Starting your college application process? Get ready to get to know the Common App! The Common App, or Common Application, is an important tool used by colleges and universities across the United States, with more and more schools utilizing it every year. So what is the Common App, and how do you use it to apply to college? Let’s take a look and find out:

What Is the Common App?

The Common App is exactly what it sounds like: a common application template used by many different colleges and universities. It’s a way for students to provide a large portion of basic information, including personal identification, educational history, and background and demographic info. It also contains a large essay, in which you can show the schools you’re applying to the unique aspects of your personality and personal history.

How Do I Fill Out the Common App?

It’s a page-by-page process, where you input personal information, educational history, extracurricular activities, and more, then click on to the next page. The site allows you to save your work and return later, which is good, as some portions, such as the essay, can be very time consuming. For the essay, you’ll want to write a draft on Microsoft Word, then edit and alter it until you’re ready to upload it to your Common App profile.

Which Schools Use the Common App? Which Don’t?

More and more schools are using the Common App every year! At the moment, there are 952 colleges and universities that use the Common App for their applications, and you can search the Common App website to see if your preferred colleges make the list. If not, don’t worry — you can still apply, you’ll just have to use the college’s preferred application template, which might take a little more time.

How Do I Make a Common App Profile?

It’s easy! Just go to the Common App website, where you’ll be able to set up a profile and password, and save information to return to when you next log in. While the application process is very time consuming, getting a profile set up is quick and simple!

Do I Still Have to Pay Application Fees?

Yes. While the Common App is a single profile, you will have to pay an application fee for every school you apply to — usually around $50-$75. However, students in difficult financial circumstances may often apply for a fee waiver, and you can check online or with an adviser to find out if you qualify.

I Filled Out My Common App. Am I Done Writing Applications for My Common App Schools?

Not so fast! While many schools use the Common App, they often require their own, school-specific supplements, which the Common App website will provide for you. These will often include shorter, school-specific essays of roughly 250 words, and places where you can provide additional information relevant to particular programs the school offers. These portions are usually brief, but are not to be neglected — they show the schools you’re interested in them specifically, not just casting out applications everywhere. These will also often serve as an opportunity to describe any unusual circumstances in your life and background, and how they’ve impacted your journey to where you are today.

Whether you’re applying entirely via the Common App or not, college applications don’t need to be overwhelming — and if they are, remember to ask for help! Your counselors, teachers, and professionals like our advisers at A-List are there to set you on your way to college success!