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The Common App is the most widely used college application system for U.S. universities and colleges — accepted by more than 1000—as well for a handful of universities outside the U.S.
The application officially opens for many colleges on August 1st of every year.
Is it before August 1st and you’re looking to be productive? Here are my recommendations:
- Familiarize yourself with what’s needed on the application before it officially opens
- Create an account and start filling it out
- Draft what you will need to upload ahead of time
- Understand what’s required from your school
Familiarize yourself with the application
The application has two parts: what is required from you and what is required from your counselor/teacher(s) at school.
Read through these forms so you know what’s expected:
- First-year applicant forms
First-year application (PDF)
Fee waiver (PDF)
Early decision agreement (PDF) - First-year recommender forms
School Report (PDF)
Homeschool Supplement to the School Report (PDF)
International Supplement to the School Report (PDF)
Counselor Recommendation (PDF)
Optional Report (PDF)
Mid Year Report (PDF)
Final Report (PDF)
Teacher Evaluation (PDF)
Other Recommendation (PDF)
You can fill out a good portion of the Common App tab once you create an account, and that information will carry over into the next application season.
These three portions of the application will be reset on August 1st:
1. The Writing Section
2. anything in the “My Colleges” tab
3. anything involving Recommenders
Check out what Common App has to say about their account rollover policy.
If you get stuck along the way, send a message to the support team at Common App directly: their customer service is quite excellent in turnaround time.
Ah — the written portion of the application. What sometimes becomes a school assignment in an English class; what sometimes deters students from applying.
Let’s make this section an accomplishment. It’s your place to shine — to tell readers about yourself in your own words.
We care about essays for two reasons: we want students who can write, and we want students who have something to say. Most of us who read applications consider the essay to be the dessert that comes after a steady diet of grades, scores, and other facts and figures.
— Lynn Verrecchia, Associate Director of Admissions, College of the Holy Cross
When I work with students, we work on these sections in Google Docs — with the bigger picture that they are ready to upload as soon as applications open.
- Draft your Activities List (don’t underestimate this section!)
- Draft and re-draft your personal statement, which will be sent to all schools who use the application. The prompts tend to stay the same every year, but normally in February, there is an announcement about changes and reflections.
- Research and draft supplemental essays that are specific to the colleges and programs you’re (considering) applying to by looking on the universities’ websites and/or contacting the admissions office directly. To have an idea of what might be asked, check out these examples and tips from College Essay Guy.
- Research and draft any supplemental essays for scholarships.
- Draft your Additional Information section.
What will your teachers and school counselor have to include in their evaluations you ask? Take out the mystery out of the equation and look at the forms here:
School Report (PDF)
Homeschool Supplement to the School Report (PDF)
International Supplement to the School Report (PDF)
Counselor Recommendation (PDF)
Optional Report (PDF)
Mid Year Report (PDF)
Final Report (PDF)
Teacher Evaluation (PDF)
Other Recommendation (PDF)
Once the application is live from August 1st on, you will need to assign a recommender, who will be invited via email. Make sure your recommender understands your timeline for applications so you can follow up as your personal application deadline approaches.
Teachers will fill out the “Teacher Evaluation” and a coach/dance/outside instructor/etc. will fill out the “Other Evaluation.” Your high school counselor/designated representative at your school will have to fill out the “Counselor Recommendation.”
Now that you know what info needs to be concluded, make an appointment with your teacher/counselor/principal — the point person in administration and a teacher who can attest to your strengths and efforts in class. Speak honestly about what you would like to have highlighted in your profile: this is also an excellent time to give them your resume, essay, activities list, and to discuss your goals and plans for the future. I highly recommend you write out the points you would like them to include, as this makes the process much easier for your recommenders. Remember: many counselors and teachers are recommending several if not dozens of students. Make your points clear and your profile stand out.
Last but not least, search for your high school’s “school profile,” an application element that many students aren’t actually aware about. It should be on your school’s website or ask your school counselor. If your high school does not have one, consider helping your school make one — you can find more about that in this guide.
