Guide to the Common App

07-04-2012, 04:52 PM

I'm going to be a senior next year, but I want a head start to the whole application process.

What is the Common App? I visited their website to open an account, but the website will be down for maintenance for the coming school year--which includes the deletion of all accounts created before July 13th. So until then, can I y'all shed some light for me? Thanks!

WriterColumbia · 07-04-2012, 06:57 PM

Basically majority of the schools in this country use common application. You have to check your schools site to see if they do use common app since the site is down.

Anyway Common App is this huge application, it includes everything including a 500 words essay you need to write for college. You fill out this application and then it gets sent to every school you put on your list. So one application for lets say six to ten schools. Saves time right? Yes and no. No because some schools also have a supplement application which usally includes school questions and another essay with the school's topic. So you fill out one app and then common application will have you fill out each's school supplement.

Common App is basically your site for college application.

scmom12 · 07-04-2012, 07:21 PM

All colleges do not use the Common App, however a lot of private schools do. For some it can save you money (no charge if use common app) but that varies by school. You will have supplements but CA sends you to them in most cases and tracks what you have turned in, as well as tracks when recommendations have been sent in. It is nice to be able to look on one site to track payments, etc. Out of 8 schools D2 applied to, 6 took CA.

07-05-2012, 11:29 PM

I see. What are the supplements exactly? Are they just extra writing prompts? And do the prompts of the Common app change every year?

Lagging · 07-05-2012, 11:32 PM

Supplements vary from school to school. You have school supplements and then arts supplements. Usually a school supplement will consist of some short essays and maybe other information (family members who attended, what you did in your summers, etc). It really varies depending on the school. Arts supplements also vary.

college_query · 07-06-2012, 12:16 AM

If you go to the Common App website, even though it will be down for maintenance and it's too early to start filling out applications, you can look at FAQs for Students, which will give an introduction. There is also a menu that lists which schools use the Common App.

I don't think the majority of schools use the Common App, but perhaps the majority of schools applied to by those on CC?

The Common App essay questions haven't changed in a while. There's a preview of next year's and the essay prompts are the same.

School-specific supplements may change more frequently, and can vary greatly. Some schools like to ask quirky and unusual essay questions. Others are more mainstream.

coolapple1 · 07-06-2012, 12:37 AM

Supplements vary from UMich's "What community do you belong in?" to UChicago's "Where's Waldo?"
haha

Federico14 · 07-15-2012, 06:40 PM

You can make an account and start the application on August 1st

Elleya · 07-22-2012, 04:41 PM

Quote:

I don't think the majority of schools use the Common App, but perhaps the majority of schools applied to by those on CC?

Mmm, i'd disagree; I had built an initial list in Naviance earlier this year of school I was considering, from state flagship to state U to private U, schools I had never even heard of, etc. All of them were Common App OK.

college_query · 07-22-2012, 08:51 PM

According to the 2008-2009 statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics (latest year I could find), there were 2,719 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. There are 456 Common Application member schools, and 45 of them were new this past year. So according to my math, that's not the majority.