How to Fill Out the Common App in 2024
We all know applying to college takes time and discipline. Thankfully, there's the Common App to streamline the process.
In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the process of filling out the Common App, providing you with tips and best practices to give yourself the best chance at success.
Let's get started.
What is the Common App
The Common App is an online platform that enables students to complete and submit college applications to up to 20 participating institutions in one place. Instead of filling out separate applications for each college, the Common App consolidates the core application components, making it easier and more efficient to apply to a wide range of schools.
However, it's important to note that not all colleges accept the Common App. You can find a complete list of the member colleges on the Common App website. We also share the link to the specific page below.
When Does the Common App Open for 2024?
Remember, the Common App is always technically “open,” meaning you can start a Common App whenever and begin filling out the Common App tab. But you can only start submitting applications and filling out college-specific information on August 1st of every year.
If you’re applying for Early Action or Early Decision, applications can be due in as little as four months from August 1st, while regular admissions deadlines can be as little as five months away (depending on where you’re applying).
Before August 1st, it’s good to:
■ Get serious about your college list, including identifying your safety, reach and match schools.
■ Write the first draft of your personal statement or essay.
■ Make checklists of things you need, like letters of recommendation and any other components.
■ Complete the main Common App tab to showcase your academic and high school accomplishments.
How to Use the Common App
Now, here is a step-by-step guide for using the Common App.
Create a Common App Account
Before you begin filling out the application, it's essential to gather all the necessary information. This includes:
■ Parent/Legal guardian information: Colleges collect this information for demographic purposes. You'll be asked for your parents' occupation, employment status, education level, and college attendance in the Profile section.
■ Parental income information: The last part of the Profile section asks you if you meet one or more of the Common App fee waiver criteria to be eligible for application fee waivers. If you do qualify for a Common App fee waiver, then you will not need to pay any application fees for the colleges you apply to on Common App.
■ Your senior year course schedule: Most transcripts don’t include which classes you’re taking your senior year, so Common App asks you to list them in the Education section.
■ Academic honors and achievements: In the Education section, you'll have the opportunity to highlight up to five academic honors or achievements you earned in high school.
■ Test scores and dates: In the Testing section, you can self-report your scores for standardized tests like the SATs and ACTs. You can also list any AP or IB exam scores you have received or exams you plan to take. Each college has different testing requirements, so make sure to check their policies.
■ Your activities and responsibilities: The Activities section allows you to showcase up to ten of your interests and who you are outside of the classroom. Don't forget to include information about your work, hobbies, clubs, and community engagement. Family responsibilities can also be important to share.
■ Your high school transcript: A few colleges (only 6% of Common App member institutions) require you to enter all of the courses you have taken and the grades you’ve received from 9th to 11th grade in the Courses & Grades section.
Once you have all the necessary information, it's time to create your Common App account. You can do it by following these steps:
■ Visit the Common App website and click on "Create Account."
■ Choose your student type. If you are a high school student, you will select “First year student.”
■ Create new login credentials and choose an email address you regularly check and will have access to after graduating high school.
■ Complete your registration information, providing your name, home address, phone number, and date of birth.
■ Adjust your communication preferences and accept the Common App privacy policy.
■ Select "Create Account," and you're done!
Pro tip: Common App accounts roll over from year to year! This means that you can explore the platform, save your responses in the main Common App tab, and build a college list before you are a senior in high school.
Add Colleges to Your Common App
Once you've created your account, it's time to start adding colleges to your Common App. Here's how:
■ Visit the College Search tab and search for the colleges you want to apply to. You can search by name or use filters like state, distance from a zip code, enrollment term, application deadline, and more.
■ When you find a college you're interested in, click the "Add" button to add it to your list.
Invite Your Recommenders
Many colleges require letters of recommendation as part of the application process. So, conveniently, the Common App allows you to see which types of recommendations are required for each college. You can also invite and assign different types of recommenders.
Before inviting recommenders, though, it’s important that you add which high school you attend to the Education section of Common App. This is because some schools use outside platforms to manage the letter of recommendation and counselor form process.
Once you add your high school, the recommenders section will let you know if your school is using an outside platform. In that case, you do not need to invite recommenders from Common App and should follow instructions at your school.
Follow these steps to access the recommender section of Common App:
■ From the My Colleges tab, select a college and open the "Recommenders and FERPA" section.
■ Complete the FERPA Release Authorization if you haven't already done so. This allows your school to submit the necessary forms on your behalf. You can read more about FERPA below.
