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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt\u2019s important to take the time to carefully fill out the Common Application. That is why I\u2019m going to discuss the various application steps for first-year students. I hope that this information will make the application process easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Common App?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Common App<\/a> allows students to apply to multiple schools through one application. It is an overall application and is not specific to a particular college. It\u2019s also a great place to explore its member colleges. You can search by college name or by various criteria (i.e. region, financial aid and mission). It was designed to help streamline the application process so that students don\u2019t need to keep filling out the same information on multiple applications. Rather, they put the general information in once and it goes to all of the schools that they are applying to through the Common App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All schools don\u2019t accept the Common Application but there are 1,000+ colleges on the Common App. It\u2019s the student\u2019s general information that is shared across the network of schools. Each college on the app has its own questions (and sometimes additional essays) so applicants must make sure that they know the requirements of the colleges that they are interested in. If the applicant is in high school and hasn\u2019t graduated yet, create a\u201cfirst-year student\u201d account<\/a>. Even if the student has taken some college courses during the senior year of high school, choose this option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the app information is the main way that colleges get in touch with applicants, be certain that your teen includes the correct information. Make sure that they use the email that they actually use on a regular basis and choose a password that they will remember. In addition, have them check to see if they have entered their name, address, date of birth, etc. accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your teen is constantly on their phone or tablet, they also have a Common App for mobile <\/a>that they can download to work on their Common App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ***Parents, you can also set up a \u201cPractice Applicant\u201d account if you want to be able to walk through what your teens will be experiencing.***<\/p>\n\n\n\n When students create their accounts and log in, there are various sections including profile, family (history), education, testing, activities, writing and courses & grades.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the profile section<\/strong>, applicants will include some personal information. This includes citizenship information and social security number requests. This year, there have been some new sex and gender related changes (i.e. gender-neutral prefixes and the addition of \u201clegal\u201d before\u201cfirst\/given name\u201d followed by an option to share a different first name that respondents use).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This section is also where students can apply for a Common Application 2022-23 fee waiver if they qualify. While the Common App platform is free to use, many colleges charge an additional application fee that students will have to pay when submitting their applications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There has been changes to the fee waiver request questions on the app this year. You can read more about that on Common App\u2019s Evolving the Application<\/a> page and see if your family qualifies for a fee waiver by visiting\u00a0the Common App\u2019s fee waiver information page<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the family section<\/strong>, applicants share information about their parents, siblings and any children that they might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the education section<\/strong>, <\/strong>be sure to list all high schools that the students have attended. If they have any college credits, be sure to include the college information also. The students should also list all of the classes that they are currently taking as seniors so that the colleges can see their academic progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the testing section<\/strong>, students are asked if they wish to self-report scores from standardized tests, AP exams and the like. (They will still need to send official score reports also.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the courses & grades section<\/strong>, students inform colleges about courses that they have taken. Not all colleges require this section but if you are applying to one of the listed colleges<\/a>, have a copy of your transcript(s) available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The activities section<\/strong> gives the college insight into what students are doing outside of the classroom. There is a maximum of 10 activities that can be included. Thoughts for students to consider include the following: \u201cWhat are you most proud of? What has been impactful? Which did you spend the most time involved in?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n This section is basically about how students spend their time outside of classes. Activities don\u2019t all need to be school-related either. Clubs, community engagement, church activities, the arts, hobbies, sports, work, volunteering, extra family responsibilities and other meaningful experiences are just some examples that fall in this category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Students are asked how many hours per week and weeks per year that they are involved in the various activities. If students are unsure, encourage them to track their activities for 1 to 2 weeks in order to get a good estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This section has several parts to it. The Common Application Essay will go to all of the colleges that students are applying to so don\u2019t make the essay university-specific. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are 7 first-year essay prompts<\/strong> that students can choose from. The Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2022-2023 and can be found on the Common App\u2019s essay prompts page<\/a>. (Each Common App essay word limit is 650 words.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is an additional information<\/strong> box that will pop up in this section. It\u2019s where students can let the colleges know any additional context that was missing in their application or if they would like to clarify anything. Adding colleges to the My College<\/strong> section is how students will submit applications to their preferred colleges. Students can search for and add up to 20 colleges to their Common App profile. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release gives students the choice of whether or not to waive their rights to review their recommendations and supporting documents. Colleges like for rights to be waived so that they will receive more candid, truthful responses but <\/strong>it\u2019s up to the student to make that choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some colleges and universities require recommenders. That is why there is space on the app for students to add various recommenders (counselors, teachers, advisors and other recommenders). *The Common App site provides its own step-by-step application guides for both first-year students<\/a> and transfer students<\/a>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n *There are many articles and presentations about the Common App. One that I found especially helpful last year and referenced the most in this post was a virtual presentation on the topic by the University of San Francisco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (USF is holding a \u201cThe Common Application\u201d virtual event this year on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 8 pm EST. You can register for it on their Dons Prepare <\/a><\/strong>site.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Lastly, you might find this Common App first-year application 2022\u20132023 walkthrough video valuable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As such, make sure that your seniors give themselves enough time to thoroughly complete each section of the app. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCreating a Common Application 2022-23 Account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Common App Sections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Background Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Writing Section<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is also where students can share any lasting impacts that COVID-19 has had on them, their families and their learning environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdding Colleges to the Common App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Each school that is included on the app has its own profile that includes helpful information like deadlines, fees, testing policy, and various materials that they require.
Students can add and delete schools up until the various school application deadlines. Also, it\u2019s good to note that the colleges can\u2019t see any of the other schools where students are applying to attend on the College App.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nFERPA and Adding Recommenders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The recommender can then submit their recommendations through the Common App or directly to the colleges and universities (electronically or by mail).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nMore Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Learn More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n