The Common Application, which originally opened its doors in 1975, is America’s oldest college applicant aid. It is still the preferred application among America’s Ivy League universities. The Common Application has evolved greatly over the previous few decades to deal with the new wave of competitors.

The Common App saves you time by allowing you to apply to several schools and institutions at the same time. Despite its 40+ year existence, the App continues to be a cause of consternation for some. Let’s start with the fundamentals to ensure you know all you need to know.

The Layout of the Common App

If you are using the Common App for the second time, the layout may have changed due to a complete overhaul in 2019.

When you first launch the app, you will be presented with five tabs. The first tab you should click after creating an account is ‘College Search.’ On this page, you can list all of the schools to which you want to apply.

These choices will subsequently be shown on the ‘My Colleges’ page. You’ll also be able to keep track of each application’s progress on the ‘Dashboard,’ where you’ll be advised of any forthcoming work that you must submit.

All of your papers may be found in the ‘Common App’ area.

What Forms Do You Need to Fill Out?

Setting up a Common App account should be simple, and you should fill it out just like any other application.

Your SAT and ACT scores, academic achievements, interests, transcripts, and a self-written cover letter are all required credentials in the application process. Make certain that all of these categories are correctly filled out.

After you’ve sorted out the essentials, you should check with all of the schools and universities to see if they want any further information or documents. This might include extra cover letters or even recommendation letters.

Other Crucial Details

The Common App is available each year on August 1st. From this point on, you can apply to universities using the App.

When deadlines approach, the app will notify you. This can, however, vary substantially based on the institution and the sort of application you submit.

Today, over 900 schools and institutions use the Common App to provide alternative application possibilities.

Finally, consider the following:

The Common App can only help you so far; you must do the majority of the work to submit your applications on time. We urge that you keep the dates in mind and begin the procedure as soon as feasible.