*Guide on How to Fill out The Common Application *Please note that certain colleges require their own application portals, such as MIT, Georgetown, and the UC Application system. If you are applying to any of these schools, please keep that in mind!
Contacts Phone number, mailing address Demographics Religion, military service, race/ethnicity (all optional) Geography Birthplace, countries lived in, language proficiency, citizenship
School Current school, dates attended Counselor name, phone, and email History Previous schools, dates attended Past/pending education interruptions (e.g. time off, early graduation, gap year, etc.) College courses College assistance programs
Academic Information GPA, class rank, current year courses, honors and awards College Entrance ACT and SAT English For Non-Native Speakers TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic Academic Subjects AP, IB, SAT Subject Tests, A-Levels Other Optional reporting for other relevant 9-12 testing
Principal Activities/Work(10 activities maximum) Years of participation Hours per week Weeks per year Organization Name(100 characters) Position/leadership held(50 characters), Brief description (150 characters).
Personal Essay Select one of seven available prompts, 650 Words Maximum Disciplinary History Explanations regarding school discipline and misdemeanor or felony convictions Additional Information Optional Covid-19 Question- Effects on your health and well-being, safety ,family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study.(250 words max) Relevant circumstances or qualifications not reflected elsewhere in the application (650 words max)
General Entry term, degree status, housing preference, test-optional preference, scholarship and financial aid preference Academics Academic interest, program(s) applying to(Some colleges may also ask additional questions about your family, state of residenceresidence, activities, and general interests.) Writing Supplement Additional short answer or essay responses if requested by institution
Writing Supplement Additional short answer or essay responses if requested by institution
Tips!
How do I create my Common App account? It’s a very easy process to create your account. First, click on the Create Account button, then enter your email address and a password of your choice. Make sure you use an email address that you check frequently because this will be the email that you will receive updates about your college admission status. Remember to make note of your password always!! How do I add colleges to my list? To add a college to your list, you can do this from your results listed under the College Search tab. Check the box beside the college name, then click the Add button located at the bottom right of the page. To add all colleges from your result list, click the box beside Member Name in the top left area of the grey menu bar. You can also see specific college information such as phone numbers, deadlines, fees, and recommendation requirements by clicking the school name link from the results list. How do I search for colleges within the Common Application? You have many options when searching for Common App colleges and universities. All of your searching will be conducted in the College Search tab. If you already know the name of a college that you’d like to add to your My Colleges list, you can type that name directly into the School/City field. You can also broaden your search to search a particular state or country, or search for schools within or away from a certain zip code. You also have the option to search by application term or by specific deadlines. When you're ready to perform your search, simply click on the Search button to view your results.