I recently applied to Swarthmore and Barnard. My high school holds grades 7-12, so on common app I put that I entered high school in 2010, because that’s when I started as a 7th grader. But now I’m wondering if I should have put 2012 (when I was in 9th grade). I don’t want it to look like I took 6 years to graduate. Should I contact the admissions department of Swarthmore and Barnard and explain?
I would not worry about it. they will figure it out. They won’t think you took 6 years to graduate. they will have your transcript. If you posted the wrong year for graduating, say 2020 rather than 2016 that would be different since they may not look at you for another 4 years.
Ignore the mistake. They are bright enough to figure this out.
They’ll see your transcripts and be able to translate the dates.
You’re new to this process; they’re not.