College Admissions is Not Fair - Get Prepared!

 

Let’s Get Few Things Straight about College Admission

By Rick Clark, Georgia Tech Admissions There has been a lot of talk in the last few weeks about how much has changed in college admission. Maybe…. But just like during and following the pandemic, much remains constant. So, let’s get a few things straight. College Admission is Not Fair. I know some groups may claim to have brought this about with the proverbial wave a wand or banging of a gavel, but the truth is no system or process is (or ever will be) fair or perfect. Humans run processes. Humans are imperfect, flawed, and operate in a broken world. Do not confuse quantitative measures with fairness. I remember when Georgia Tech operated on a purely formulaic basis. We recalculated GPAs so that everyone had a max GPA of 4.0. We did not consider the rigor of the high school, performance of past graduates, grade trends. We considered Honors, Magnet, Gifted, AP, IB all rigorous and each received an extra .5 bump- again with a max GPA of 4. We effectively “let out the slack” from the top until we had admitted the number of students, we needed to base on historic yield models. I’m guessing many of you already are already poking holes in how this model is FUBAR. And you can likely channel some of the complaints and questions we’d get… I have all APs and my classmate only took honors level. You’re weighting that the same? But I had all As in a full IB diploma program and my “friend” only took general courses. Are you telling me that we both end up with a max 4.0? I made a 1300 on one take with no outside help. My neighbor made a 1200 the first time and then after thousands of dollars in private tutoring ended up with a 1350. That’s going to be the difference? He’s got lower grades than me? At this time, I was not the director, but my name was on admission letters for students whose last name started with A-C.  As a result, even though I did not agree with how we were making decisions, I was left to defend them. One of the most memorable cases was a girl in North Georgia who was the valedictorian of her high school. She had taken the toughest classes, made the highest grades, and accomplished all of this while juggling a 25-hour a week job at a local restaurant to help support her family. She was not admitted because her SAT score was 10 points below our threshold that year. 10 points. Meanwhile, we admitted three other kids from that school who had slightly lower grades, less rigorous courses, and less impact on their community, etc. Fair? No. In fact, I can still remember talking to her mom on the phone and having to suppress my own frustration. Over the years, we have continued to evolve our file review process to make it more contextual and holistic. Academically, we look closely at grade trends, course choice, rigor, high school history, etc. We do not draw hard lines on test scores and we use macro data to help understand student testing context. And, of course, a great deal of time is spent in committee looking at a student's involvement, impact, and influence. Still, I'd be the first to say that neither our process, nor any other colleges in the world, is perfectly fair-- it's not possible or designed to be. Instead, it's designed to be comprehensive and thorough, but fair....NO. There has been a lot of talk lately about checkboxes on applications. Here is one you won’t see on an application, but you need to mentally agree to: “By submitting this application, I understand I may not agree with the decision I receive, the timeline on which I receive information, or the rationale I get for why the decision was made.” Mission Drives Admission. Think of your high school. It exists for a purpose. Maybe it’s a public school and is located to intentionally serve kids from your part of the city or county. Maybe you attend a private or religious school. Again, it was founded for a reason and is attempting to attract and enroll students and families centered on that mission. Companies, community centers, organizations… they all have a mission and are making decisions geared toward moving that forward. As a public school, Georgia Tech’s goal is to enroll 60% of our undergraduates from our state. This means we prioritize Georgians in our entire process. We recruit more in Georgia than out of state; we set deadlines earlier for our residents, and inform GA applicants of their decisions ahead of non-residents. Tuition is much lower for Georgia kids and our admit rate is three to four times higher for Georgia students than it is for non-Peach staters. In an attempt to enroll students from all across our state, we have programs like the Georgia Tech Scholars Program for valedictorians and salutatorians. Are there cases where the number three (or thirteen) student at one school is as strong as the salutatorian from another... and yet decisions vary? Yes. Is the average SAT/ACT from out of state/country higher than it is for Georgia students? Yes. Is mission driving admission? Yes. A college you apply to may be trying to grow a particular major. That is going to influence their admission decisions. Another school is looking to enroll more students (or less) from your region of the country or nation. That will have an impact. The truth is you are not always going to know these things. What you do know is institutional mission – not your particular test, GPA, number of APs, or selected essay topic- drives admission. What does all of this mean for you?  1- Apply to a balanced list of colleges. If your current college list only includes schools with admit rates under 20%, you need to re-think. Applying to more schools with single digit admit rates does not increase your odds of being admitted. That's just not how math works. 2- Celebrate your wins. Every time you receive an offer of admission, you need to pause, celebrate, reflect on your hard work, and thank the people around you who've made that possible, ie. friends, family, teachers, counselors, coaches, and so on. As always, hug your mama! 3- Control what you can control. Admission is not fair. And mission drives admission. You cannot control where you get in or how much money they offer you in financial aid. You can control how you receive and process admission decisions. These are not value judgments or predictions of future success. Don't over index. You can control how  you treat people around you. You cannot control the decisions made in admissions offices you'll never enter, but you can control the decisions you make in the rooms you enter everyday-- your living room, classroom, etc. I hope you'll make that your mission. Fair?

