The Common Application Makes Applying to Member Colleges Easier

If you are a student applying to multiple colleges, it can be very time consuming to complete applications. For many schools, the Common Application makes this important task a lot easier.

Established in 1975 with 15 private colleges, membership has grown to almost 500 public and private colleges and universities in 46 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign countries. Members include schools that offer 4-year baccalaureate degrees. The roster represents a range of selective and modestly selective schools of different sizes.

The “Common App” as it is called, promotes a holistic admissions process. This means that member institutions include subjective criteria in their admissions decisions, as well as objective criteria. Subjective assessments of students include untimed writing samples (essays) and one or more recommendations from teachers or a counselor, giving college admissions staff a better understanding of the unique personal characteristics of each applicant. “The vast majority of colleges and universities in the U.S. use only objective criteria – grades and test scores – and therefore are not eligible to use the Common Application,” according to the website. Be sure you use the correct application procedure for your college choices.

There are two applications, one for first year students and one for transfer students. Applications can be submitted online as well as on paper. During the 2011-12 academic year, 660,000 students submitted 2.75 million applications online, by far the most popular choice. That’s just over 4 colleges per student.

Applications for the coming academic year are available in mid-April for preview. The apps go live on September 1 as the college application season kicks off.

Several supplements are included in the the Common Application’s First-Year Application Packet. Athletics, Arts, Early Decision, International School and Home School supplements deserve a look to see which ones apply to your situation. A number of the members also require college-specific supplements, and the Common App website provides a list of these schools with links to their respective supplements. Make sure you are completing all the proper forms for each college to which you are applying.

Here some suggestions for learning about the Common App and using it as a resource in several ways:

1. If you can, start early to familiarize yourself with the information required on the Common App. Even as a high school sophomore or junior, you are invited by the Common App staff to create an applicant account to “test drive the system”. The account is only valid for the current application cycle, so when it comes time to complete the Common App for real as a senior or transfer student, you will have to create a new account.
2. Preview the current Common Application online, even though it is slightly changed each year. Print out a blank copy so you can see the kinds of information it requires. Begin to gather the documentation and information needed, such as your extracurricular activities, work experience, and academic honors. If you are a rising senior, fill in the blank application to be better prepared when completing “the real thing” online.
3. Expect essay topics to change each year. Look for the new ones to be announced in March. Essay length is enforced (250-500 words). The Common Application organization also uses plagiarism detection methods to ensure student essays are truly original.
4. Counselors and teachers can submit recommendations online using the Common Application system, though they can also use other methods, such as the Naviance college planning system. Find out from your counselor how your school handles the college recommendation process and what forms should be used.
5. Check out the Common App’s Facebook page and Twitter feed for the latest in tips and information about completing the application. Here is an example of one of their helpful tips: “Don’t feel obligated to use the Additional Information section. It exists to help you, not stress you out. If you’re not sure you have something worth adding, follow that instinct.”
6. Next spring, if you find yourself looking for colleges that are still accepting applications late in the academic year or even through the summer, the Common Application website will list these member schools. Go to the Common Application website home page. On the Member Colleges and Universities tab, pull down the menu and select College Search. On the Search web page, select “First Year Student”, then “Fall 2013” and finally enter today’s date in the “Deadline on or after” field to produce a list of institutions that are still accepting applications for the upcoming school year. Good news for you!