The Common Application

The Common Application

The Common App is a college application that can be sent to many colleges and universities. The Common App is the best place to get started when you're ready to begin applying for college. Remember, your college application needs to represent you -- be thoughtful and complete. Below you'll find some tips and tricks for ensuring you're putting your best foot forward!

Common Application Basics

  • My Colleges: Lists the colleges, details and deadlines, and supplemental requirements of each of the schools the student is applying

  • Common App: The actual application components students will complete

  • College Search: How to find and select the colleges a student is applying; in addition, it serves as a search tool to find colleges based on certain characteristics

  • Financial Aid Resources: Financial aid resources

Common Application Sections

Once you create your Common App login and begin to work on your application by selecting the Common Application tab at the top of the dashboard you'll see a number of different sections to the left (Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing, Courses and Grades). You can skip sections and navigate to other sections as you work on your application. For detailed tips and tricks on each section select the section title from the list below.

Profile Section

This section of the Common Application is fairly straightforward but there are a few points that cause confusion.

  • When entering the permanent home address, the box may populate with "I don't see my address in this list." No worries! Just click continue and fill in the address.

  • When completing the demographic section you are not required to fill out the information (but remember - your application is your opportunity to demonstrate who you are!). However, it's important to select "Yes, I have completed this section to my satisfaction."

  • You are eligible for a Common Application Fee Waiver if you select "yes" and select one of the economic indicators (SAT Testing Fee Waiver and Free or Reduced Price Lunch are popular selections).

Family SEction

Have this information on hand before you complete the family section:

  • Parent Information: marital status, names/former names, occupation and education level, institution(s) attended, degree(s) earned and year earned

  • Sibling Information: name, age, relationship, education level, institution(s) attended, degree(s) earned

Education SEction

  • Don’t skip the school look-up button!

  • Date of Entry: August 2019

  • Boarding School: No

  • School Counselor Information:

  • Graduating Class Size: 100

  • Class Rank Reporting: Does not rank

  • GPA Scale Reporting: 4.0

  • GPA Weighting: Weighted

Testing Section

  • Discuss your test reporting plan with Ms. Grasinger

  • Test-optional resources

  • Understand test optional policy on each application (if you apply as ‘test optional,’ you will likely remain test optional even if taking the ACT/SAT at a later date)

  • You do not need to report AP test scores

  • If self-reporting scores on your application, many schools will still require official test scores from the testing agency

Activities Section

The activities section of your Common Application is one of the most important! Be thoughtful, descriptive, and thorough.

  • Complete this section with activities only from your time in high school

  • Keep in mind that you’re limited to ten activities

  • Think of categorizing involvement in these categories:

  • List activities in order of importance to you

  • Don’t stress on exact “hours per week”/”weeks per year”; accurate estimates are fine

  • Remember, there is a separate section for Honors/Awards

  • College Essay Guy: Common App Activities List Tips

  • Compare these two activity listings:

    • Art
      Created art and organized club.

    • Founder, Art Honors Society
      Organized and ran meetings, set up field trips, brainstormed and created group art activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members.


Writing Section

Before adding your college essay to the writing section of the Common App be sure to use resources on the essay page to develop and revise your essay.

  • The additional information section of the Common App allows you an opportunity to share more about yourself (additional activities you weren't able to fit in the activities section) or explain things that may leave the admissions officer scratching their head (a dip in grades during the COVID pandemic, limited activities due to other responsibilities, medical challenges, family hardships, etc.). If you feel like theirs a big piece of your story missing from your application this is your time to share it! Unsure? Ask Ms. Grasinger for guidance!