 

Emory Leads Program for High School Seniors - Due September 8th

The Emory Leadership, Enrichment, Advocacy, and Discovery (LEADs) Experience is designed to support the recruitment of talented, high-achieving high school seniors who are either first-generation college students and/or from underrepresented cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds, including, but not limited to, Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, and Native/Indigenous student populations.

For additional information about our program, please visit our home page.

If you are interested in participating in our hybrid Emory LEADs Experience, please complete and submit the application below by Friday, September 8th at 8:00pm ET.

Please note: Students are welcome to join our hybrid Emory LEADs Experience on a rolling basis until November 1st with the caveat that anyone that applies after September 8th will not be considered for admission to the in-person Leadership Retreat occurring October 12th - 14th. Applying after September 8th grants students access to our other LEADs resources, such as our Informational Brochure, virtual webinars, and live feed.

Any high school senior interested in learning more about Emory University and the college application process can participate. However, sessions will focus on tailored programming designed to support first-generation and underrepresented students as they navigate the process.

If you are interested in participating, complete the LEADs Application.

Participation in LEADs, or lack there-of, has no impact on your admission decision or scholarship opportunities at Emory University.

Emory University does not track demonstrated interest or factor it into an applicant’s decision. We believe this helps us to admit students based on who they really are.

If you have any questions, please contact us at admission@emory.edu.

 

College Essay Guides and How to Level-Up Your Activities & Awards List

🚀 College Essay Guides For Days | The College Application Hub 

 If you're a current senior stuck on a supplemental essay or not quite sure if your personal statement topic is the right one, there's a chance we've got a guide or essay example to get those creative juices flowing. Check out our College Application Hub for guides on: • 9 Ways to Start Your Personal Statement • The Great College Essay Test (AKA 4 Qualities of a Great College Essay) • How to Write the "Why Us" Essay • The "Why X Major" Essay • 50+ School-Specific Supplemental Essay Guides • So much more. I literally have an entire website on writing great college essays. Courses, too. 

👌How to Level-Up Your Activities & Awards List

🏆 | Video Here 

Looking to take your "meh" activities list from 'Okay' to 'Oh, WOW'? Give me 13-minutes of your time, and you'll be upleveling your verbs and quantifying your impact in no time. Hey, while you're watching, smash that like button. ;)

Jack Kent Cooke College Foundation Scholarship for Seniors with Financial Need

 The Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the monetary award, Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding, as well as a thriving network of nearly 3,200 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni.

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Awards vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive.

This highly competitive scholarship includes:

• Up to $55,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate school
• Ability to pursue any area of study
• Personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid
• Multifaceted advising about how to transition to college and maximize the college student experience

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Senior standing – Plan to graduate from a U.S. high school in spring 2024.
• Fall College Enrollment – Intend to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2024.
• GPA – Earn a minimum, cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above.
• Demonstrate Unmet Financial Need – We will consider applicants with family annual gross income up to $95,000. During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.

*Clicking the "APPLY IN YOUR COMMON APP" button at the top adds the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program to your Common App. 

 The application will be available to complete beginning August 24, 2023. 

 *Click the "MORE INFO" button below to learn more about eligibility requirements and program benefits.

Applying Early Decision: Advantages and Disadvantages

From: The College Solution blog

From Applying early decision to college is often a highly effective way to increase the odds of getting accepted at many colleges that offer this admission option.

At plenty of colleges, applying early action can also boost admission odds.

Students and parents, who are interested in applying early decision or early action, need to know the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy. Here are things to consider:

Applying Early Decision Definition

1. Early Decision refers to the admission practice of allowing students to send in their applications and receive an admission verdict before teenagers who use the regular admission process.

2. The deadline for early decision applications can be November 15 or even earlier. In contrast, the application deadline for regular admission can be in January or later.

3. When students apply early decision to a college, they promise that they will attend if the institution accepts them. Colleges want you to believe that an ED acceptance is absolutely binding, but it can’t be.

4. Most colleges and universities do not offer an ED option, but it’s a popular enrollment tool for more sought-after private colleges and universities.

