Common app is open! This means for those of you who are applying for early admission it's time to start filling out the application! If you're hesitant about early admission, click here to read about why we recommend it!
Common app can be overwhelming to students off the bat. There's a lot to go over, fill out, and accomplish in what seems like such a short amount of time. Let's break down what the Common app is, what it's purpose is, and what you'll need to be successful in filling it out!
What is the Common app?
Common app is a website that allows students to apply to over 1000 colleges, both public and private, all from the convenience of one application. This spans over the U.S, Japan, Europe, Canada, China, and the District of Columbia. In addition to applying for college, Common app also supplies research for financial aid and scholarships, as well as connections to college counseling resources.
Trying to figure this out for the first time can be intimidating. There's a lot that goes into a college application, and you can only submit it once. We're going to go over exactly what you'll need in order to feel confident in your application.
What you'll need
Common app requires several things for your application that you'll need to submit. This includes:
a personal statement
essays and supplemental essays (this is for highly-selective schools)
test scores from the SAT and ACT
transcripts
family education history and demographics
extracurriculars you've participated in
letters of recommendation
This seems like a lot, but is all relatively easy if you start early. Click here to view some dates that early admission students should know about to start forming a timeline for submission.
The first things you should request are items that you have less control over timing wise. This should be your transcript and letters of recommendation. Once you've made a Common app account, you'll be able to invite those whose recommendation you want to fill it out on your application. But be sure to give them a heads up early! You want them to put thought into what they'll say. It can even be helpful to give them some pointers on what you'd like included.
What should you do first?
You can start the application in whichever order you want, save your progress, and come back later. So be sure to take your time in filling it out. We recommend filling out the essay sections first, or at least consistently working on them. There's going to be several essays for you to complete, and you won't want to be leaving them for the last day.
Also as we previously mentioned, filling out your transcripts and letters of recommendation early on are good places to start as well.
We hope this helps you on filling out the Common app! Students, if your college journey still seems stressful, or you don't know where to begin with it, click the button below to set up a call with one of our consultants! We take the whole year to personalize a college list for you, as well as helping you fill out the Common app, take the SAT and ACT, and prepare for interviews. Sign up now!
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