College Tip of the Week #12: Common App
We hope that you are not just starting your applications now, but whether you are or not, we have some helpful tips to guide you. The CommonApp has multiple parts you will fill out at different times throughout your senior year, so we will break down these below.
Fill out the correct application. Yes, this may seem like a no-brainier, but many students do not research which application a specific school uses. Though CommonApp is the most prevalent, many public Texas schools use ApplyTexas, and schools across the nation may use other applications as well. Do not assume the school uses CommonApp, or you may end up having to fill out the entire application within a small time frame.
Background information of the “Common App”: First, you will need to fill out the background information under the “Common App” tab.
It is important to complete the profile and family sections honestly and to the best of your knowledge. Also be sure to indicate if you believe your financial situation may qualify for a common app fee waiver.
Make sure you look at your transcript to accurately fill out the education section, including your honors and future plans.
The testing section asks for the number of SAT/ACT exams, SAT subjects tests, and AP and IB tests you took along with your scores. Note that the SAT and ACT questions ask for your highest score in each section (math, writing, reading, etc.), which works in your favor! Double check everything, since you do not want to accidentally report something incorrectly.
The activities section is especially important for 2020 applicants, as COVID-19 has decreased available dates for standardized testing and reduced the prevalence of letter grades in schools. In this section, you should choose your meaningful activities and describe them in order of importance. This is good practice for your resume, since the descriptions have to be concise (avoid exaggerating your accomplishments, as this makes you seem less sincere). You only have space for 10 activities, so make sure you convey your diversity through the activities that you choose to include. Typically, the activities you participate in later in high school and for a longer period of time are more valuable than ones you quit shortly after beginning.
The writing section is where you are truly able to shine. Here you can directly connect with the admissions committee to gain their interest and understand the essence of who you are through your own voice. Though we will go into more depth in the next few weeks about the personal essay itself, for now know that you should put your best effort into crafting this piece of art. Make sure you are unique in either the topic or the way you answer the question, but also ensure you stay focused throughout the essay. And of course, have others edit and revise your work (our consultants would be happy to help you!). This year, the additional details section gives you the chance to include information about how COVID-19 or other circumstances have impacted your health and well-being, if you have not been able to mention them in your application yet.
“College Search”: The next section you should focus on is the “College Search” tab. Once you have done some research about the colleges you want to apply to, using our guidelines in our College Tip of the Week #7: Safety, Target, and Reach Schools and College Tip of the Week #8: College Research, you can search for these colleges in this section and add them to your list. Even if you have not done any research, you can even use filters to search for colleges near your location, based on their application deadline or fee, writing requirements, letter of recommendation requirement, or even standardized test policy. If you have specific preferences for colleges, this may be a good place to help narrow down your list. When you search for a college, it also provides information about specific application requirements for that college, including the requirement of grades, standardized tests, and essays. This information is also available in the “My Colleges” tab.
"Financial Aid Resources”: This section provides you information about acquiring financial aid for colleges from the federal government (by completing the FAFSA), the state, and from colleges themselves. It also provides guidance for planning for the cost of college and applying for financial aid specifically for each of the colleges on your “My Colleges” list. There are also scholarship opportunities in this section that you should definitely look into to help you pay for your college tuition. Common App also describes that you have the ability to compare financial aid packages between colleges once they are offered to you, and to analyze them in-depth rather than opt for the lowest priced college.
“My Colleges”: Once you have prepared the application requirements for your college, you can start the submission process by clicking on the university you want to apply to in this tab. Here, you can fill out the specific questions a college asks its applicants, such as your intended major, clubs you are interested in at the college, academic plans, contact information, and even family that may have attended the school. The college may also ask you for additional materials, such as a resume, which will provide you more of an opportunity to discuss your extracurricular activities. For resume tips and information, check out our College Tip of the Week #1: Resume Length, MEDLIFE Moving Mountains Fundraiser, and College Tip of the Week #6: How you describe you activities. This section also allows you to request recommendations and see their status, as well as submit additional essays and short answer questions. Make sure your essays are submitted in this section to the correct college, as they may not be sent automatically if you wrote them in another section of your common app. When you finish this section along with the others discussed above, you can submit your application to the university!
To start you application on Common App:
