What is The Common Application?

The Common Application, which is also more informally referred to as the Common App, is an advanced college application that is used to help prospective college students apply to multiple institutions at once. While you cannot apply to every single accredited institution by using this single online application, you can apply to a large number of undergraduate programs all across the world.

If you are about to apply to college and you would like to find the most efficient way to improve your ability of getting accepted to more than one school, here is your guide to the Common App.

Where Can You Apply?

The Common Application is more than just an online application, it is a tool that can be used to help solidify a student's chances of getting into school without spending all of their free time filling out multiple applications. In order to use this universal application to your advantage, you must be wanting to attend a member college or university. There are currently more than 600 members schools that accept the application from the United States and 14 other countries that include Canada, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Korea and China.

You simply fill out your application and select the schools you want your application to be submitted to from the list. Keep in mind that the application process for each school will vary, including the fees and the deadlines. This is something you must pay attention to as you add schools.

How Do You Create an Account to Start Your Application?

One of the great things about the Common App is that you can start the process as soon as possible by creating your account. This is a step that requires no preparation but that will help you set up your profile so that you can start to receive alerts and updates via email. Once you provide basic profile information, you can add schools to your list and browse the specific requirements so that you know what to expect. Once added, you can see how one schools application requirements varies from the next. You can even set up a requirements tracker so that you are prepared to submit everything the admissions council wants to see.

What You Will Need to Submit

There might be college-specific requirements, but there are also universal requirements that you are going to need to fulfill before you can submit your admissions application anywhere. These requirements include: high school transcripts, a list of extracurricular activities, entrance exam test scores, test dates and legal guardian information.

Other Features You Can Use

You can do more than just prepare your application and track deadlines through the online college planning app. You can also use the app as a trusted partner in the admissions process by using a virtual counselor tool. It will give you the guidance that you need and the advice that you want when you are choosing a college, applying for aide, or even selecting a major.

Applying to attend college can be stressful. You want to attend a school with the right culture and activities that will keep you engaged, but applying to multiple schools can be time consuming. Check out the member schools on The Common Application and see if schools you would like to attend are listed.

Additional reading: What Types of Extra-Curricular Activities Look Good on a College Application?