Common Application

HOW TO APPLY TO COLLEGES USING THE COMMON APP

• Gather the information you KNOW you will need
  If you have been using the College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer to keep track of your classes, grades, awards, certifications, accolades, community service, clubs, sports, work, etc, you can pull it up and have all of your information 

- Copy of your high school transcript
- List of your activities, work & family responsibilities
- Test scores and dates from your college entrance exams (SATs, ACTs, etc)
- Parent/Legal guardian information
- Academic honors & achievements

• Create a Common App account
  All you need is an e-mail address to get started. You'll be prompted to create a login and password and to answer a few quick questions about who you are (parent, teacher, or counselor) and when you're applying to college.

• Confirm which of the schools on your list accept the Common Application
  Not all schools accept the Common App. Colleges may require that you fill out their own application form or ask you to use another application system like ApplyTexas for Texas colleges. Add schools that interest you to the My Colleges list in your Common App account.

• Review the admission information for every school you are considering
  Keep in mind that Common App schools can have different writing, testing, essay, and letter of recommendation requirements. Make sure you do your research! You’ll use the same Common College application form but admission requirements may differ from school to school. Many schools will ask you to write essays in addition to the Common App essay or have additional college-specific questions for you to answer. You’ll be able to submit all of these extras through the Common App dashboard.

• DO NOT SUBMIT TO ANY COLLEGE UNLESS ALL INFORMATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY A PARENT, COUNSELOR, OR TRUSTED INDIVIDUAL AND THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETELY READY.  YOU NEED TO CHECK FOR MISTAKES.  ONCE AN APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED, YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY CHANGES - EVEN IF THERE IS A TYPO. 

• Start working on your application & engage supporters
  Your Application Dashboard will show all your colleges and the status of each component of your application. Pick an essay topic, start filling in general information, or ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation. There's no college application task too big or small!

• Track the status of your application(s)
  The icons on your Dashboard are there to guide your way. A green check means your work has been submitted to that particular college, a yellow circle means your application is still in progress, and a red dash means that a particular section is not required for admission to that college. 

• Submit!
  Submit all your application materials by 11:59 pm (in your local time zone) on the deadline date posted in your Common App Dashboard.

DOES THE COMMON APP COST?

The platform itself is free to use.  However, most colleges charge its own application processing fee (usually $30 to $90 for U.S. applicants and more for international applicants), but there are over 500 colleges who do not charge an application fee. You can apply for a fee waiver if you need one.

what colleges use the COMMON APP?

Common App colleges are a varied list of institutions: private, public, big, small, engineering colleges, and liberal arts schools. Check out the full list of the over 1000 colleges or search here Common App schools.

The below is a list of Florida public and private schools that use the Common App.

COMMON APP RESOURCES

• Step-by-step walkthrough of the Common Application process by Khan Academy.

• PDF printable forms on the Common App website

  • • What is the Common App?

    • How does the first-year Common App work?

    • Application Dictionary

    • Gather Your Materials Checklist

    • My College Requirements Worksheet

    • High School Details Information Worksheet

    • FERPA & Your Application

    • Understanding the Testing Section of the Common App

    • Approaching the Activities Section

    • How to Approach the Essay

    • Understanding the Recommendation Process

    • Family Brag Sheet

    • Teacher Brag Sheet

    • Understanding Application Fees and Waivers

    • Applying for Scholarships with Scholarship Search

    • Understanding your Financial Aid Offer

COMMON APP ESSAY

• You’ll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools.

• Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions or additional essays.

• Check out the Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing about which essay to write. (Updated for 2024-2025 school year)

• Need essay help?  

  • • Review the information on the Essay page of this website.

SUBMIT SCORES OR NOT TO SUBMIT?

• TEST REQUIRED

  • • You MUST submit

• TEST OPTIONAL

  • • MAYBE submit

    • Colleges with a test-optional policy allow the applicant to decide whether or not they want standardized testing to be a part of their application file. Optional truly means optional in these circumstances, meaning the absence of testing will not negatively impact an applicant’s review process. Instead, the quantitative portion of the review process will be entirely focused on a student’s high school transcript and the rigor of their curriculum.

    • If you have taken the SAT or the ACT and are wondering if your scores should be submitted to a test-optional institution:

      • • If your scores fall toward the upper end or exceed a college’s published middle 50% range of testing, your scores may be a positive addition to your application. 

        • If they fall on the low end or below the published middle 50% range, then you should take advantage of their test-optional policy and not submit them. 

• TEST FREE

  • • Do NOT submit

    • Test-free institutions do not accept or factor standardized testing results into their admissions process at all. These institutions believe there is ample information included in the application process to make an informed decision on an application without the inclusion of standardized testing.

QUICK LINKS

• Common App HomePage 

• Common App Essay Prompts

• List of members, deadlines, fees and requirements

• Common App Help Center

• Known Issues & Progress Updates

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?