Decoding the Common App

For students and parents applying to college in the US is a time-consuming and frequently stressful process. They may be juggling with the SAT or ACT, attending webinars, college fairs, coupled with this is the race against time to complete school projects and prepare for their assessments and exams. All of this can be extremely overwhelming for the students. Oftentimes, I hear parents complaining that their child does not spend time with them anymore.

The Common Application, which is recognized by over 900 schools worldwide, including those that are not in the United States, simplifies the application process

Every year on August 1st, a new edition of the Common App is released.

Last year it included at least 40 new schools, expanded search and filter options. It comes with a guided tutorial for users after they create an account, more robust details on colleges, including highlighted academic programs, and an optional question for students to explain how the coronavirus has affected their lives, as high schools largely went remote last spring.

Students do not have to wait until August 1 to begin their Common App application. They can make an account at any time and then move their data to the new app once it is available.

Applicants can begin by visiting commonapp.org and clicking the "Apply now" button to learn how to create an account and log in to work on an application through the platform. To keep track of deadlines, invite recommenders, and create reminders. Students can download the Common App mobile app. The summer before senior year of high school

(Class 12)is an excellent time for kids to begin working on their applications. During the summer, students are not required to submit their applications. However, beginning early allows them to research the requirements for colleges they're considering, prepare essays, and finish some of the onerous background information before they become overwhelmed.

What is the average time it takes to complete an application?

What it takes to complete an application varies depending on the needs of the school. Students should give themselves at least six weeks to collect everything they need for college applications. That gives them two weeks to fill out any background information and at least a month to complete the rest of the paperwork. In addition to any necessary parental information, such as employer information and educational history, many schools ask first-year students to complete a questionnaire. Where can I find the essay prompts?

The seven prompts for the Common App first-year essay for the 2020-2021 school year remained the same as the seven prompts for the 2019-2020 school year. The current prompts "do a good job," according to the Common App website. Essays must be no more than 650 words long The subjects are diverse. A couple of them ask students to reflect on their experiences and give examples of learning or personal development. Students can also share an essay on any subject they want or simply describe something that interests them.

The essay prompts can be found on the Common App's website. Every other year, the group evaluates the prompts.

Students are not required to submit an essay to all schools. Students may be required to submit a supplemental essay or other information by some universities. When students log in to their student accounts on the Common App or download a PDF from the Common App's website, they can view the criteria for all institutions.

Applicants can also use the platform's Student Solutions Center to see extra questions for schools before they begin their applications.

What Should I Do If I Have Issues with the Common Application?

The Common App offers a number of resources to make the application process go more smoothly. The platform offers year-round technical help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in addition to video training throughout the program. In the Student Solutions Center, applicants can find answers to frequently asked issues or submit a question. According to Common App reps who submitted it, response times vary, but the average wait time is 20 minutes.

How will I know if I'm eligible for a Common App fee waiver?

According to the organization's data, the Common App is free to use, and 46.5 percent of member schools do not charge first-year candidates application fees. When students apply to colleges that require an application fee, they must pay the amount at the time of submission. Students who have questions about whether they qualify for fee waivers can reach out to their high school counselors or directly to the colleges that they are applying to, experts say

What are some helpful hints for completing the Common App?

Well, do not wait till 11:59 p.m. on January 1 to finish applications, as some students do. According to Common App reps, schools will still accept applications that are a few minutes late, but the stress of racing against the clock – and the increased risk of typos and other errors – isn't worth it. Starting early helps students to use the Common App preview, which allows them to check their application before submitting it.

Do I Have to Apply to College Using the Common App?

While it is well-known, that Common App is the platform to apply to colleges, it is not the only option for college applications.

Many schools have websites where students can apply online. Students can use or must use application systems in some states to apply to institutions. Texas, for example, has a statewide application system, however, some Texas schools also accept the Common App.

Some well-known private colleges in the District of Columbia, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgetown University, only accept applications through their school websites. Many competitive colleges and universities, such as Harvard and Amherst College, accept applications through the Common App.

Other platforms accepted by some schools include the Coalition Application and the Universal College Application. And while there are some exceptions, many schools that use those platforms also use the Common App.

Is it Important to Colleges Whether I Use the Common App or Another Platform?

"Colleges that allow students to apply via various platforms do not have a preference for which one is chosen, but high school counselors may. Experts argue that the Common App's interface with Naviance, a college and career readiness software company, makes it simple for counselors to submit college documentation." Students should, however, submit a single application utilizing the platform that best suits their needs.

From inputs from US News, https://www.commonapp.org/