Common application

Common App: Everything you need to know

Applying to graduate school can be time-consuming and frustrating for students and their parents. Students may be balancing the SAT, school visits, challenging senior year course requirements, application study, and paperwork. The Common App, an application approved by more than a thousand institutions, including some colleges outside the United States, streamlines a vital step in student applications.

Despite its widespread use, some families unfamiliar with the college application process may find the Common App complicated. This blog serves as a guide for parents and students to navigate the Application better.

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Common application definition

The Common App is a non-profit organization group with over 900 higher education institutions as partners. They are passionate about helping all students in achieving their objectives by:

1. Statistics and information are utilized to educate our member organizations
2. Helping the people who help the students

• Removing the administrative and practical barriers to college entry

1. Providing services to numerous groups and students

The website allows students to simultaneously apply to numerous universities. As a result, students only need to fill out the paperwork that most schools require once, which typically includes their name, location, and social activities.

How it works

Below are some steps you can follow when applying through the platform;

1. Visit Commonapp.org and click on the “Start your application” tab to get information about how to open an account and log in. Students can also obtain the Common App mobile app to schedule reminders, contact recommenders, and maintain track of deadlines
2. Select the transfer student or first-year student choice

• Include user details like name, phone number, email, birthdate, location, and the registration year you intend to use

1. Complete the personal profile with the required information, including household details, demographics, extracurricular activities, and education
2. Include associates who can contribute supporting materials or letters of reference, such as professors, mentors, and others
3. Browse for and include colleges in “My Schools.”

• Learn about the application guidelines for each institution and adhere to them when registering

Latest Common app essay prompts

Here are the Common App essay prompts for the 2022-2023 application cycle;

1. Consider a moment when you questioned or questioned a concept. What made you believe that? What happened as a result?
2. Some students might feel their application would be lacking if they didn’t mention a significant factor of their background, personality, desires, or ability. If this explains you, talk about your experience
3. Write a paper on any issue you would want. It could be a piece you’ve already written, another in response to another challenge, or it might be your creation
4. Think of a favor you’ve received that surprised you by making you thankful or happy. What effect did this generosity have on you? Was it an inspiration?
5. Outline a topic, idea, or concept that is so fascinating to you that time itself seems to stand still. Why does it still have your interest? Who or what do you turn to for more details?
6. The knowledge we gain from the difficulties we encounter can be essential to success in the future. Describe a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. What did it do to you emotionally, and what did you learn?

Not all educational institutions expect essays from their students. Some colleges might ask students to send a supplementary essay. Candidates can check the requirements for all institutions on the Common App by logging in to their student accounts or downloading a PDF from the Common App’s website.

Colleges and Universities embracing Common App

Over 950 colleges and universities have endorsed The Common App, the market leader in college entry procedures. Most of these institutions, including all Ivy League universities, public universities, and some international institutions, approve the Common App.

Some of the renowned universities that accept the Common App are:

1. Brown University
2. Northwestern University
3. Yale University
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
5. Vanderbilt University
6. Columbia University
7. University of Minnesota Twin Cities
8. University of Chicago
9. Johns Hopkins University
10. Cornell University
11. Harvard University
12. Dartmouth College
13. Princeton University
14. Stanford University
15. Duke University
16. University of Pennsylvania
17. Arizona State University
18. The Ohio State University

Some institutions may have their systems in place beside the Common Application; therefore, it’s essential to check each school’s website for information on how they conduct applications.

How Common App works for transfer students

With some exceptions, the Common App transfer section functions mainly in the same method as it does for first-time applicants. The Common App is accepted for transfer by more than 800 institutions.

Transfer students, as opposed to first-time applicants, must submit more details from the colleges they studied. They are prompted by the Common Application form to indicate the said college or institution attended, admission dates, and college classes attended.

Transfer scholars must also submit an essay.

Disadvantages of using common App

Every product has advantages and disadvantages. Here we concentrate on how using this software can harm you.

1. Easy to go overboard

Although over 1000 institutions accept the Common App, you shouldn’t apply to all of them. However, it’s simple to ignore this and get drawn into the convenience of applying to numerous colleges simultaneously. It’s crucial to continue your study and fill out applications to colleges that fit your requirements and goals.

However, you shouldn’t shy away from applying to colleges that do not recognize the Common App simply because they might be more complex or time-consuming. Take your time to apply if you are genuinely interested in attending the institution.

2. Limited personalization

The Common Application allows students to apply to numerous schools at once, which may limit their capacity to convey their interest in a particular program or school. This could make it more challenging for admissions committees to determine whether a student will blend in at a given institution.

3. Data privacy

Given that the Common Application gathers applicants’ confidential data, there is always a chance of data breaches or other privacy issues. The Common Application has a privacy policy in effect and does take precautions to protect applicant data.

4. Technical issues

The Common Application is an online resource that occasionally experiences bugs or downtime like any other technological product. This could prove stressful for applicants who are scrambling to finish their applications.

5. Cost

Although using the Common Application is usually cheaper than submitting numerous individual applications, there is still a fee. The Common Application fee is not the only application fee that some schools may ask for.

6. Little room for customization

The Common Application may not offer as much modification or customization as some applicants would like because it is designed for use by numerous institutions. For instance, some institutions might have unique essay questions or admissions standards not supported by the Common Application.

Expert tips to help you when applying through common App

Students can select mentors who can access areas of an application and their progress.

Experts advise against starting applications at 11:59 p.m. on January 1, as some students do. According to Common App recommender, schools will still approve late applications; however, the stress of racing against the time and the increased risk of typos and other errors make it dangerous to do so.

Experts advise learners to begin early and to utilize the Common App preview, which allows them to evaluate their applications before submitting them.

Who should use Common App?

Nowadays, most prestigious colleges and universities recognize the Common Application, a simplified college application technique that helps you apply to numerous institutions simultaneously.

With this approach, you can avoid the stress of putting together necessary individual forms for each viable institution while saving time.

You can quickly transfer information like formal high school credentials and final exam results even if your college does not recognize the Common App because most colleges require similar documents.

Common App key features

The Common App website has five sections. Usually, students begin by selecting colleges using the ‘College Search’ option. Students can access them after they’ve been uploaded by clicking the “Dashboard” tab, which summarizes your application’s progress and the duties you must finish for each school.

Fill out the remaining sections of your Application, including those for your transcripts, and test scores, family history, on the “Common App” page.

Common app fee waiver

The Common App and most colleges believe that application fees shouldn’t serve as an obstacle for any student. You may be eligible for a Common App price waiver if you satisfy certain requirements.

Visit the Common App Fee Waiver section of your Profile to submit a fee waiver request. Once you’ve finished that part, your counselor can submit a fee waiver form to approve your request. The Common App fee waiver will be available for all your college applications.

Conclusion

Students now frequently use the Common Application to submit their college and university applications. The Common App, which has over 900 member institutions, facilitates the college application process by enabling students to complete one Application and send it to numerous colleges. This helps students apply to more schools and saves time and effort. The Common App has developed over time to include more tools and resources for students, like the capacity to monitor the status of applications, seek letters of recommendation, and upload files. Our experts have been instrumental in helping students understand the App better.