■ If your school does not use an outside platform to manage the recommender process, invite your recommenders using the invite button in each section. You'll need their name and email address.
■ After adding a recommender, you can manage their information using the Manage Recommenders button.
■ Assign recommenders to specific colleges by selecting their name from the dropdown menu and using the assign button.
It's important to note that each college has its own recommendation requirements. Some may require teacher recommendations, while others allow for coach, employer, or peer recommendations. Make sure to review each college's recommendation guidelines.
What is FERPA?
FERPA is a federal law enacted to safeguard the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, students aged 18 and above or attending a post-secondary institution have the right to control who can access their educational records, including transcripts, grades, disciplinary records, and letters of recommendation. FERPA ensures that your educational information remains confidential and can only be released with your explicit consent or in certain specified circumstances.
Under FERPA, you have the right to review and control access to your letters of recommendation. If you choose to waive your rights and allow your recommenders to submit their letters confidentially, colleges may perceive them as more candid and credible. Remember that the choice to waive your rights is entirely voluntary, and you can always decide not to do so.
Understanding Each College's Requirements
As you work on your applications, it's crucial to stay organized and understand the unique requirements of each college. Here are some places within the Common App where you can find specific information:
■ My Colleges: In the My Colleges or College Search tab, you can find detailed information about each college's specific requirements for testing, writing supplements, deadlines, and more.
■ Application Requirements: In the Dashboard or College Search tabs, click on the Application Requirements button to see all the application requirements for either the colleges you have added to your My Colleges tab or for all the colleges that use the Common App.
■ Writing Requirements by College: To see a list of all colleges and their essay prompts, go to Writing requirements by college. This is a resource that is found on the Common App website not within your application. This resource will help you plan your essays effectively.
Remember, account rollover allows you to save answers to questions in the Common App tab year after year. However, responses to questions in your My Colleges section do not carry over. Only start working on college-specific questions, writing supplements, or portfolios if you intend to apply during that current school year/application cycle.
Navigating Essay Requirements
Writing essays is a crucial part of your application. Here's where you'll have the opportunity to showcase your unique experiences and perspective. Follow these tips to make the task more manageable:
■ Common App Personal Essay: Depending on the college, the personal essay may be optional or required. In the Writing section of the Common App tab, you'll find a table listing which colleges require it.
■ College-Specific Questions: Many colleges include short answer questions or essay prompts in the My Colleges section. Make sure to address each prompt individually and provide thoughtful responses.
■ Writing Supplements: Some colleges require a separate writing supplement, while others may ask for it based on your answers to other questions. Check your Dashboard or My Colleges tab for more information on writing supplements.
Submit Your Application
Before submitting your application, it's crucial to review all the information you've entered, pay the application fee (if required), and ensure everything is in order. Here's a three-step process for submission:
■ Preview your application: Before you submit, you can review a PDF of your application. Take the time to go through every section of your application to ensure accuracy and completeness. You can also review a preview of the information you input in the Common App tab at any time by clicking Preview.
■ Paying the application fee: If applicable, make sure to pay the application fee (the actual cost varies from college to college). The application fee will be waived if you select that you qualify for a Common App Fee Waiver in the Profile section of Common App. In addition, some colleges offer fee waivers for specific circumstances that they list in their college-specific questions section.
■ Submitting your application: Once you've reviewed and paid (if applicable), it's time to submit your application.
With that, you will have successfully completed the Common App and taken a significant step toward your college journey. Good luck with your applications!
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General Common App Questions
To get started, here are some of the most basic Common App questions answered for you.
Why Use the Common App?
The Common App saves you time, money, and effort. With the Common App, you can complete one application and submit it to up to 20 Common App-participating colleges and universities of your choosing.
Does it Cost Anything to Use the Common App?
No. The Common App doesn’t charge for students to use their platform. However, if you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you may need to pay an application fee per college you apply to. The cost of application submissions will vary between colleges.
Can I Get a Fee Waiver?
Yes! As was mentioned earlier in this article, a fee waiver form can be filled out on the Fee Waiver section of your Common App profile.
Once financial hardship has been established, it will apply to all college application submissions. So you don’t have to fill out that form multiple times.
Not sure if you qualify? The Common App website provides this list of criteria for eligibility.
If you have questions or need assistance with a fee waiver, you can also speak with your high school counselor or directly with an admissions officer from the school you’re interested in.
Which Colleges and Universities Accept the Common App?
Over 1,000 institutions accept the Common App. And that number is growing each year. You can click the link for a full list of colleges and universities that accept the Common App.
