The Common App

The Common Application, which is accepted by more than 1,000 schools, including some colleges located outside the U.S., helps streamline an essential part of the admissions process for students. First-time and transfer applicants can apply to multiple colleges at once. This way, students only have to fill out details that most schools require – such as name, address and extracurricular activities – one time. Basically, it simplifies everything!

The Common App opens Aug. 1 every year. Students should pay very close attention to deadlines, as they differ among universities. Most of the time, early decision and early action deadlines are in November 1 or November 15. Regular decision deadlines are generally around January 1. Rolling decision deadlines can extend into the summer after high school graduation!

How to Complete the Common Application

Here are steps for how students can work on an application through the platform:

• Go to commonapp.org and click on the "Start your application" button to get details about how to create an account and log in. Additionally, students can download the Common App's mobile app to keep track of deadlines, invite recommenders and set reminders.

• Choose the first-year student or transfer student option.

• Add user information such as name, email, phone number, address, date of birth and prospective enrollment year.

• Fill out the user profile with requested details on education, extracurriculars, demographic data, household information and more.

• Add collaborators such as teachers, counselors and others providing letters of recommendation or other supporting documents.

• Search for and add schools to "My Colleges."

• Get familiar with each college's application requirements and follow those accordingly when applying.