How to Submit the Common App

In this article

• What you’ll need
• Starting the Common App
• How does the Common App work?
• When is the Common App due?
• Application fees

Many students applying to college use the Common App – a college application accepted by over 1,000 colleges and universities around the world. Instead of having to create an account on each college’s website and fill out separate applications, you can conveniently fill out this application once to save time (and money) when applying to schools! In this article, we’ll show you how to submit the Common App.

What you’ll need

When you sit down to complete the Common App, give yourself enough time (at least a few hours) to complete it fully. Here’s what you’ll need to complete the application:

• A copy of your high school transcript. Your transcript is an official record of all the classes you took and grades you received in high school. When completing the application, you can “Invite a Counselor” using their email address so they can submit your official transcript and any other required materials for your application, like letters of recommendation. If you have completed (or are working on) any college courses through dual enrollment or similar programs, you may need to submit a transcript from both your current high school and your college.
• Extracurriculars. Be sure to include all the relevant extracurricular activities you participated in during high school, like work, clubs, sports, hobbies, or family responsibilities.
• Test scores (SAT, ACT). Different schools have different testing requirements. Some require test scores, while others may be test-optional or not accept scores at all. Check to make sure you meet the requirements of each school you’re applying to.
• Your parent/guardian’s information. This will include things like their employment status and the highest level of education they completed.
• Academic achievements and honors. This can include things like making honor roll, winning a competitive academic contest, or joining the Honor Society. 

Starting the Common App

To begin, you will need to create an account. When registering, you will need to give information such as your name, address, phone number, email, and date of birth.

How does the Common App work?

Here’s a breakdown of the different sections/tabs you’ll see on your dashboard:

My Common Application

The dashboard of your account is called My Common Application. On this page, you will see the progress you’ve made on your application and any missing sections you still need to complete. This includes your family information, education history, test scores, extracurricular activities you’ve participated in, grades, and your essay(s). The Common App gives you seven different prompts to choose from; choose one that feels most relevant to you and the story you want to share. 

Want a second opinion on your college essays or personal statements? We can help! Submit them to us for free review – we’ll have them back to you within 10 days with personalized, actionable feedback.

College Search

Click on the “College Search” tab to search for the colleges you plan to apply to and add them to your list. Not sure where you want to apply yet? Check out our guide on building your college list to explore and apply to colleges that interest you and align with your goals.

My Colleges

After you add your colleges to your list, they can be found under the “My Colleges” tab. By clicking on a specific college, you can see a breakdown of its application requirements, deadlines, and fees. Different schools may have different deadlines, so be sure you’re submitting your application ahead of each.

Be sure to click on the “Recommenders & FERPA” sub-tab when looking at each individual school under the “My Colleges” tab. You need to complete the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Release Authorization to allow your schools to release your academic information to the colleges you are applying to. After you complete the authorization, you can then invite those writing you letters of recommendation as well as your counselor to submit your School Report and any other required forms.

Financial Aid

Under the “Financial Aid” tab, you will find information about types of financial aid and scholarships you may be eligible to apply for.

Source: Common App

When is the Common App due?

The Common App due date or deadline depends on the colleges you’re applying to and the type of application (Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision). Here are some general deadlines:

• Early Action / Early Decision: Typically November 1 or November 15
• Regular Decision: Usually January 1 or January 15
• Rolling Admissions: Varies by school

Double-check the deadlines for each college on the Common App website or the school’s admissions page.

Application fees

More than 600 of the colleges that accept the Common App don’t have an application fee. For those that do, you may be able to request an application fee waiver. Learn more about fee waivers. 

Do you have any questions about applying to college? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.

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