Table of Contents
About the Common App
1.5 Essays
Application Process
1.1 What is the Common App?
Common App is a platform primarily used in the United States for students to apply to colleges and universities. Accepted by over 1,000 institutions, including some outside the U.S., it streamlines the application process by allowing students to apply to multiple universities with a single application. This platform eliminates the need to repeatedly input details like names, addresses, and extracurricular activities, simplifying the process significantly.
While the Common App is widely used in the U.S., it is also available for universities in Canada, Europe, and Asia. Students can apply to Ivy League schools, public and private institutions, and international universities. While some schools may prefer their own application systems, students can still submit applications to any university that accepts the Common App.
1.2 How Long Does the Application Process Take?
A new version of the Common App is released annually on August 1st, but application deadlines vary by institution. It’s crucial to verify the specific deadlines for each school.
Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) deadlines are usually in November or December.
Regular Decision (RD) deadlines are often around January 1st.
Students don’t need to wait until August 1st to get started. They can create a Common App account anytime and transfer their information when the new cycle begins. College counselors recommend starting the application process as early as the summer before senior year to avoid last-minute stress and potential delays.
1.3 How to Use the Common App
To submit an application using the Common App, follow these steps:
Visit commonapp.org, click on “Start Your Application,” and create an account. The Common App mobile app can also be downloaded to manage deadlines, invite recommenders, and set reminders.
Choose whether you are applying as a first-year student or a transfer student.
Enter personal details, such as your name, email, phone number, address, date of birth, and intended enrollment year.
Complete your profile with information about your education, extracurricular activities, demographics, and household.
Add teachers, counselors, or other recommenders who will provide letters of recommendation or other supporting documents.
Use the “My Colleges” section to search for and add schools.
Review each university’s specific requirements and complete your application accordingly.
Experts recommend allowing at least two months to complete the application process. The essay is particularly important and requires careful planning and drafting. Rushing through this process can significantly lower the essay’s quality.
1.4 What Documents Are Required?
The Common App requires students to provide basic information, such as their name, address, age, and background. In the Education section, students enter details about their current school, graduation date, and counselor information. Students may also indicate their intended major at the universities they are applying to.
Next, students provide information about courses taken from 9th grade to the present, academic awards, and honors received. Before completing the main essay, students must also enter their test scores and extracurricular activities. The “Additional Information” section allows students to briefly explain any circumstances that may have affected their performance, such as a drop in grades or changes to their activity schedules due to COVID-19.
In addition to parental information, such as employment details and education (if requested), many schools require letters of recommendation and transcripts for first-year applicants. To ensure timely submission, students must give teachers and counselors ample time to prepare these materials before deadlines.
High school counselors recommend that juniors request recommendation letters before the end of their junior year, so teachers can write them over the summer. Seniors who still need recommendations should request them as early as possible in the school year.
1.5 Essays
For the 2023–2024 admissions cycle, the Common App provides seven essay prompts, which are the same as those used for 2022–2023. Students must choose one prompt and submit an essay of up to 650 words.
Example prompts include:
“Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea.”
“Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked personal growth.”
Not all universities require essays, and some may ask for supplemental essays or additional information. Applicants can find each school’s specific requirements by logging into their Common App account or downloading a PDF from the Common App website. Students can also preview supplemental essay questions through the Student Solutions Center.
2.1 Submitting Applications
Students should not wait until 11:59 PM on January 1st to complete their applications. While schools may still accept submissions that are a few minutes late, the stress and increased likelihood of errors such as typos are not worth the risk.
Experts recommend using the Common App Preview feature to carefully review applications before submission. Students can also assign an advisor to monitor their progress and provide feedback on their applications.
Overall, the most important advice, as repeated throughout this guide, is not to procrastinate.
2.2 Do Universities Prefer the Common App?
Students are not required to use the Common App. While the Common App is a popular platform, it is not the only method for submitting college applications.
Many schools allow students to apply directly through their official websites.
Some states have their own centralized application systems. For example, Texas offers a state-wide application system, though some Texas schools also accept the Common App.
Certain private universities, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., only accept applications through their own websites.
Many highly competitive schools, like Harvard University and Amherst College in Massachusetts, accept applications through the Common App.
Universities that accept multiple platforms do not favor one over another. The Common App integrates with tools like Naviance, which simplifies the process for counselors to submit supporting documents. Students, however, must choose the platform that best suits their needs and submit one application per school.
"Students should carefully review their list of target schools and check each school’s application requirements when deciding which platform to use," advises Lizik. "Having this information upfront will help streamline the application process and reduce stress during this critical stage."
2.3 Application Fee Waivers
While the Common App platform is free to use, individual universities may charge application fees at the time of submission. According to data provided by the Common App, about half of its member schools do not charge fees for first-year applicants.
Students who meet financial hardship criteria set by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) may be eligible for fee waivers. Applicants can indicate their need for a fee waiver during the submission process.
Students uncertain about their eligibility should consult their high school counselor or contact the university directly.
2.4 What If There’s a Problem?
If students have questions about filling out their applications, they can seek help from their high school counselors or the admissions offices of the schools they are applying to.
The Common App provides resources in English and Spanish for counselors and recommenders, as well as information on financial aid and scholarships. Additional resources, including video tutorials and 24/7 technical support, are available to applicants.
Students can visit the Student Solutions Center to find answers to frequently asked questions or submit new inquiries. While response times may vary, Common App representatives report an average wait time of approximately 20 minutes.
In general, admissions officers are also available to assist with any issues, so students should not hesitate to reach out for support.
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