@bobo44 That is probably a good generalization. For me, if my county caps “weight” at 4.0, I’d rather D report 3.96 unweighted, and let the college review the transcript instructions themselves.
@Boilermom - if you have a different number of graded classes or credits per year, you have to take a weighted avg. For instance if you had 6 classes one year with a gpa of 3.5 and 8 classes the next year with a 4.0, the weighted avg would produce a 3.79. Adding and dividing by 2 would result in a 3.75.
@homerdog - I would agree with waiting to send apps for a few weeks so you can update. I remember D sending some e-mails in Jan/Feb with some updates and admissions would say that the info. would be added to her file. I remember reading/hearing that AOs don’t want a lot of updates with little things, but if there is a significant accomplishment it is fine to send that.
@grandscheme, I think it would be pretty tough for D to raise her SAT score by 100 points. She’s already in the high 700s on verbal, so there’s not much more room to go up there. It’s going to have to come mostly on the math side, which she just struggles with. She’s only just going into pre-calc this year, so she just doesn’t have as much math already as many other kids in her grade. I’m sure if she got tutored one on one, the score would come up. But it would be painful (for her, not me). And she struggles with timing, so we’ve been told that the ACT would be worse for her.
So D19 is filling out the Common App, and has run into a question about her current (read: will be current when she submits) year classes: What does she do with classes that she expects to take spring semester, but is not yet registered for? Should they be listed—is it the entire senior year’s courses, or just the current semester’s?
@dfbdfb My kids have always listed what they expect to take 2nd semester. On the pull-down menu for each class listed on the Common App, the student has the option to select “full year”, “1st semester” or “2nd semester” class.
New to this group but I have been following for a while. My oldest D17 was a recruited athlete so we didn’t have to go through the full application process. Someone up thread mentioned a resource with guidance on how to present activities in the best light on the common app. Does anyone have advice or a resource on how to do this?
Our guidance counselor is helpful to a point but not when it comes to this level of detail. D19 is not applying to the highest rank schools but schools in the 20-40% acceptance rate range. We are still at a loss for safety schools with solid math programs but getting closer to a final list. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Just google “tips on writing the activities section of the common app”. You will find websites to help. You want to use action words when you describe the activities and use as many specifics as possible. Numbers are good. If student raised a certain amount of money for a cause or managed a certain number of people in a leadership role say how much/how many.
Thanks @homerdog ! We’ll check it out.
@dfbdfb We are listing the spring classes as it asks for senior year classes, not senior fall term classes.
My worry is mainly that her spring schedule is subject to change. I guess every future projection is subject to change, though, eh? (See also, the activities section.)
We also have that problem. S17 took year-long classes, so it was simple then. S19 is taking semester-long classes, and some are approved and others still waitlisted. We will just have to list our best intentions. 
Even if the spring classes change I do not think it will introduce major rigor/interest change for S17.
An updated course listing will have to be sent together with the fall semester grades report.
@dfbdfb if it does change, she can just email the colleges with the updated schedule. We had to do that when S17 dropped a second semester class and unless it’s something really drastic, it shouldn’t impact things, they just like to know. He received many a thank you for the update and zero impact to his admissions, though to be fair he was already accepted at all schools when he dropped the class lol.
Well, we visited Cornell today (well, yesterday now). DS19 kind of really loved it - more so than UChicago. Nothing like putting a smorgasbord of potential majors in front of an undecided kid! Lol. Feels like we’re at least making progress towards identifying what he’s looking for in a school, so that’s good. Lots of mom/son fun time too.
Cornell is sort of completely different than UChicago, right @Trixy34 ? Good you are having fun visiting schools.
I think we are done with tours and everything, until Fall when son19 will probably have a couple of local day visits planned. So that’s good.
@dfbdfb Hmmm…we are about 3 weeks from knowing which classes my son got for Senior year. The only certainties are physics and calculus since they have enough spots and Independent Study Photography since he has already started planning out his syllabus with the teacher. Everything else is a lottery. Sigh.
Apologies is this has been asked/answered…feel free to post a link if that is easier.
One of D’s activities is singing. She was involved in a couple of a capella groups at school and has done choir for 3 years. She won a couple of awards at our local Solo & Ensemble competition last year. She is using the grouping method for listing her activities in the Common App. Should she list the award in the activities section with the other singing things or should the award be separated out and listing the in the Honors section?
@ILMom13579 I think she should include the award as part of the description in the activities and use the honors section for academic awards.
I think my son (whose only honors/awards are music-related), ended up putting those in the honors section of the Coalition app (which was more vague), but not on the Common App, which specified “academic.” I’m pretty sure he had to just leave that section blank entirely as he couldn’t think of anything that would qualify.
@soxmom, I have a question about your child’s experience with the National Geographic student expeditions. I am a new CC member and can’t yet PM - would you mind reaching out when you have a moment? Thanks a million!