Gear Up for the Common App
With summer break coming to a close, I am once again devoting this column to rising high school seniors, otherwise known as the Class of 2029. August 1 is a crucial date in the wild world of college admissions, as it is the day when the Common Application rolls over every year for the new application season. By the time you read this article, August 1 may have passed. But fear not, what follows are some helpful hints to get you ready to successfully submit your Common Application.
In case you are not familiar with the Common App, it is the application used by more than 1000 diverse institutions throughout the United States and 20 countries. Many state flagship universities, such as the University of Washington, utilize the Common App in addition to their state’s application. Once you have navigated to the Common App website, commonapp.org, you will discover a first-year application guide (how nice of them) and a list of this year’s seven personal statement prompts.
Something new and exciting (at least in my mind) is an invaluable free resource called the AXS Companion which was developed in tandem by the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and Oregon State University. Having volunteered on the AXS Companion Task Force last year, I can attest to the ease of using this super helpful tool to find your way through the Common Application.
Many students wonder how and when they can create their own Common App account. Fortunately, you do not need to wait until August 1 to establish your account. Once you have your account you can begin to fill out the various sections, which you will be pleased to discover are the same for every school. Be sure to use an email address that you will remember and write down the password or save it on your phone. Hint: Use your actual name to avoid confusing overworked college admissions officers. In addition, if you have previously registered an email address with a college you have been considering, it’s wise to use the same email address that they already have on record for you.
You can begin adding colleges to the “My Colleges” tab after August 1. Unfortunately, if you add schools prior to August 1 and enter any information in the question fields, you will sadly discover that information has disappeared as the application refreshes and the questions for the 2024-2025 application cycle get populated. After the application refreshes and you add your colleges, you will have access to application requirements for your colleges as well as other colleges available through the Common App. The Common App will provide a grid that includes your chosen schools and includes all of the potential application deadlines, application fees, standardized testing policies, the number of letters of recommendation required, and whether you need to include a portfolio and/or a writing supplement.
Here’s some really good news! Some institutions offer application fee waivers to entice potential applicants. You may receive a marketing email offering a chance to apply for free subsequent to a campus visit. A list of qualifications used to determine a financial need for fee waivers is also provided through the Common App. Whatever you do, do not click the box claiming to qualify for a fee waiver unless you have proof to back it up. If this happens, your application can get delayed or lost as the school waits to confirm your eligibility. You may also happily discover that you have inadvertently chosen some schools that do not have any application fee.
Wondering about Scholarships? Once your Common App is submitted you can request to have your account linked to BigFuture Scholarships as they are partners. BigFuture will then pre-populate basic information about you that will simplify applying for outside scholarships. While most colleges can be found through the Common App, remember that the University of California system, the California State University system, as well as some other schools such as Brigham Young University, the State University of New York (SUNY), Georgetown, MIT, and the military academies have their own applications. Many schools allow the applicant the choice of applying through the Common App, through the Coalition App, or through their own application. Wherever you choose to apply, always double check your work. Good luck with your applications!
Robin Haas, M.A.Ed. is the founder of Haas College Connections and can be reached at Robin@HaasCollegeConnections.com. She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and earned a Certificate in College Counseling with Distinction from UCLA.
