How to Fill Out Courses and Grades on the Common App
Completing the courses and grades section of the Common App can be a daunting task, but it’s important to take your time and do it carefully. The information you provide will help colleges understand your academic background and make informed decisions about your application.
In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to filling out the courses and grades section, as well as some tips and expert advice. We’ll also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this section.
Understanding the Courses and Grades Section
The courses and grades section of the Common App is where you’ll list all the academic courses you’ve taken in high school. This includes both core courses (such as English, math, science, and social studies) and elective courses.
For each course, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- Course name
- Grade level
- Year taken
- Grade earned
- Credit earned
Completing the Courses and Grades Section
To complete the courses and grades section, follow these steps:
- Start by gathering all of your transcripts and course descriptions. You can usually find these on your school’s website or in the guidance office.
- Create a spreadsheet or table to track your courses and grades. This will help you stay organized and make sure you don’t miss any courses.
- For each course, fill in the following information:
- **Course name:** The full name of the course, as it appears on your transcript.
- **Grade level:** The grade level you were in when you took the course.
- **Year taken:** The year you took the course.
- **Grade earned:** The grade you earned in the course.
- **Credit earned:** The number of credits you earned for the course.
- Once you’ve entered all of your courses and grades, review your spreadsheet or table carefully to make sure everything is correct.
- Transfer your courses and grades to the Common App. You can do this by logging into your Common App account and clicking on the “Courses and Grades” tab.
Tips and Expert Advice
Here are some tips and expert advice for filling out the courses and grades section of the Common App:
- Be accurate. It’s important to provide accurate information about your courses and grades. Colleges will be able to verify this information with your transcripts, so don’t try to inflate your grades.
- Be complete. List all of the courses you’ve taken in high school, even if you didn’t do well in them. Colleges want to see a complete picture of your academic history.
- Be consistent. Use the same format for all of your courses and grades. This will make it easier for colleges to read and understand your information.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re not sure how to fill out a particular section of the Common App, ask your guidance counselor or a college admissions officer for help.
Common Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the courses and grades section of the Common App:
- What should I do if I don’t have a grade for a course yet?
- What should I do if I took a course more than once?
- What should I do if I took a course pass/fail?
If you don’t have a grade for a course yet, you can leave the grade field blank. However, you should enter a placeholder, such as “IP” (in progress) or “TBD” (to be determined).
If you took a course more than once, you should list each time you took the course. Be sure to indicate which grade you earned each time you took the course.
If you took a course pass/fail, you can enter “P” (pass) or “F” (fail) in the grade field. You should also include a note in the “Additional Information” section explaining why you took the course pass/fail.
Conclusion
Completing the courses and grades section of the Common App can be a time-consuming task, but it’s important to take your time and do it carefully. The information you provide will help colleges understand your academic background and make informed decisions about your application.
If you have any questions about filling out the courses and grades section, please don’t hesitate to ask your guidance counselor or a college admissions officer for help.
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