livetoread Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I am finishing up my son's transcript and am trying to decide if I should have an Achievement/Recognitions section or just leave it off. My son does not have any other achievements or honors, but he did get his Eagle and I'd like to highlight that. Would it seem weird to have only that listed under that section? We list his paid work experience and his leadership positions at Boy Scouts in the CA, along with his Eagle, but I think it could be lost there. Given that he doesn't have any other recognitions or anything, would you list it or would you just leave that section off the transcript? I'm afraid that listing only one might call attention to the fact that he only has one! BTW, he is only applying to state schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) I would leave it off the transcript entirely. It's an extracurricular activity. They look at the extracurriculars on the application, too, when considering students for admission; it won't get lost. Edited October 21, 2016 by klmama 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I don't think awards/achievements belong on the transcript. Do his schools use the Common App? If not, is there an awards section on their own app? Dd is only applying to large state flagships. Two use their own apps with awards and honors sections. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I have started putting honors and achievements on my kids' transcripts. Their transcript is a single page synopsis of courses, test scores, awards, honors, etc. My current college student did have Eagle listed on his transcript. But, the flip side is that I started doing this bc he had several academic honors. Eagle was his only non-academic achievement listed on his transcript. My current sr has a lot of awards/honors on her transcript. Her list includes things like Russian Scholar Laureate, gold for Russian Olympiadas, 1st place in an international Russian Olympiada, NLE golds, etc. FWIW, I am glad I put them on her transcript bc from my perspective they help validate her transcript. She has zero DE or outside classes except for her Russian tutor and a French tutor last yr and this yr. She has 15 foreign language credits on her transcript. The awards/honors section makes those credits seem "normal" for her, not an exaggeration. Since it is the only thing you are listing, I think it is up to you. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. It certainly won't hurt to have it on there. Whether it helps or not, I am not sure. Anyway, I know a lot of what I wrote doesn't help you. I'm sorry. I did want to post it, though, for others who might have the same question. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I tried to make my children,s transcripts show all of their education, including non-academic. It was one side of a page and included course work (home, community college, and elsewhere), testing, hobbies, work experience, sports, and achievements. I chose a "tell all" approach to homeschool documentation rather than an "only what they specifically ask for" approach. I also chose a "show how much we were different from public school" approach rather than "show how much we are the same" approach. They both have advantages. I did try to format the transcript about like a public school transcript so universities could compare apples and oranges more easily. It was hard and somewhat scary fitting my octopus of a homeschooler into the little squares on a transcript. I vote you include a section on achievements and awards and show off that hard earned eagle. : ) Nan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I do not included non-academic information on the transcript. There are plenty of opportunities to highlight them - counselor letter, school profile, extracurriculars section. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) I use TranscriptPro for our transcripts. The front page of the transcript is all personal and academic information. But the back page has sections for standardized test scores, other secondary schools attended, and extracurricular/volunteer activities. I do fill in that section, using bullet statements without a lot of elaboration. The transcript is a snapshot of the student, so any extra description goes elsewhere. So bottom line, yes, I'd include it. (As a matter of fact, for my three Eagle Scouts who have been accepted into college, I DID include it.) Edited October 21, 2016 by Kinsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) Also thought I'd mention that instead of saying just "Eagle Scout", you can break down that singular accomplishment into several. For example, include number of volunteer hours, include what the Eagle project was, etc. There's a whole lot of accomplishment wrapped up in that singular "Eagle Scout". Edited October 21, 2016 by Kinsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGrief Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 I had a resume for my daughter that included honors. I think it would be fine to list a single honor/accomplishment in that section. I'm not sure I'd include it on a transcript though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) Here is a sample single page transcript with extracurriculars included.. With my dd, I changed the extracurricular....category to honors and awards. wtm template.pdf Edited October 21, 2016 by 8FillTheHeart 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 Thanks so much for the opinions. I am still considering it, but you guys have given me more to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 wtm template.pdf Here is a sample single page transcript with extracurriculars included.. With my dd, I changed the extracurricular....category to honors and awards. That's my favorite lay out that I've seen so far. Thanks so much! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 The form I use does have a box where one could list "Volunteer work, Activities, and Awards." Personally, I'd include Eagle Scout if your transcript form has a box for that. Admissions staff likely will only have time to glance at whatever you give them, and could easily miss something like that. I'd even include it in a couple of places, hoping it stands out in at least one of them. Congrats to your son! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 I don't think awards/achievements belong on the transcript. Do his schools use the Common App? If not, is there an awards section on their own app? Dd is only applying to large state flagships. Two use their own apps with awards and honors sections. Why? I am just curious. I have a narrow far right column on the transcript called "Achievements and Awards: ACT scores SAT Subject scores AP scores and Academic Awards which includes AP Scholar with Distinction and National AP Scholar I have no idea if anyone even looks at the AP awards and anything from sailing or swimming went on the CA, not on the transcript. If a student was a National Merit Scholar or won a national essay contest or a top placing in the Latin exam, wouldn't that go on the transcript? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Why? I am just curious. I have a narrow far right column on the transcript called "Achievements and Awards: ACT scores SAT Subject scores AP scores and Academic Awards which includes AP Scholar with Distinction and National AP Scholar I have no idea if anyone even looks at the AP awards and anything from sailing or swimming went on the CA, not on the transcript. If a student was a National Merit Scholar or won a national essay contest or a top placing in the Latin exam, wouldn't that go on the transcript? I'm finally not on mobile so I can clarify my thoughts. I think test scores, including AP, do belong on a transcript. I did not put AP scholar w distinction on dd's transcript because it's obvious she has a lot of APs with the appropriate scores (it is listed on the CA). Dd also has university DE courses on her transcript with 4.0 grades. NMSF/F belongs on the transcript. If D were in the situation like someone like 8's dd without AP and DE but with major, major accomplishments, I'd definitely be listing those on the transcript! Local homeschoolers put every award on their transcript. It makes the transcript so crowded that grades are no longer the focus. That is what I object to. Put the sports and extracurricular awards on the application or on the kid's resume. The transcript should focus on the academic. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) I included an extracurricular activities list on the transcript. I don't think it's a problem to list either extra curricular actives or achievements. You can do whatever you want to do. ETA: You could list it like this: Extracurricular activities: Boy Scouts of America (2012-2015), Eagle Scout (2015). If he happened to earn it in middle school though, it does't belong on the high school transcript. Edited October 23, 2016 by TechWife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) Local homeschoolers put every award on their transcript. Yeah, if there's a lot to list, then I'd just select a few that are the most prestigious, or that show the diversity of the student. Listing every last one on a one-page document might make it too cluttered. I don't think they have to be strictly academic though (I don't think of Eagle Scout as strictly academic, but it does say something about the student's character, and would be worthy of inclusion.) Edited October 23, 2016 by MerryAtHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirabillis Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 wtm template.pdf Here is a sample single page transcript with extracurriculars included.. With my dd, I changed the extracurricular....category to honors and awards. I love this transcript format. Anyone know if this is what a public school transcript looks like? I am curious as I've seen such variations in home school transcript formats... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) I love this transcript format. Anyone know if this is what a public school transcript looks like? I am curious as I've seen such variations in home school transcript formats... They're all different--there isn't one standard form, though they have characteristics in common. The main ways to organize a transcript is either by subject (like this one) or by year, but there's not one "right" way, if that makes sense. Edited October 30, 2016 by MerryAtHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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