How do I report summer courses on Common App?

To report summer courses on the Common App, use the "Other Courses" section under Education, adding the specific school where you took the course as an "Other Secondary School" if it wasn't your main high school, then list the course details (name, grade, credits) exactly as they appear on your official transcript, ensuring the associated academic year is correct.

How do I describe summer programs on the Common App?

Instead of merely describing the activity, focus on the specific skills you gained and the measurable outcomes of your involvement. While both options allow you to include your summer program in your applications, your essays offer the best way to showcase your experiences.

Does summer school show on your transcript?

Typically, summer classes that were taken at a high school will be listed on your high school transcript. If your high school includes these courses and the grades you received on your transcript, then you don't need to report them separately—colleges will see them as part of your academic record.

Can you put summer camps on the Common App?

Summer camp can be a blast, but it might not be a good fit for your Common App activities list. While engaging in meaningful activity over the summer is great, these paid activities don't demonstrate long-term commitment and may not highlight your passions and skills.

Do colleges care about summer courses?

Colleges often see enrollment in summer school courses as a positive indication that a student is willing to go beyond the traditional school year to enhance their education. It can definitely be seen as taking initiative, especially if the courses are advanced or in line with your academic interests and future goals.

Common App Tip: How to List Summer Courses on the Common Application

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

Is a 2.8 GPA bad for grad school?

Yes, a 2.8 GPA is generally considered low for graduate school, as many programs require a 3.0 minimum, but it's not impossible; you can still get in by showing strong potential through excellent GRE scores, powerful essays, strong letters of recommendation, relevant work/research experience, or improving your grades in your major or final terms, often by targeting programs that value holistic reviews or offer conditional admission. 

How to input summer courses on Common App?

To report courses that you've taken prior to the 9th grade, or post-12th grade, please use the 'Other Courses' section. To report summer courses, please use the 'Other Courses' section.

Do summer classes count as extracurriculars?

Absolutely, summer programs can count as extracurricular activities on your college applications. When deciding how to present your summer experiences, it's important to focus on how the programs demonstrate your interests, dedication, and growth in a particular field or subject area.

Do you have to report all courses on the Common App?

Some, but not all, colleges require that you complete the Courses & Grades section in Common App. Other colleges may use STARS (formerly known as SRAR or SSAR) to collect your courses and grades.

Do colleges know if you went to summer school?

Yes, summer programmes look good on a college or university application and can help with admissions. They can demonstrate dedication to a subject, initiative and reading beyond the school curriculum. Our students find that an academic summer school like Oxford Scholastica is the perfect way to demonstrate all three.

Is 96% a 4.0 GPA?

Yes, a 96 is generally a 4.0 GPA on the standard unweighted scale, typically falling into the 93-96% range for an 'A' grade that converts to 4.0, though it can be an A+ depending on the school's exact cutoff. It's best to check your specific school's grading chart because scales vary (e.g., some might consider 97-100 an A+ and 93-96 an A, while others might give an A for anything 90+ for a 4.0). 

What will an F do to a 3.8 GPA?

An 'F' (0.0 points) will significantly drop a 3.8 GPA, especially if the failed class is credit-heavy; the exact impact depends on the credits for that class versus your total credits, but it introduces a zero into your grade point total, making it harder to maintain a high GPA and potentially affecting scholarships or academic standing. 

Is it bad if my Common App essay is exactly 650 words?

No, it's not bad; it's actually great if your Common App essay is exactly 650 words, as this shows you effectively used the entire space to tell your story without filler, a common goal for admissions officers who recommend being close to the limit to provide depth. While some suggest aiming for 550-650 words for a strong narrative, hitting exactly 650 means you fully developed your insights and experiences within the allowed length. 

Is 7 activities enough for a Common App?

Seven activities can be enough for the Common App if they are meaningful and show strong commitment, but it's generally better to use more slots (up to 10) to showcase depth, focusing on quality, impact, and genuine passion rather than just filling space, as colleges value significant involvement over a long, superficial list. While some top schools might expect most slots filled with high achievements, quality always trumps quantity. 

Do summer camps look good on college apps?

Participating in a pre-college summer program could give students an edge on their college application, as colleges and universities value candidates with diverse experiences.

Do summer programs count as activities on the Common App?

Commonly listed activities include participating in school clubs, playing an instrument, playing a sport, attending pre-college summer programs, volunteering, and many others. Activities like working a part-time job, or caring for a family member also count.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

What is the most commonly failed class in college?

The most commonly failed college classes are often foundational STEM courses, especially Algebra (like Algebra I or College Algebra) and Calculus (especially Calc II), along with Organic Chemistry, due to their demanding concepts, heavy memorization, and role as "gatekeeper" courses for many majors. Other frequent high-failure classes include introductory Computer Science, Engineering subjects like Statics, and sometimes even dense, lecture-heavy general education courses.
 

Is summer program an extracurricular activity?

Extracurricular activities could include a part-time job at a bakery, volunteering at a local animal shelter, managing social media for a community center or participating in a summer internship or enrichment program. There are no limits, as long as there's depth, reflection and evidence of learning.

What is the top 10 rule when applying for college?

The "Top 10 Percent Rule" is a Texas law guaranteeing automatic admission to state universities for high school graduates in the top 10% of their class, designed to increase diversity and access, though flagship universities like UT Austin have lowered their specific threshold (e.g., to the top 6%, now 5% for Fall 2026) to manage demand, requiring applicants to still meet program-specific requirements and creating incentives for strategic high school choices, notes this Houston Chronicle article and the NBER. 

What is the disadvantage of the common application?

The main disadvantages of the Common App are that not all colleges use it, leading to separate applications for non-member schools like MIT; it can encourage applying to too many places, increasing costs and time; it can feel impersonal and require extra school-specific essays; and its generic format sometimes clashes with specific university needs, with potential technical glitches and issues around things like AI detection. 

Will Harvard accept 3.0 GPA?

It's extremely unlikely to get into Harvard with a 3.0 GPA, as most admitted students have near-perfect GPAs (average 3.94), but not impossible, usually requiring truly exceptional factors like being a recruited athlete, overcoming extreme adversity, having unique talents (e.g., starting a company), or specific demographic backgrounds (underrepresented minorities, low-income/first-gen) to offset the low GPA within Harvard's holistic review. For most applicants, a 3.0 GPA makes admission improbable, so focus on excelling in other areas or consider schools where your profile is more competitive. 

Is 3.8 GPA magna or summa?

A 3.8 GPA typically qualifies for Magna Cum Laude, meaning "with great honor," but it can sometimes be Summa Cum Laude ("with highest honor") depending on your university's specific GPA thresholds, as requirements vary, with some schools reserving Summa for 3.9+ and others placing 3.8 within Summa or Magna ranges. 

Is a 3.0 GPA impressive?

A 3.0 GPA is considered a solid, average "B" average, making it acceptable for many colleges and jobs but not standout for highly selective programs; it shows consistent performance but may need supplementing with strong extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations, especially for competitive grad schools or top-tier universities.