The college application process is a long one – starting as early as freshman year for some – that is full of paperwork and tough decisions. Common App was created to make it a bit easier.
Instead of prospective students needing to complete individual applications for each college and university they apply to, they can use Common App to apply to many schools with just one form. Over 1,000 colleges and universities accept applications via Common App, so it's likely that most college applicants will need to fill it out.
This blog will answer some of the most common questions about completing the Common App. For a one-on-one advisor to guide you through your college application process, contact CAPS today!
To create your Common App account and start working on your application, go to the Common App registration page. If you are still in high school, you are most likely applying as a first-year student and should select that as your student type. If you have already graduated high school and attended a college, and you are now seeking to switch to another college, you should register as a transfer student.
Instead of registering with the same email address that you use for everything, we suggest creating a new email account to use just for your college applications. You'll want to check this email account daily. Using a dedicated email account will make it easy for you to keep track of important communications you receive from the colleges you are applying to, rather than risk them getting lost among spam, promotions, and other irrelevant messages. Create this new email address on a reliable email server with a username as close to your legal name as possible. Then, use this email to register for a Common App account.
To complete your Common App registration, you'll need your legal name as it appears on official documents, as well as your home address, phone number, and date of birth.
Common App made some major upgrades to their site and the application process in 2024. Now, college applicants can begin working on their applications at any time – even before the latest edition is released. When the Common App for the upcoming school year becomes available, which is typically on August 1st of every year, students can transfer all of their work to the new application.
Thanks to this update, students can start working on their Common App as soon as possible; we recommend starting it over the summer between your junior and senior year. Use your vacation to complete the information sections and begin drafting your essay so you can focus on your schoolwork and final application decisions in the fall.
In order to streamline your progress, gather all the information you need before you start your application. Be sure to have the following items easily accessible:
The Find A College tab lists all of the schools that accept applications via Common App. If you have specific schools in mind, you can search by name. Otherwise, you can filter the college list by a number of attributes, from location and school size, to schools that serve minorities or are single-sex, to application requirements and fees.
Click on colleges to learn more about the school's mission, academic programs, student experiences, and application details. On the info pages, you can click "Apply As A First-Year." From your dashboard, you can use the College Search tab to find schools and simply click the plus icon to add them to your application list.
Be aware that you can only include up to 20 colleges to your application. You can add or remove from your list up until you submit your applications.
One of the most helpful parts of the Common App is that you only need to complete certain sections once. This includes personal information about yourself and your family, your courses and grades, your standardized test scores, and your activities list.
In addition, some colleges require you to complete the Common App personal essay. There are several prompts to choose from every year, and you can find these on the First-Year Essay Prompts page as early as February or March of your junior year. Even if the college you're applying to doesn't require a personal essay, we recommend that you include it, as it provides an opportunity for you and your application to stand out and show your unique personality.
To access these sections from your dashboard, click on the Common App tab and navigate between them with the buttons on the left-hand side. The information you complete in these sections will be copied to every college application you submit through Common App.
From your dashboard, select the My Colleges tab to assign information to each school on your list. Here, you'll update the term you're applying for, submit recommendation requests to your counselors and teachers, and complete the supplemental writing requirements. Everything in these sections is used solely for the selected college or university.
The writing requirements for each college are listed on the Common App site and can also be found in your My Colleges tab. These can include one or more college-specific questions or writing supplements, which tend to focus on that school's specific values and student community.
When you are ready to submit your application, you can do so in the My Colleges tab. Choose the application you want to finalize, then click "Review and Submit - Common App." From here, you'll be able to check over your entire application – which we strongly recommend you do – then pay your application fee and submit.
While filling out the Common App may be straightforward, there are many ways to optimize your entries to improve your chances of getting into your dream college. CAPS has been advising college applicants for over 20 years, and we are ready to help guide you through your application process. Reach out to us today for a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about how we can make your college journey easier and help you get admitted to your top-choice college.