Why should I consider using the Common App?
Not only is the Common App a major time saver, you can use your account to collect all the materials required to apply to college. This may include contact information, high school coursework, honors and awards, list of extracurricular activities, application essays, and test scores (fun fact: the Common App superscores your ACT® test results). You can also invite people to submit recommendation letters using the Common App.
How do I use the Common App?
The first thing you have to do is create a profile on commonapp.org, then search for colleges you’re interested in applying to and add them to your list. Once you have narrowed down your list of schools, figure out the different application requirements each college expects, and complete all of the necessary tasks before you apply. Here is a comprehensive overview of the Common App you can use as a guide to better understand the process before you jump in.
Which colleges accept the Common App?
There are nearly 900 colleges and universities that accept the Common App. You can explore these “member institutions” by location, campus setting, enrollment size, financial aid offerings, and specialized missions (i.e. religious affiliations). This is a good way to learn about schools, but if a college you want to attend isn’t on the list, don’t let that discourage you from applying.