Common Application

The platform itself is free to use.  However, most colleges charge their own application processing fee (usually $30 to $90 for U.S. applicants and more for international applicants). However, over 500 colleges do not charge an application fee. 

You can apply for a fee waiver if you need one.

QUICK LINKS

• Common App HomePage 

• Common App Essay Prompts

• List of members, deadlines, fees, and requirements

• Common App Help Center

• Known Issues & Progress Updates

• You’ll submit one essay (sometimes called your Personal Statement) through the Common Application for all your schools.

• Some colleges may also ask you to 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 2026-2027 school year)

• Need essay help?  

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

    • Engage in hiring an Essay Specialist

Many students don't know if they should submit their scores. 

#1 CONSIDERATION - Does the college want it? Check the requirements of the college

• TEST REQUIRED

  • • You MUST submit

• TEST OPTIONAL

  • • MAYBE submit - It depends on your score and if that score will help or hurt your application

    • 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:

      • • Check the college website or their Common Data Set.

        • 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.

#2 CONSIDERATION - Does the college accept superscores

• Carnegie Mellon - Yes for SAT superscore, No for ACT superscore

• Georgetown - Requires ALL SAT/ACT scores, and will consider the highest subsection across all sittings

• Harvard - While they don't create a superscore, they evaluate the highest test scores in each section.

• Penn State - highest single sitting score, but they are test optional

• Texas A&M - Does not superscore, but they are test optional

• UIUC - Does't formally superscore, but they do consider your highest section subscores across ALL individual sections even if they come from different test sittings. 

• University of Wisconsin-Madison - highest single score from one date, but they are test optional through Spring 2028 term

• UT Austin - highest single sitting score