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What is the Common Application?
What is the Common Application?
The Common Application is a single online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once. The Common App dashboard also helps you track necessary application documents (like your letters of recommendation) and important deadlines.
What colleges use the Common App?
What colleges use the Common App?
Common App colleges are a varied list of institutions: private, public, big, small, engineering colleges and liberal arts schools. Check out the full list of the 918 Common App schools.
When does the Common App open?
When does the Common App open?
Get ready for application season! The Common App goes live every year on August 1.
When is the Common App due?
When is the Common App due?
Your application deadline depends on whether you are applying early decision (typically November 1) or regular decision (typically January 1). Deadlines also vary by school, so be sure to check dates for every college you are applying to. You can find application deadlines (plus tons of school information) in the online college profiles.
What are the Common Application essays?
What are the Common Application essays?
You’ll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions. Check out previous Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing about which essay to write.
What does the Common App cost?
What does the Common App cost?
The platform itself is free to use, but every college charges their own application processing fee (usually $30 to $75 for U.S. applicants and more for international applicants). You can apply for a fee waiver through Common App if you need one.
Linking your Common App Account
Linking your Common App Account
The first time that you use the College Applications manager, you will need to connect your Common App account.
Setting up Common App in SchooLinks as a Student
On the College Applications dashboard, click Connect.
You will see a list of instructions based on whether you
A) have an existing Common App account or
B) need to sign up for a Common App Account.
Click Connect Common App Account and Common App will open in a new tab.
If you have an existing Common App account, login using the email and password you used to create your Common App account.
If you have an existing Common App account, login using the email and password you used to create your Common App account.
If you have NOT made a Common App account before, click “Create an Account” to fill in your account details and create a new account
Next, you will need to check the box next to I Agree to confirm that you want to share your Common App data back to SchooLinks. This is required to use Common App in SchooLinks.
Once you have successfully linked your Common App account, you will be redirected back to SchooLinks. You will now see your status as “Connect” on your External accounts card!
Adding Your High School
Adding Your High School
The next step in setting up your Common App account is adding your current high school. This helps Common App know where your application will be coming from.
On the College Applications dashboard, click Login in the bottom left section to access Common App. If you have already completed the previous step of linking your account, Common App should be open in a different tab.
On the Common App website, go to the Common App tab and click open the Education section. Then click Find School.
Find and select your school and click continue.
Make sure your High School is correct. Otherwise, teachers and counselors will not be able to submit recommendations.
Adding your first Common App School and Completing FERPA Authorization
Adding your first Common App School and Completing FERPA Authorization
Now that you have your account set up, let's add your first school! This will also allow you to complete the step of FERPA Authorization which must be done when you add your first school.
On the College Applications dashboard, click Submission Tracker.
Select a school from your Final List to start tracking. You can also click Add School to search for additional colleges to track.
Select the Application Method as Common App.
Click Save Application to continue setting up this application
Click Add College to Common App and Common App will open in a new tab
Login to your Common App Account
(if you're not already logged in)
You will see this school added to the list of schools on your dashboard. Click into the school.
Click on the Questions section under “Application” and complete the "General" Section, particularly the "Preferred start term" and "Preferred Admission Plan" so that you can establish a deadline for this application.
Now that you’ve added this school to your applications in Common App, you can continue to apply through Common App with the results and status tracked through SchooLinks!
Note: If you already added schools in Common App prior to linking your accounts, these will be added to your submissions tracker during the sync.
But let's not celebrate just yet - you'll need to complete the FERPA Authorization if you want to be able to request Teacher Evaluations for Common App.
Go to the "Recommenders & FERPA" of this application. If you have not already added your High School to the Common App tab, you will be prompted to do this first. See “Adding your High School” for additional instructions
In the "Recommenders & FERPA", click Complete Release Authorization.
Review the instructions before selecting whether or not to waive your rights. Once you add your signature, click Save and Close.
Click back into the SchooLinks tab on your browser and click “Refresh Page” in the popup.
You can now begin tracking your application on SchooLinks!
You can now begin tracking your application on SchooLinks!
Applying for a Fee Waiver on Common App
Applying for a Fee Waiver on Common App
This is an optional step if you wish to apply for a fee waiver.
On the College Applications dashboard, click Login to Common App in the bottom left section to access Common App. If you have already completed the previous step of linking your account, Common App should be open in a different tab.
Go to the Common App tab and click on the Profile section. Open the Common App Fee Waiver section
Answer “Yes” to the fee waiver statement and select all the indicators in the list that apply to you.
Sign your name and click Continue.
Note: Your counselor will also be asked to confirm that you are eligible for this waiver.
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