OFFICIAL Common Application Questions Thread

[panda_chibi]

If I'll be self studying some APs this coming year, where should I include that info?

[runforfun529]

I think in the additional info?

[twiggerific]

Should you mention things like scheduling conflicts in the additional info section? Or should you leave that entirely to the guidance cousnelor?

[Tonyt88]

I wouldn't bother, I mean when I did my apps I didn't mention it, nor do I think my guidance counselor mentioned it, but if anything scheduling conflicts are just unfortunate.

[twiggerific]

Even if it prevented me from taking four years of a foreign language? Or taking only biology and chemistry as opposed to bio, chem, and physics? :/

[Tonyt88]

Hmmm, well if you couldn't take four years of a language nor physics, it seems to be a reflection of your school's scheduling system, because personally, I just tried to take AP Gov junior and senior and was blocked out (even though I had two periods of study both years)

[anyh]

If I participated in a summer camp, can I write it under "Other Secondary School " ? or is it just nothing?

[juicy08]

There's only 7 spots for ECs...is there anyway to increase this? Or should I just apply on paper and attach an extra sheet with my list?

[themark]

Chuck here, from the Common App support team. I've noticed a few questions asked a couple times on this thread as well as submitted to our support desk, so I thought I would jump in and provide some clarification on those common topics.

Issue/Question: Unable to login or getting errors trying to login
Response: There are two things to note about this. First, accounts from last year will not work anymore; a new account must be created. Second, some of the pages from last year's Common App are still "cached" by Google or your own browser if you visited in June. If you go directly to https://app.commonapp.org/ you should be ok.

Issue/Question: You participate in more than 7 activities or have more than 6 previous jobs. Where should you enter additional activities?
Response: There is an Additional Info area in the Writing Samples section of the Common App for this purpose (or to capture other information that would not fit in the main Common App fields). If you have just a small amount of additional information to provide, use the short answer text field. If you have a lot of additional content, use the Upload Document button to upload a file (e.g., a Word document, a PDF file, an RTF file).

Issue/Question: Can you submit a different personal essay to different schools?
Response: You cannot submit a different personal essay to different schools. The document you upload in response to the personal statement question will be the same for all submitted applications. Note: for those schools that have an online supplement and additional essay questions, you can, of course, provide school-specific responses to those topics.

Issue/Question: What to do if you indicate the use of a NACAC/College Board fee waiver incorrectly.
Response: If you indicate that you will be applying for a NACAC or College Board fee waiver for one of your applications by mistake, you will need to contact technical support by clicking on one of the 3 "Help" links located within the Common App Online. We can then remove this indication for you as that is not something you can accomplish through the website at this time.

Best of luck to everyone in the college application process! If we can be of help to you as you work through the Common App, please don't hesitate to contact us.

[xxshorty]

If you're sending your common app in online how do you send your resume with it? and ...if you want additional reccomendations from people other then teachers, how would you go about doing that?
thanks!

[carolyn]

Issue/Question: Can you submit a different personal essay to different schools?
Response: You cannot submit a different personal essay to different schools. The document you upload in response to the personal statement question will be the same for all submitted applications. Note: for those schools that have an online supplement and additional essay questions, you can, of course, provide school-specific responses to those topics.
>>

Mark, Just to clarify. There's a delete option for the uploaded essay. Couldn't you upload and send a personal statement to one school, and then go back, delete the essay, upload a different one, and then submit the application with the new essay to another school?

I understand that it is not possible to submit the application to more than one college at the same time and change the essay within the group, but there is still a delete button for removing essays in between submissions.

[carolyn]

If you're sending your common app in online how do you send your resume with it? and ...if you want additional reccomendations from people other then teachers, how would you go about doing that?
thanks!>>

If you have enough room, consider entering your resume in the "additional information section" on the online app. If not, send it the old fashioned way, through snail mail, being sure to put your name, address and social security number on each page. Colleges will make sure it gets into your application folder.

[Aint_No_Mountain]

may i suggest reading through posts before asking your q - the redundancy level is fast reaching the "annoying" level

[FredFredBurger]

Should you put info about selfstudying APs (senior year) in the additional info section?

[cory123]

go for it. I put selfstudying info there, and also reported my AP grades there.