Comprehensive Guide to the Common App – Everything you need to know

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The common app which is known as the common application is a one application process which is used to apply to multiple colleges in one go. In this article we will be discussing everything you need to know regarding the common application starting from what is common application, what colleges use this and what are common application essays etc. This comprehensive guide to the common app will help you gain much insights about this common app platform.

The common app basically streamlines the entire application process to the UG programs. Applying to colleges and institutes individually can be a complicated task and both students and parents feel overwhelmed because of this. The entire process from high school exams to shortlisting of colleges and programs, filling forms and writing essays can be daunting which is where the common app comes into picture to simplify the process.

Common Application – Basic Definition, Purpose and Date

This non-profit membership organization has over 900 colleges across the USA and 20 other countries worldwide. This is a common application platform connecting applicants and counsellors together. It reduces the task of filling and updating the same information including your basic details for each application. Students will just have to fill in the details once in the common application for applying to all the shortlisted colleges except for a few which may require you to answer and send a few supplementary essay questions.

With this common application students can not only apply to over 900 colleges in one go, but additionally they can track their important application documents including college deadlines and LOR’s through this. As far as any charge of using the common app platform is concerned, it is a free service, but some colleges or universities do charge a separate fee, thus it is always best to check with the institution itself about these application fees.

Also, the common application portal opens on 1st August every year. Just to save time students and counsellors create a common app account beforehand and fill all the general information. It is important to keep all the important documents and material handy as colleges have varied submission deadlines and thus, there is no time to skip a beat here. Students applying for early decision are required to apply by November beginning, while those applying for regular decision can apply by January beginning.

List of Schools Accepting the Common App

It is not just USA universities that accept the common app, but at least 50 universities across 18 countries use the common application. Below are some of the prestigious institutions that accept applications through the common app:

• Yale University
• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• Arizona State University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• John Hopkins University
• Brown University
• University of Chicago
• Columbia University
• Princeton University
• Duke University
• Northwestern University
• Dartmouth College
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Checkout More Universities to Study in USA

Common App Essays

For those who prefer to submit the applications through a common app platform will have to submit one common app essay and it should be selected from the given list of essay prompts. Start working on your essay in a separate word file and once you are done with the final one, simply copy and paste the complete write-up onto the provided space in the common app. You can pick and choose an idea which interests you the most.

Some colleges may even ask you to answer and submit a few supplemental questions.

Steps to apply to the Common App Colleges

By now, students and parents reading this must have an idea as to what the common application is all about, however many may not know what steps to follow to apply to the common app colleges. Follow these steps below to apply to colleges through the common application:

Step 1: Create Common App Account

Create a login and password and what all you need for this is the e-mail address. Answering a few quick questions will help you create an app account.

Step 2: Select & Confirm Schools Accepting Common Application

If we talk about institutes, not all accept the common application and few colleges may ask the students to fill the application using their own application systems.

Step 3: Check the Admission Requirements

Different institutes may have different admission requirements, thus students will have to make sure that the common app schools may have different writing, essay and Letter of recommendation requirements. So, do your research well in advance.

Step 4: Keep all Important Information handy

For most part of the application you will be required to have your high school transcripts, information about your extracurricular and many other important pieces of information. Please keep all these handy while you are filling out the common application.

Step 5: Work, Track & Submit

Start working in your application by filling in all the required information. Common application’s dashboard will show you all the colleges and status of each component of your application. Keep updating all the information whether it is about filling any general information with an essay or letter of recommendation from your teacher. Once you have submitted the application, it’s time for you to track. The icons on the dashboard will guide you through. Green says that the application is submitted and yellow means that your application is still in progress.

Last but not least, comes the final step which is to submit. Submit all your applications timely as per the deadlines.

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