Common Application

The Common Application membership association was established in 1975 by 15 private colleges that wished to provide a common, standardized first-year application form to use at any member institution. Today, over 500 public and private colleges and universities are members of the association.

If you are applying to one of the 681 colleges and universities that accept the Common Application, the great news is that you only need to fill out one application for all of the schools in which you are interested. The Common Application website also provides a search function to look up whether or not schools of interest participate in this application option. The application process is online, is cost effective, and is faster that applying through traditional paper applications. Students are encouraged to apply using the Common Application whenever possible. The "Requirements Grid" in the attachment section below provides students with a list of college requirements (test scores, admission deadlines, etc.) for all institutions that accept the Common Application.

Essay Topics for the Common Application

These prompts are designed to elicit information that will strengthen the other components of the application. The personal essay has a 650 word limit.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.