@eandesmom For CA, kids should only be working on the Common App tab within that application. I would pretty much stay away from the school-specific information in there, although you might see some updating supplemental writing prompts. I wouldn’t respond to them, but work outside the CA if you’re absolutely sure it’s the new prompt.
Google “Common App Rollover” and you will find more detail.
@MichiganGeorgia …wait, where did you read that about the ACT?
@eandesmom None of the schools my Dd is applying to have open applications. She has created CA and CoalApp accts and has added her schools. I think she has a final list. A couple may end up dropping off once she sees the supplements. If they aren’t bad she is going to leave them as “Let’s just see.” Other than that, nothing else has been done those websites. She is working on the essays in word.
In terms of advantages, it does feel good to have an acceptance they like in hand. But our goal is for competitive merit. A lot of those have early deadlines, as early as Oct 15. Those are the deadlines that catch unsuspecting kids off guard bc they are so much earlier than most other deadlines.
@2muchquan I have read the rollover info and it really doesn’t say much other than you’ll lose your college info but personal data will be saved. In all honestly it might be better to just make S wait to even set up the account but August is busy for him and I’d rather at least have the account ready to go so he can have a better feel for what he needs to get done as right now it’s just a lot of eye rolling and what’s the rush.
We can’t really request LOR’s till September anyway but I’d rather he get some of that stuff done and in there.
@carachel2 - Here is the link:
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/experts/
Granted this is a test prep company but it is one that our high school works with.
RE: CA Rollover.
I like the idea of getting started now b/c it can be overwhelming all at once.
Son has not looked at CA general info, but instead has gone into the college pages to see what other supplements pop up. Has done nothing more than copy and paste essay prompts into a Word file (or Google’s equivalent to Word).
For those who do want to get started, what about copying and pasting the responses into a Word file so that they can be copied back in after Aug 1st. The class of 2014 did a LOT of copying and pasting b/c CA kept crashing so there was no guarantee work would be saved.
@MichiganGeorgia – I follow Applerouth and like their summaries.
@MichiganGeorgia Ah! Who would think to click on “New” in order to check your status of a submitted appliation? When I do that, I can see that we have 2 apps, 1 that is incomplete, and the other completed, but with blanks for Transcript and Test Scores.
Geez. That’s really bad.
@carachel2 wrote
The app seems incredibly intrusive (knows where you live, when you leave home and can activate the camera). It is also a battery hog. Luckily my D’s online present is shadier than one of @2muchquan 's fake kids. She ever users her real name for anything on her phone or her computer. We keep things with her real identity limited to “the parent’s” computer.
@SincererLove But it says “National” right in the name. National AP Scholar. See? Right there. And its listed under Award Levels on the CB website:
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/k-12/awards/ap-scholar
“National” plus “award” means “national award” doesn’t it? 
@2muchquan - lol. I think something is messed up in their system.
I love the essays!
Perhaps I am crazy but as my ds writes each essay I see him becoming clearer about what he has done and what he wants to do. He is a slow writer with many rewrites but this forced contemplation along with resume writing has made him see how all his experiences build on each other. More of a tapestry of him then random points…
QOTD
I think D will put her AP Scholar with Distinction Award on her App since it is only one line under Honors and Awards. She is applying to a couple of schools that do not consider AP scores but do look at AP class grades. Considering they may not even look at the AP scores, using one line under Awards and Honors may be a good way to show she did well on the test also.=. Doubt it is a difference maker though.
A 5 on the APUSH exam is the highlight of my D’s junior year!
**QQTD ** S17 has no awards. The only award he will have gotten before applications are sent are he should get commended for NM. Is there another place for mentioning that? Is it considered a national award?
I believe that NMSF goes under the National Awards. That is one of 2 or maybe 3 awards S will be putting on his CA. He is waiting to complete and send the apps to his top school choices until they announce the cutoffs for NMSF. That plays heavily in his list formation.
@mtrosemom Dd is waiting for NMSF announcements as well. She is going to have everything ready to go so that all that is left is to hit submit once she has that info.
She is still waiting on her math 2 scores as well.
@Mommertons - Us too. DS17 doesn’t really have any. All I know is when DS13 applied I knew that being voted “Best Hair” in the Marching Band was NOT something I could spin into anything…
Lame question but does the The President’s Volunteer Service Award count as a National Award? That’s about all we’ve got here for “national” lol. Although he does have it for all 3 years, Bronze, Silver and Silver I think. I am almost positive he should have been gold this year but stopped turning stuff in as he thinks it is silly.
On that note, is Eagle Scout a national award since it is (kind of) standardized across the country? I have really looked at the CA, but I am guessing that goes in the personal achievement category B-)
We put Eagle and Senior Patrol Leader in the activities/leadership section. We kept awards and honors to academic achievements.
Re: Honors and Awards
National Business Honor Society
Captain of LAX and Soccer teams 9/10
Winner: Nintendo Super Smash Bros High School Champion. Does that count? 
So, really none. He’s more of a behind the scenes kind of person. This year he tutored kids that need help and organized food drives for his teams.