Do you want to make multiple applications at once? Indeed, your real answer lies in the Common app, which comes in handy to assist you in completing the process with minimal hitches.
Hundreds of colleges around the world use this Common App to facilitate the timely admission of students who desire to take specific courses at a given period.
Typically, these applications begin in Augsust1 and close on January 1. The program has user-friendly features which assist the applicant in completing the application while making minimal errors. Let’s discover more!
How Common App Works
For one to get started, the first-time student must create an account and continue to fill it out in every section. One needs the following items before making an application:
- Official transcripts
- A list of extracurricular activities
- Contact information
- Academic honors
- Personal essay
SAT or ACT Scores
Typically, a common app is ever a free service. However, on some different occasions, an institution may require the applicant to part with some fee.
Specifically, more than 45 % of the institutions do not include such fees in the application. To avoid disappointment, one should confirm such details before making an application.
When you complete the application process, you can now check each college’s supplement requirements. Such may include additional essays or recommendation letters.
In several cases, personal statements work in many colleges. Some prefer such essays as SAT essays. Read how to write a good SAT essay that scores well for more guides.
On the contrary, some colleges have different procedures that require the applicant to tailor it to specific opportunities or resources. As such, one should resolve to spend quality time writing them individually.
Common App is the most popular platform that many US universities use for their admission procedures. Other universities use different approaches too. In as much as other institutions use several options to do the same job, the Common App is the most popular option.
Common App has a smoother interface which increases its functionality. Millions of students use this mobile version since it offers a better user experience.
The homepage has five tabs where you can add schools through a search feature. The student will see them on the dashboard tab, which allows you to see your application progress and the requirements for each school.
Next is clicking on the “Common App” tab to get the application materials. Such include the family history, test scores, and transcript. This app opens up every August 1 yearly.
Notably, the deadline for application may vary depending on different factors. Many institutions prefer to complete the application by November 1. One gets to know the application response by Jan 1. Uniquely, different schools have varying application deadlines.
The best practice is to start your application early. You can stay efficient by familiarizing yourself with the app system. Some components, such as financial information could be confusing; hence parental help is critical.
Another tip is to prepare your statement before the application date is due. The app gives you essay prompts hence offering you sufficient time to brainstorm and organize your statement well.
Common App Deleted your Essay? Here is What to do
When Common App deletes your essay, you have several ways to ensure you have a backup to update it on the platform.
If Common App deleted your essay, the best thing is to contact the college and notify them of the issue. Also, ensure that you write a draft on the Word document or another app and then copy-paste it on the Common App. Also, ensure that you note the word counts before pasting them.
You have the chance to revise the submission up to three times in the Word document. After that, save it in the document to act as a backup.
You will be in trouble if you type it directly in the app since getting the same documents will prompt you to repeat once lost.
Common App Essay Do’s and Don’ts
Dos
1. Meet your Common App Deadlines
Ensure your work on your application within the time. Such empowers you to avoid encountering deadline traffic jams. The best practice is to work within less congested hours like after-school or other odd hours like Sunday afternoon.
If you work within busy hours, this app crawls, and the print preview load slowly. Whatever the case, avoid the last-minute rush if it subjects you to application errors.
2. Invite your Recommenders
Some colleges require that the applicants come with a line of recommender. They will write your details to the institution directly. Save yourself by information of referees in advance and let them know if they will do it by hard paper or electronically.
3. Select Your Academic Interest
The student needs to indicate academic interest. You should double-check such details from the school website to know the available choices. If it is not available, then you can select the undecided option.
4. Update your Statement
The app enables the student to make some modifications to the personal statements three times. For that matter, when you submit your essay to a particular school, copy it elsewhere and make some edits before submitting it to the next school, and the sequence goes on.
It is easier to make unlimited changes in a different platform like Word or Google Docs than on the Common App platform, which does not tolerate more than three attempts. You can describe it in detail and show it via experience.
5. Proofread your Details
Before submitting the entire document, you must proofread the document. Such ensures that you spot all the errors and correct them as appropriate.
Such could be eliminating spelling and grammatical mistakes to ensure the content is flawless. In addition, it also ensures that you write with a consistent tone while making correct tenses.
The Don’ts
1. Format the Essay in Textboxes
It is a wrong idea to format the essay in the dedicated text boxes. For the same reason, you can use the word document to perform the same edits. You should break up the paragraphs into smaller sentences.
2. Do Not Pay Twice
Paying twice is a common problem that students face while undergoing the payment procedure. Such happens when you enter the credit card details twice.
The good news is that the common app has an allowance to arrange for your refunds. You can avoid such a tedious procedure by paying only once.
3. Changing the course throughout your essay
You should be consistent in giving similar information without deviating a lot from want you want. For example, avoid changing a course in the essay because it shows confusion.
If you change, consider changing your essay as a whole. Read more about changing a common app essay to learn to know about it.
How to Write a good Common App Essay
Before you figure out what to include in your essay, you should perform brainstorming.
That is a better way of going for a high level of ideas, which helps you carve your passion and remain focused.
Let the sentences explain who you are and let the reader understand what aspects are unique.
Next, organize your work to take a systematic approach. Let your ideas flow naturally from sentence to sentence.
Ensure that you capture logical explanations to let the sentences as you focus on significant points.
In your writing, consider your interest. Let the reader know what you want to form the onset without leaving one guessing what you wanted it to be.
The right way is to write the essay in a word doc so that you can make several edits before submitting the final draft. Also, you can save it for future reference as it may become helpful when you want to use it for more applications.
Lastly, proofread it to eliminate any errors to ensure you strike your points well. Once satisfied, you can now paste it into the app and send it.
Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.