I go about filling them in? It says either you print them out or you can do it online, but it doesn’t seem to work - what am I doing wrong?</p>
<p>You can either:</p>
<p>A. Print out the PDF’s and write on them.</p>
<p>or </p>
<p>B. Go to the Common Application website and fill out their online application and the online Harvard supplement.</p>
<p>You don’t fill out the PDF online, you go to this site to do the application online (and frankly I prefer the online version because it’s easier to change, less errors, easier to read, etc):
<a href=“http://app.commonapp.org/[/url]”>http://app.commonapp.org/</a></p>
<p>Wow, you sure are starting early. This isn’t a bad thing of course (God know I wish I’d started earlier than I did), just don’t forget to enjoy the summer 
You don’t want to start senior year burned out, trust me!</p>
<p>Heheh true. However, I thought about it and decided I would start now. Firstly, I’m in China right now so there’s not much chance I’m going to be enjoying my summer. Being in Korea, maybe you know what I mean? I dunno… Anyhow I decided I’m going to be productive this holiday. Secondly, filling in an application can’t be that hard! Thirdly, I figured that after doing all my applications (British unis and American unis all done quite soon after I get back) I won’t have to work at all for the next year. So it’s all good.</p>
<p>LOL my parents are pretty laidback for Korean parents, actually… never had tutors or went to summer schools which was nice… I was better off than most of my friends, anyhow! Anyway, having your apps completely out of the way before senior year begins is a really good idea! Just a bit of advice: I wouldn’t actually submit the application until around October at the earliest – you might put away your essays for a month or so and realize that you want to edit them, or maybe even that you want to write one completely over.</p>
<p>So, with the common app, how do teacher recommendations and resumes work? Do you have to mail those over to the school? Oh yeah, and also, what if I want to send over a CD of myself playing music?</p>
<p>Don’t submit a resume at all. You should have a chance to write in everything you’ve done on the Common App itself, or include it in the extra info section. There are links to downloadable PDF teacher rec forms under Forms. You just print them out and give them to your teachers (and tell them they have the option of just filling out the info and attaching their own letter as long as it follows what the form asks about). Then you either have your school mail it or you mail it yourself, whichever your guidance department’s policy is. Part of the Harvard Supplement asks you what supplementary materials you’re sending in, so you just write what it is and then mail it. You should really look over the Common App before asking questions on here, since it’s pretty self-explanatory…</p>
<p>we shouldn’t write a resume? really? uhoh…i dont think there is enough space to really explain what activities are thats what i used my resume for…</p>
<p>They do specifically mention a resume on the application I think. Can’t be any harm in sending one.</p>
<p>
Good thinking, will bear that in mind.</p>
<p>just be careful. resumes may help or they may hurt. a “famous” admissions saying is “thick application = thick applicant.” the common app has sections where you can specifically submit extra information or explain yourself more. i just used these sections.</p>
<p>everyone posting on this thread should re-read kcastelle’s post and kara’s post!! read them again people! there’s good advice in there. </p>
<p>and please don’t ask follow-up questions saying “but… blah blah… is that REALLY true… etc.” after someone answers your original question.</p>
<p>im not actually targeting anyone in here, lol – just a general observation from the entire website, not just the harvard board.</p>
<p>Sending a resume, in almost all cases, is probably excessive. The Common App is BIG - there is plenty of room (if you use the addition info part) to explain what you have done. You may think “tennis team” or “environmental group” etc needs to be explained… but not to people who specialize in keeping tabs on high school activities. Also, telling an adcom that you’ve done a whole bunch of activities can actually detract from the ones (if any) that you’ve really put your self into. You can send a resume if you want to. I certainly won’t come stop you. I just think you better have a darn good reason for it if you do.</p>
<p>And thanks, m_c. I appreciate it. :)</p>
<p>i sent in a resume, 3 recs, an abstract and some pictures of my art (just a hobby). so send in as much as you want, as long as its not redundant and each part adds a little something extra about you (hehe, that sentence is kinda redundant). and try to send in abbreviated versions (like send in an abstract and not a 20 page research paper).</p>
<p>no problem kcastelle!</p>
<p>good advice about the abstract, whenicomaround. no one wants to read a 20 page research paper full of technical terms + difficult language when there are 20,000+ other files to sort through.</p>
<p><a href=“and%20tell%20them%20they%20have%20the%20option%20of%20just%20filling%20out%20the%20info%20and%20attaching%20their%20own%20letter%20as%20long%20as%20it%20follows%20what%20the%20form%20asks%20about”>QUOTE=kcastelle</a>.
[/QUOTE]
By this do you mean they don’t have to tick all those silly boxes, they can just write a proper recommendation just filling in details like teacher name, how long they’ve known you etc.?</p>
<p>What kcastelle means (I believe) is that some schools have their own recommendation forms that they choose to fill out + attach instead. You have to talk to your GC or other advisor to figure out how your school’s policy works.</p>
<p>Back to the resume - it’s not so much a resume as an activity sheet, where you highlight and explain your most meaningful extracurriculars. All the college books I have read have specifically emphasized attaching a separate activity sheet(s). And personally, I don’t have many extracurriculars, but the few I have I wish to go into detail, and I just feel like the common application (at least the online one) doesn’t allow me to portray them as I would like.</p>