The Common Application: Everything You Need to Know

The Common App is both a very useful and very infuriating application platform for applying to private schools, most SUNY schools, and out-of-state public schools. It streamlines the application process when applying to multiple schools, but there are hundreds of buttons to click and some of the prompts are a bit confusing.

Go to http://commonapp.org, create an account, and then read through the following guide for how to apply for schools on the Common App! The process described below doesn’t go in a straight top-to-bottom order, but does highlight the most important parts–and those that cause the most confusion.

The first thing you should do is search for and add the college to which you want to apply. For most schools, if you type in the name and wait a second, suggestions will appear in the drop-down box. 

The thing that can be sometimes tricky about the common app is that only the information on the left (in gray) is “common”; you also have to remember that you have to click on and fill out some individual forms for the school you have highlighted (in maroon/brown).  Please be mindful of this, because sometimes it can seem like you submitted a part of the application when you really haven’t!

For example, above I have what the College of William and Mary needs in order for the application to that school to be completed.

Before you start filling out all of your biographical information, you should fill out the Education section.  Click on it in the left-hand section; it should look like this once completed. 

Please note: ALL SECTIONS ON THE COMMON APP WITH THE LITTLE YELLOW “SUN” NEXT TO THEM ARE REQUIRED!

(You have to click “Look Up” under CEEB/ACT code in order to input ours, which is OBVIOUSLY 333791!)

Next, fill out the School Forms section at the very bottom of the left-hand gray area.  It is important to fill out this information first, because it lets Mr. Frick and your teachers know that you are requesting their recommendations.  (Also: Mr. Frick can track where you are in the application via the counselor section.) First, you have to authorize the schools to have access to your transcripts and recommendations.

**Then, you have to click to “Yes” or “No” in regards to your FERPA rights.  When you click “yes,” you are giving up your right to see your recommendations; when you click “no,” you are saying that you might one day want to look at your recommendations. It is strongly advised that you click “yes” and give up your rights, as most of your teacher will NOT submit a recommendation for you otherwise.  Please do not be afraid of a teacher writing bad things about you; by virtue of them agreeing to write you a recommendation, they are saying they like you! Don’t be paranoid! Also: you would only be able to see the recommendation IF you were accepted and enrolled at whatever school. Would you have gotten accepted if you your teachers/counselors talked smack about you?**

“Sign” with your full name and today’s date! NOT your birthday!

Next, you will be asked to “invite officials.” This is where you’re sending notification to Mr. Frick and your teachers that you need them to upload your transcripts/recommendations into the Common App! First, click “counselor” and Mr. Frick’s info should automatically upload from where you filled out the Education section!

Click “Send Invitation” and Mr. Frick will know you’re on the Common App!

Next, click “Invite Official” again, this time for your a teacher.  Be sure to check with your teachers for which email address to use!

After you have invited your teachers, you have to add them to your individual schools.  Most of you only have two recommenders, but some of you have three, and the school might only allow two–so you’ll have to choose! The counselor recommendation will appear automatically for all schools.

It is in this section that individual schools will have information about how many recommendations they request, and anything else unique about recommendations (like having one from a humanities subject, another from a math/science and that sort of thing.

From the school forms page, you’ll be able to keep track of when your counselor/teachers have completed and uploaded their recommendations for you.

(If you qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the next thing you should do–before filling out the rest of the demographic information–is go to the Payments section on the lower left side.  Mr. Frick will submit NACAC fee waiver requests for 6-8 schools on the Common App, so for each school that you’d like a fee waiver, select this option. Mr. Frick will be able to verify it online and then will follow up with the necessary fee waiver.  If a school has offered you a free application, you should select “Other Fee Waiver” and input whatever code the school sent you.)

Much of the rest of the of the information that you fill out on the left-hand gray area is pretty self-explanatory, but a few things that can be tricky:

In the Future Plans section: You have to fill this out for each college you’ve added! Remember to click that you’ll be applying for need-based financial aid.  If the school offers an opportunity to do an arts supplement, it might be something to consider for you creative types! It enables you to upload digital portfolios and links to work you’ve done.  For you musical sorts: Here’s where you could have a YouTube video of you performing!

In the Applicant section: your Social Security Number (SSN) is not required, but YOU NEED TO PUT IT IN IF YOU WILL BE APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID!

Remember for County/Parish: Manhattan = New York County; Brooklyn = Kings County; Queens = Queens County; the Bronx = Bronx County; and Staten Island = Richmond County. 

In the Family section: If your parents are separated, please use the info for the parent who claims you on their taxes as “Parent 1”–this should be the parent you live with (the “one with whom you make your permanent home”!) Please also note that most of the information in this section is OPTIONAL, and if you don’t want to or can’t answer questions about a parent who’s not in your life, just put “unknown” for that parent. If you have a tricky situation, please see Mr. Frick! (Please also remember that when it comes to Financial Aid, you might be expected to provide more information.)

If your parent(s) went to college in the United States, search for the CEEB code for that school. Do not try to put MVA’s CEEB code here!

In the Academics section: Please note that we do EXACT rankings that are UNWEIGHTED. Our class size is 105, your cumulative GPA is on a 100 scale, and it is also UNWEIGHTED.

When it comes to your current classes, for most of you it should look like the following:

Obviously, if you’re taking AP English, US History, or Calculus, please indicate as much.

In the Writing section: Do not rush into this part! Take a look at the prompts on offer, and either figure out what essay you have that is best OR work on a new one that answers the question.  Mr. Frick is happy to collaborate via Google Docs for any essay/short answer prompt, so don’t be afraid to ask for his help! Do NOT just upload the first essay you can find on your flashdrive!

Most of the other parts of the Common App are pretty straight forward, but depending on the school, the supplements can be tricky.  If you have any questions about what different schools need from you, please ask Mr. Frick via email.