There are other application platforms, such as the Universal Application and Coalition Application. However, both have fewer member institutions and different goals in mind. For instance, the Coalition App requires college members to have a certain amount of diversity in their student body, as well as a cap on national student loan debt.
Ultimately, you’ll want to determine which platforms offer you the most advantages, i.e., which has the most colleges you’re interested in and features you want to use.
Do Colleges Treat Common App Candidates Differently?
Definitely not! Colleges and universities want you to use the platform that works best for you. If that happens to be the Common App, then use it. All member colleges have pledged to treat applicants from Common App like any other platform, whether through their own website, statewide platform, or otherwise. In fact, there are a number of colleges that only use CommonApp.
The one recommendation that most admissions advisors would give is that demonstrated interest is a bit more important. Because it can be incredibly easy to apply once you’ve filled out all required aspects at once, colleges and universities want to confirm that you are truly interested in their institution.
To show demonstrated interest when using the Common App, make sure that you’re individualizing the answers to any “Why Our Institution” questions. Then, follow the colleges’ social media pages and attend any virtual events or opportunities they offer prospective students.
When is the Common App Due? What’s the Deadline?
When the Common App is due depends on what type of application you’re submitting. Are you applying Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision? Once you narrow that down depending on the schools you’re applying to, you’ll see that the Common App due date is usually November or January. But here are the specific details.
■ Early Action: If you’re going to apply for Early Action, you’ll most likely need to submit your Common App by November 1st. It is important to note that there are a few colleges with Early Action deadlines as early as October 15th.
■ Early Decision: Like Early Action, Early Decision applications are usually due around the 1st or the 15th of November. But some schools offer Early Decision II, which means the Common App for those schools would be due sometime in January.
■ Regular Decision: Students applying Regular Decision will usually need to submit their Common App in early January.
The application deadline is always 11:59 pm on deadline day in your local time zone. Once you indicate the type of application you’re submitting in the college-specific questions section in My Colleges, you can sort your colleges by Deadline Date in the Dashboard tab.
How Long Does It Take to Fill Out the Common App?
It really depends on how many schools you are applying to and how much information they want. Ideally, you should already have the information in the main Common App tab completed, including your main college essay, before August 1st, which is the date you can officially start submitting college applications. Filling out the Common App takes time. The good thing is that you can work on parts of it, save it, and come back to it.
Also, to set yourself up for success, begin gathering documents and other components of your application, like the letters of recommendation, long before you start the college-specific questions portion of Common App.
Do I Need a Letter of Recommendation for the Common App?
The Common App itself doesn’t require letters of recommendation, but the schools you’ll be applying to may.
Each school will specify its own requirements for the letters of recommendation part of the application. For instance, some will specify who they want your letters of recommendation to be from, while others will just ask for a specific number of them.
It’s like that for test scores and transcripts, too, so be sure to pay close attention to what each college or university requires so you’re sure to submit the right documents.
I Messed Up On My Application — How Do I Fix it?
Once you submit an application, you cannot make any changes to that application, but you can make changes for future applications. You can edit all sections of the application an unlimited number of times.
Can I Preview My Application Before Submitting it?
Yes! And you should, too. Once you’ve filled out everything, click “Review and Submit.” This will automatically generate a PDF, which, if possible, you should print and manually look over. The simple act of looking at a printed application versus a digital one can allow your eye to notice mistakes it previously missed.
Click the link for directions on printing your Common App.
Should I Fill Out My Demographics on the Common App?
Whether or not you share this information depends on personal preference. Colleges ask for this information so they can keep track of the demographics of their application pool and admissions.
Do You Apply for Financial Aid Through Common App?
Nope! For that, you’ll want to fill out the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA), which every college-bound student should complete as soon as possible after the application opens. Some colleges also require the CSS Profile. You can visit CollegeBoard to see a list of CSS participating institutions.
Final Thoughts on the Common App
Filling out the Common App can feel overwhelming, but you can navigate the process smoothly by following the steps here. To set yourself up for success, create a Common App account and start filling it out as early as possible, preferably before your senior year.
Know where you stand when you apply
As you get ready for the Common App, it's important to understand your current standing and how competitive your applications will be. That knowledge will help you make smart and strategic application decisions.
Sign up for a free Appily account and enter your academic details—such as your GPA and test scores—to assess your likelihood of being admitted to the colleges on your list.
Having insight into your admission chances before you apply can help you save time, money, and reduce stress. Click the button below to begin and discover your admission chances!
