College resume question

[Anonymous]

Hi - parent of an only child in middle school (and I went to college a looong time ago). When do we start to record activities for the college resume? I do not know what the applications look like now or what they capture. Like, if she does something notable in middle school would we use that or is it strictly the high school years? What about the summer before high school? Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

Only include Middle School stuff if it’s something really incredible like goes to the Scripps spelling bee or something like that. Generally speaking ninth grade and onward is when you have things to include that are relevant to a College app.

[Anonymous]

Summer before 9th grade counts for 9th grade.

You can make a practice Common App account to see the format.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, summer before or beginning of 9th grade. There is a College forum on DCUM. Don't get sucked in too early.

[Anonymous]

The college applications only ask for HS years. Please let your middle schooler be a kid.

[Anonymous]

My son (in college) included a few activities from middle school and my daughter (8th grade) will too, because they demonstrate proficiency or continuity with what they did in high school and colleges like that. Examples for my family: attendance at Saturday native language school since primary years, with official diploma from that country in high school, and 5 on the relevant AP exam. Or playing an instrument since they were 3 and winning competitions in middle school, then high school, and soloing for orchestras.

But something relatively unimportant that the kid did not pursue in high school? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

Most would include honor rolls or school play leads or such from middle school. A friend’s daughter who swam and broke all kinds of records while in middle school didn’t mention any of those because kept swimming and had more current swim achievements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most would include honor rolls or school play leads or such from middle school. A friend’s daughter who swam and broke all kinds of records while in middle school didn’t mention any of those because kept swimming and had more current swim achievements.

Would NOT— above is supposed to say would NOT include. Clearly too tired to post so turning off phone. Sorry for at confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most would include honor rolls or school play leads or such from middle school. A friend’s daughter who swam and broke all kinds of records while in middle school didn’t mention any of those because kept swimming and had more current swim achievements.

Most should not include those. As a pp said, you might note that you've been doing something longer than the four years of high school. But middle school activities shouldn't really be relevant for most students--they'll either have more recent activities and awards, or if they don't, the admissions committee will wonder what they've been doing in high school.

[Anonymous]

Would you put something like performing (in a major role) at Carnegie hall in MS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you put something like performing (in a major role) at Carnegie hall in MS?

Who selected her to perform?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you put something like performing (in a major role) at Carnegie hall in MS?

Who selected her to perform?

She auditioned and was selected by the directors of the performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son (in college) included a few activities from middle school and my daughter (8th grade) will too, because they demonstrate proficiency or continuity with what they did in high school and colleges like that. Examples for my family: attendance at Saturday native language school since primary years, with official diploma from that country in high school, and 5 on the relevant AP exam. Or playing an instrument since they were 3 and winning competitions in middle school, then high school, and soloing for orchestras.

But something relatively unimportant that the kid did not pursue in high school? Probably not.

I do not think this is the same as listing things that ended in middle school. Many kids start activities way before HS and are just continuing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you put something like performing (in a major role) at Carnegie hall in MS?

Yes I would. Also assuming the talent continued to be recognized in HS and will be part of a larger picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you put something like performing (in a major role) at Carnegie hall in MS?

Who selected her to perform?

She auditioned and was selected by the directors of the performance.

Was this a school trip to have the band/chorus/whatever perform at Carnegie Hall? That “opportunity” is basically pay-to-play — it’s just your standard MS band showcase on a literally larger stage. If she’s regularly participating in the NYC performing arts scene, include it — but also include all the roles she’s had since.