Common dataset questions

[Anonymous]

(1) In the common data set there's a section "C5. Admissions requirements - distribution of high school units required and/or recommended". It lists multiple subjects (English, math, etc) and documents "required" vs "recommended" units.

One of the subjects listed is "Social Studies" - What is generally covered by this? Some definitions include History as part of Social Studies but the CDS also has History listed as a separate item but most schools don't list any numbers for that line..

(2) Section "C7. Basis for selection - relative importance of academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions"

Work Experience is listed as a criteria here. Are they talking about "proper" internships here or is non-academic work such as working at fast food restaurants?

[Anonymous]

Work experience absolutely can and should include minimum wage type jobs. The fancy internships are nice, but a kid who is applying to an elite school and has, among other things, done some old school summer job type work may be rarer than you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(1) In the common data set there's a section "C5. Admissions requirements - distribution of high school units required and/or recommended". It lists multiple subjects (English, math, etc) and documents "required" vs "recommended" units.

One of the subjects listed is "Social Studies" - What is generally covered by this? Some definitions include History as part of Social Studies but the CDS also has History listed as a separate item but most schools don't list any numbers for that line..

(2) Section "C7. Basis for selection - relative importance of academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions"

Work Experience is listed as a criteria here. Are they talking about "proper" internships here or is non-academic work such as working at fast food restaurants?

Merriam Webster definition of social studies.

: a part of a school or college curriculum concerned with the study of social relationships and the functioning of society and usually made up of courses in history, government, economics, civics, sociology, geography, and anthropology

However, I'm not sure why the CDS lists History separately though. Hopefully a college admissions professional can jump in and explain..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(1) In the common data set there's a section "C5. Admissions requirements - distribution of high school units required and/or recommended". It lists multiple subjects (English, math, etc) and documents "required" vs "recommended" units.

One of the subjects listed is "Social Studies" - What is generally covered by this? Some definitions include History as part of Social Studies but the CDS also has History listed as a separate item but most schools don't list any numbers for that line..

(2) Section "C7. Basis for selection - relative importance of academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions"

Work Experience is listed as a criteria here. Are they talking about "proper" internships here or is non-academic work such as working at fast food restaurants?

Merriam Webster definition of social studies.

: a part of a school or college curriculum concerned with the study of social relationships and the functioning of society and usually made up of courses in history, government, economics, civics, sociology, geography, and anthropology

However, I'm not sure why the CDS lists History separately though. Hopefully a college admissions professional can jump in and explain..

It's just in case the school has a specific requirement or recommendation for a number of history classes, then they can indicate that on that line. Social Studies is more general. I would expect most colleges would fill out one line or the other, not both.