While you’re applying for colleges, a term you may have come across is The Common Application, or better known as the Common App. More than 1,000 colleges and universities accept the Common App in the United States, Canada, China, and Europe. Should you use the Common App to apply to colleges? We answer this question below, plus review some pros and cons of using the Common App.
What is the Common App?
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Every college requires applications in order to apply to the school. Some have applications through their website, while others use something called the Common Application, or Common App for short. It’s a centralized college application process used by over 1,000 institutions across the United States. Students can complete the form and write a Common App Essay through the platform to apply to up to 20 colleges. Some colleges may require supplemental forms, including secondary essays, but it’s a great way to cut down on time spent on your college applications, especially during a busy senior year.
Should You Use the Common App?
The short answer is – yes, you should use the Common App to apply to colleges. Not all colleges will use the Common App, but if you’re applying to several that do use it, it can save you hours during the college application process. Some colleges and universities only accept the Common App, too, so be sure to understand your schools’ application processes before getting started. Others may accept the Common App in addition to the Coalition Application and/or other formats.
4 Pros of Using the Common App
You should absolutely use the Common App if your potential schools accept or require it. Here are just a few advantages of this centralized college application:
1. It Saves You Time
There’s no getting around it: the Common App is perfect at saving you time. With high school, work, community service, sports, and, of course, applying to colleges, you can always benefit from something that makes your hectic life just a bit easier.
The application only requires you to fill out the form once and then it is available to send to any of the schools that are a member of the system. If you have several schools that accept the Common App, that’s several less forms you will have to complete. Some universities also only accept the Common Application, so make sure to check the application process for every college/university you’re interested in before completing any.
2. It Tracks Important Info
In addition to applying to the colleges, the Common App can help you track your potential schools’ deadlines and requirements. This could help you submit your overall application, essay, and supplemental documentation, like letters of recommendation, on time. The dashboard provides you with all the information you could need.
However, while these are helpful tools, always double check the schools’ deadlines available on their websites. Not all information will be supplied on the Common App dashboard. You don’t want to submit something late by accident and be disqualified from the application process!
3. Schools Won’t Pay Less Attention
Some students worry that the Common Application may hurt their chances for acceptance. However, colleges and universities that accept the Common App sign a document stating that they will not favor the traditional, school specific application over other options.
If you’re still concerned though, you can always go the traditional route if they accept other types of applications and save yourself any potential worry.
4. It Helps Out Teachers and School Counselors
Using the Common Application doesn’t just benefit you. It simplifies the process for everyone involved. By inviting collaborators to your application, your school can easily upload your transcripts to your account and Common App Profile.
The Common App also makes it easy for your teachers, coaches, and others to upload letters of recommendation for you once you invite them as collaborators. However, don’t just send a request for the letter over the Common App – go ask them in person. It’s considered polite, and they’ll be more likely to do it for you. Remember, writing a letter of recommendation for you is a favor.
Considerations of Using The Common App
There are a few considerations to the Common App that could impact how you approach this application process. Even with these “cons” though, it’s still beneficial to use it if given the opportunity. These are just disadvantages that you should be aware of when crafting your college application strategy.
Not All Schools Accept the Common App
While over 1,000 institutions accept the Common App, this doesn’t cover all of the colleges and universities out there. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one that doesn’t accept the Common App. Always double check the application processes for each of the school’s you’re applying to, but don’t cross a school off your list simply because it doesn’t accept the Common App. It’ll just take you a little more time to apply to it.
It Can Be Easy to Over Do It
When applying to colleges, you should have a good mix of safety, match, and reach schools. While you can apply to up to 20 schools through the Common App, it doesn’t mean you should use all of those 20 slots – especially if you’re applying to other colleges that don’t accept the Common App. It’s easy to forget this though and get caught up in the ease of applying to several schools at once. It’s important to still do your research and apply to colleges that align with your needs and goals.
The Common App is a great resource to save you time during your senior year of high school. However, you should always keep in mind that research is your most important tool. Double check that the schools you want to apply to accept the application, track the deadlines for supplemental materials like essays and letters of recommendation, and only apply to schools that align with your goals. Overall, the pros of using the Common App can deliver a wealth of benefits to future college students, especially during an already busy senior year.
Before you can apply to schools through the Common App, you need to decide which colleges and universities align with your goals! Our College Match tool matches you with the schools that fit you best. Try it out for free here!
