Jump to content

Menu

College Application Dilemma


TCB
 Share

Recommended Posts

My dd ( rising senior) is still working on her PreCalc course. She has a couple more chapters to do. We were hoping to start applying to colleges in the next few weeks, however I'm not sure if that is possible because of her not being completely finished with this course. I think  that you put the classes to be completed in 12th on the transcript and obviously there is not grade for them at the moment. Is there anything you can do about a course in progress or is the only option to wait until you are finished completely with the course and then apply? I'm also wondering if it would be detrimental to her application to apply with an unfinished course anyway. Once she is finished with PreCalc she is going to go straight into working on Calculus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm fairly sure that she will be finished by the end of August. She is doing the course through DO so there is a set amount to do for the course. I also want to make sure she covers everything she needs to be successful with Calculus as she has definitely been challenged more than before while doing PreCalc. She has a very good grade in the course but she is not just sailing quickly through it like she has mostly done with the previous math courses she has taken. How would I list it on the transcript if I called it a summer course? Could I put Precalc A or 1 for the part she did during the year and B or 2 for the summer with 0.5 credit each? Would that appear unfavorably on her transcript to someone reviewing it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since schools rarely finish the book, I'd just give her the grade she has right now, most likely.

Finish up then start calc.

 

Edit- if she's doing DO, I'd have her finish it, then use his grade. Send apps as soon as she's fine, it will still be very early in the season, no problem.

School doesn't even start here till sept, so anything finished in August is still last year anyways, IMO.

Edited by Hilltopmom
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all for the advice. We had become all gung ho for applying before the end of August to one of the places she is interested in because they were offering a free application. But I've now got it back in better perspective and can see the wisdom in getting the course done and then applying in September. This whole college thing has got me up at night not being able to sleep!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

College application season really doesn't kick off full steam until after Labor Day. Think of it this way. Until school is in session and the first few days of chaos over, P.S. students can't get their transcripts sent out anyway. So if you send in applications on day Sept. 10th you are right there with the early applying students, and those students will often wait two weeks after the request is made to actually have their transcripts sent. Some schools are more on the ball than others and get it done pretty quickly, but many are not and colleges are used to it.

 

You can always have her look at the apps, determine which ones require essays, and begin working on those now.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you can only get the free app by applying before the end of August, I would personally consider the precalc done and give a grade. However, I would try to light a fire under her to get her moving a bit faster toward completion :-)

 

There are situations where it is better to hold off on apps until later in the season, if one is waiting for news of an award or other achievement, like National Merit semifinalist.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you can only get the free app by applying before the end of August, I would personally consider the precalc done and give a grade. However, I would try to light a fire under her to get her moving a bit faster toward completion :-)

 

There are situations where it is better to hold off on apps until later in the season, if one is waiting for news of an award or other achievement, like National Merit semifinalist.

 

We are waiting to hear about National Merit. I hadn't thought about it being better to wait for that result before applying. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I work in a college admissions office. I know all colleges are different, but for us, August is very early. I would wait until September and the course is finished.

 

Application fee waivers are a marketing tool to drive applications. Call the admissions office and talk to a counselor and ask for an extension or another code or however they handle it. I bet they will give it to you.

 

And finally, we don't usually receive documents all at the same time, especially since the application comes from the student and the transcript comes from the school. And the test scores come from the test agency. Etc. So you could also submit the application at the end of August, and then send the transcript in September when you have completed it. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are waiting to hear about National Merit. I hadn't thought about it being better to wait for that result before applying. 

 

Certainly she could work on the application and get it to the point of being ready to hit "send" once all the pieces are in place. :-)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...