College App FAQ

So you've made it to your senior year, congratulations! You're now entering the mysterious and anxiety ridden world of college applications...

Relax, applying to college is actually pretty straightforward, and if you do a little planning in advance, keeping track of the details is well within your grasp. Start a spreadsheet and be diligent about updating it as you gather the things you need: drafts of your college essay, your letters of recommendation stuff, transcripts that you've ordered or sent, all the little details. While most colleges now have a portal where you can check on the status of your application, it's no replacement for keeping track of all your applications in one place.

 

Useful Details

The CEEB code/School Code for Gibson Ek is 480002

If you use Common App or Coalition, please use my district email address when you invite me to your application.

Commonly Asked Questions

What do I do if my application asks for GPA?

It depends. If it's not a required field, like in the Common Application, you should leave it blank. If there's an option that says something like "my school does not report GPA" select that. Most applications have a section for additional information, and it's appropriate to use that space to explain that Gibson Ek does not award, record or report grades or GPA. Some schools, for example Central Washington University, ask that Gibson Ek students select 2.9 for GPA so that you are automatically prompted to complete a personal statement. If you are still in doubt, reach out to the admissions department at the school you are applying to and they will help you. Don't feel funny about this; they WANT to help you. It's ok.

How do I self-report my academic history?

This is arguably the trickiest part of the application. Because Gibson Ek does not have classes in the traditional sense, it's up to you to connect the dots. You'll want to have your Mastery Transcript handy for this. The goal is to complete your academic history using the language that is on your transcript, so that when they review your application your self-reported academic history corresponds to your transcript. For coursework like English, it's pretty straightforward: Writing Portfolio 101 for 9th grade, Writing Portfolio 201 for 10th grade and so on. Advisory is considered Social Studies. Open your Mastery Transcript and click the button on the bottom left to 'Preview Transcript', then scroll down to the 'Courses' section. Add all those "courses" by year, using the same titles. For the sciences, you'll need to cite competencies along with whatever Design Labs or Projects you completed to earn them. For example, for Science you might put "Empirical Investigation: [Design Lab or Project name]" Don't use our internal lingo like 'DLab'. Spell it out: Design Lab:[title]. All of our 'courses' are considered to be 'Regular/Standard', except for college coursework taken through Running Start; that should be tagged 'Dual Enrollment'. AP classes, are 'Advanced Placement (AP)' NEW: There's a detailed document that will walk you through this; ask your counselor for a copy.

When self-reporting your academic history, remember that each item (English, Science, Social Studies, Math...) aligns to a specific College Admission Distribution Requirement, so those are the core academic subjects that must be complete for a valid application, so don't leave any of those blank. For the Common App 'Courses and Grades' section, list the academic core subjects first. If you get stuck, see your counselor or advisor for help.

What if my college says they won't accept an online or interactive transcript?

While the Mastery Transcript is a live, online document, it is still possible to submit a static PDF of the transcript. If your college tells you this, let your counselor know so that a static PDF can be submitted. Be sure to provide complete information on how your counselor should submit this.

What do I do if my counselor or college asks for my senior schedule?

Most colleges will want to know what your plans are for senior year, and for the Common App it's a requirement as part of the Common App School Report that your counselor is responsible for. A brief example is below. Make sure you include 401 after each entry. Again, don't use internal lingo like 'DLab'. Spell it out: Design Lab:[title] Include your Capstone project, and any additional coursework you're planning to take, broken down by Learning Cycle. For future Learning Cycles, it's ok to say 'Design Lab: TBD (Catalog Not Yet Published)'.

For example:

Fall Semester

• Advisory 401 (SOCIAL STUDIES)
• Writing Portfolio 401 (ENGLISH)
• Algebra 2 (MATHEMATICS)
• Senior Institute: Capstone Project (add a brief descriptor)
• Internship 401 at Seattle Humane Society (CTE)
• Design Lab: Bedknobs and Broomsticks (LAB SCIENCE)
• SPAN 121 Spanish II at Bellevue College (World Language - DUAL ENROLLMENT)

Do this for each semester, then provide this to your counselor as a PDF.

How do I handle Letters of Recommendation?

Start early. Some colleges ask for specific people, like your school counselor or a teacher, others will accept letters of recommendation from a wider range of people, like a mentor. Determine who you want to provide your recommendations. Then, 3 weeks before you need your letter, ask your recommender and provide them with a copy of your completed Gibson Ek Letter of Recommendation packet. The packet is intended to capture information for your recommender to use in your letter so be as specific as you can. The more detail you provide, the better your letter will be. Be sure to let your recommender know how to submit your letter, if it's for a purpose other than the Common App.