5. In the 1990s, the University of Pennsylvania was the first school to offer early decision applications. Penn had too often been an also-ran for students aiming for Ivy League institutions so it rolled out the ED option to become more competitive.

Advantages of Applying Early Decision

1. Students who apply early enjoy greater admission odds at many schools because institutions want to improve their admission yield by locking up a portion of their class early. Doing so reduces the institutional stress regarding filling freshmen slots. The admission advantage can be considerable.

A fantastic resource for early decision, early action and regular decision acceptance rates is the website of College Transitions, which is a nationwide college consulting firm that has a depository of all sorts of handy college statistics and advice.

2. Students who apply early decision will be notified before other applicants of the school’s admission decision. Students will typically find out before the Christmas break whether they have been accepted or rejected. The admission verdict on some ED applicants, however, can be deferred to the regular decision cycle.

3. Getting an ED acceptance can be a boon for students who can quit the admission rat race after successfully applying to just one school.

4. Early decision can be an attractive option for students who are absolutely in love with an ED school and know that this is the college for them.

5. As more students treat applying to popular colleges as some sort of lottery, schools have worried about maintaining control of their admissions process. Consequently, a notable number of sought-after schools are using ED more heavily. This trend has only grown since the pandemic struck. This trend primarily favors affluent students who are the ones mostly taking advantage of the ED route.

6. While families focus on the acceptance rate of ED applicants, it’s also important to know what percentage of a class was filled early. If a large percentage of freshmen are accepted via ED there won’t be many seats left during the regular round.

7. When money is an issue, families must absolutely use a college’s net price calculator before deciding to apply early decision!

Sampling of Colleges that rely heavily on Early Decision Admits

From College Transitions, here are some examples of popular colleges where a high percentage of their freshmen class were accepted via ED.

6. Students also have the option of Early Decision II. A growing number of schools offer a second ED round with the application deadline often on January 1. You could try this route if you didn’t get into your first ED school.

Disadvantages of Applying Early Decision

1. Applying early decision can be financially dangerous for students who need financial assistance. That’s because ED students must promise that they will attend the school regardless of what kind of need-based financial aid the school might provide. Not surprisingly, the chief complaint about ED is that it favors wealthy families who can cover the cost regardless of any help from the institution.

While students who apply early decision to a college must promise to attend the school, as a practical matter, a college can’t force an accepted student to attend. A family, however, should make every effort to talk with the admission/financial aid office if a financial aid award is inadequate. If you can’t swing it financially, you can walk away from an early decision acceptance.

2. Students who apply ED could also reduce their chances for merit scholarships, which are awarded regardless of financial need. Institutions won’t publicly admit to this, but it would only be natural for schools to give smaller merit awards or none at all to students who have committed to attending their institutions regardless of the price.

3. The ED route can be a poor choice for students who need grades from the first semester of senior year and/or better SAT/ACT scores to make them look more attractive to admission offices.

4. ED applicants, who lock in their choice early, can miss out on schools that offer better opportunities. A school that seems wonderful in October might not be the one an ED applicant likes in December or January when it’s too late.

5. While ED usually provides an admission advantage, it’s not guaranteed. At a minority of schools, the advantage can be quite small or nonexistent. For instance, at St. Joseph’s University, the ED acceptance rate was recently 69% versus 61% for regular decision. At Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, 42% of students applying early decision got acceptances, but 42% of the applicants waiting until the regular decision round were accepted. At St. Mary’s College , the ED acceptance rate is lower than the regular one (73%% vs. 82%).

You should use the College Transitions link to see what the the most recent ED and EA stats are for colleges and universities.

6. Favorable ED admission odds can be somewhat misleading. That’s because students applying ED can be stronger candidates than teenagers who apply later. Schools also tend to use the ED application process to accept recruited athletes, legacy applicants and others with a special skill.

7. The pandemic, which ushered in test-optional policies for the vast majority of state and private colleges, was a catalyst for many more students to apply ED.

Without having to submit test scores, ambitious students aimed for institutions that they normally wouldn’t have a chance of getting into. Early decision applications for MIT, for instance, jumped 62% after the school temporarily stopped requiring standardized test scores. At Yale and the University of Virginia, the increase was 38% while at Dartmouth and Rice, the ED applications rose 29% after the schools became test-optional.

More competition often led to higher rejection rates for the early birds at the most sought-after schools. The acceptance rates dropped even lower at the most highly rejective colleges.

8. With most schools keeping their test-optional policies, the increased popularity of ED for the most popular schools is continuing.

 

College Application Webinars

 Please check out the following recorded webinars for students and parents regarding college application assistance.

