How should I choose Course Level?
Select the level that best matches the level names used by your school, even if it doesn't exactly match how your school describes course levels.
How should I choose Course Length or Schedule for a class I took all year?
If you took a course for a full year and your school DOES provide a final year grade:
- IN COMMON APP: Enter your quarter/trimester/semester grades in the appropriate dropdown menus, and enter your full year grade in the "Final" grade dropdown menu.
If you took a course for a full year and your school DOES NOT provide a final year grade:
- IN COMMON APP: Enter your quarter/trimester/semester grades in the dropdown menus, and leave the "Final" grade dropdown menu blank.
For the Course Name, should I abbreviate course titles exactly as they appear on my transcript, or should I write the full words if I know them?
Please enter the names exactly as they are shown on your transcript. For example, if your transcript lists "EngLit/Com 10" you should type "EngLit/Com 10" rather than spelling out the words.
What if I took a course for only one semester/trimester/quarter?
Enter the course and the grade you received for the term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Leave the other term grades blank.
If the course length is not a semester, trimester or quarter, you can indicate a course length as "Other" on Common App and list the amount of credits you earned in the course.
My high school uses a letter grade system with AB grades, so the scale goes A, AB, B, BC, etc. How do I enter that?
Select "other" in the grading scale menu.
How do I report college courses taken through a PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Option) program?
Enter these courses under your high school. When entering your courses, select "Dual Enrollment" for the Course Level.
How do I report college courses taken at my high school, such as College in the Schools?
Enter these courses under your high school and select "College Prep" for the Course Level in Common App.
How do I report my Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses?
Enter the Project Lead the Way course title exactly as it appears on your high school transcript in the Course Name field. Enter the Course Level as Dual Enrollment.
What if I repeated or withdrew from one or more of my classes?
You must list all courses that you've attempted. If the course appears on your transcript (including repeated or withdrawn courses), it must accurately be listed when your self-report your courses and grades.
How do I list summer courses?
For courses taken during the summer, list the course and associated grade in the preceding school year. For example, if you took a summer course between 9th and 10th grade, you will list the course and grade in the final semester (or trimester or quarter) of your 9th grade year.
How closely does the or Subject need to match my course name?
Select the Subject that best matches your course name. If you are unsure, select Other.
The platform isn't letting me add accelerated coursework that I took in middle school that counted for high school credit. How do I report those grades since I received high school credit for them?
Please report courses and grades that you took 9th-12th grade only on the Academic Record. When we review high school coursework, we consider the highest level of the subject achieved in high school. For example, if you took French 2 in 9th grade, we understand that you would have taken French 1 previously. We will know that you would have completed previous coursework in order to be at that level.
If I was homeschooled, should I self-report my courses and grades?
Yes, please complete the Courses & Grades section when you're applying on Common App.
Should I average my course grades on a semester/year basis?
No, do not average your courses. Enter your transcript information exactly as you see it on your transcript.