The Common Application

College Essay Writing

How to Make Your Application Better Using Just the Activities List

Source: Tufts University 

When I was little I thought the Clean Plate Club was a real club, complete with weekly meetings. I thought it was akin to Girl Scouts or my town soccer team, but more exclusive because it required an entrance exam. The exam was, of course, finishing your whole dinner, and I could never pass (in my defense, I was set up to fail; no child can be expected to eat that many peas). I wanted to be in that club more than anything.

This childhood aspiration should tell you something about my dad. Will Reynolds is one of those dads who doesn’t like to waste anything, hence playing up the Clean Plate Club like it was the cast of Zoom  or something (for those who don’t know: Zoom is the best children’s TV show there ever was or will be). If we bought something at the grocery store, we were going to eat it. As it turns out, life lessons from the Clean Plate Club can be applied to many things, including (you guessed it!) college applications. In filling out the Common Application and Tufts supplement, you are given a very limited amount of space to tell us the complete story of you. So let me give you some advice as a Clean Plate Club hopeful:

You should use every bit of your application to tell your story, just like I was expected to eat everything on my plate growing up. In my opinion, the vast majority of college applicants are wasting one huge opportunity to maximize their space, and it is in the “Activities” section of their Common Application. So in the spirit of staying transparent in this process, here are four things you can do to use the Activities section to its absolute fullest potential. This will not only make your application a more comprehensive introduction to you as a person, it will also make it more powerful and more compelling.

1. Order Matters. List what you consider to be the most important/meaningful activities first. I don’t say this because I won’t read to the bottom (I will always read to the bottom, I promise). I say it because the way you prioritize your activities tells a story about you. If you see yourself as a funky jazz musician first and foremost, why would you bury “Jazz Ensemble” three quarters of the way down your list of activities, under that one year you participated in Relay for Life? If you think part of what makes you unique is that you’re both the captain of the football team and the LGBT club, why wouldn’t you put those two things next to each other at the top of your list of activities? You have control over what I learn about you when. Don’t make me guess what’s most important to you. Tell me.
2. Write in Your Own Voice. Even in this seemingly documental space, your voice should be present. I once had an applicant write, in the “Details” section under his role as a youth basketball coach: “I chase ten-year-old boys around a gym and try to teach them how to dribble without falling over.” I immediately began laughing. Already I had an image of this applicant and I hadn’t even begun reading his essays. If you’ve been class president three out of the four years you were on student senate, or you’re so good at chess you beat your own dad, which in your house is like a coup, or you won your school’s talent show, which just so happened to have 47 contestants spread out over three nights, tell me this. All of it. Be specific, tell a story, and do it in your own voice.  You’re painting me a picture of your life, and it starts here.
3. Don’t Leave Anything Out. When I get to your guidance counselor’s recommendation, I should not have to go back to your Activities section and write, “Her Guidance Counselor adds that Sarah balances a part-time job.” It was your job to tell me this. If you pick your younger brother up every day after school and make him a snack while he does his homework, include that in your list; it is an activity. It accounts for some of your time, and it tells me why you couldn’t join the chess team that meets right after school. Family responsibilities, paid jobs, foreign exchange trips, conferences – these all add to my mental image of you going about your day. Do not leave them out. On the flip side…
4. Do Not List Just to List. Just because you can list as many as ten activities on this list, does not mean that you should. Maybe for one week in 9^th grade you volunteered at a soup kitchen. I’m happy you did this. It’s thoughtful, and hopefully it got you excited about giving back in the future. But that does not make it something you should include in the “Activities” section of your Common Application. Instead, you should be focusing on what I’ll call meaningful activities (that is, meaningful to you – volunteering at a soup kitchen is obviously meaningful, but clearly it didn’t stick for you). Meaningful activities are things that you sustained over a period of time (i.e. not a couple of weeks three years ago). Meaningful activities are also things that require teamwork, leadership skills, specialized knowledge, or a significant amount of time or energy. Six of these meaningful activities can be far more impressive than ten “far-fetched” activities, like going on sunny vacations with your family or joining that club for a hot second in tenth grade before you made the dance team and promptly quit. So before you add “playing video games” to your list, ask yourself if it’s meaningful.

That’s it! Four easy steps and you’ve made the most of this tiny space in your Common Application! Welcome to the Clean Plate Club, my friends, I’ll see you at the meeting next week. Please bring extra snacks, we never have leftovers.

 

Class of 2024 PEO Scholarships - Due August 31st

Georgia State Scholarship applications are awarded based on the following criteria: GPA of 3.25 minimum, financial need, community involvement, extracurricular activities, special circumstances, awards and achievements, writing skills as demonstrated through an essay (subject to be announced by the State Scholarship Committee). Each Georgia P.E.O. Chapter can sponsor up to seven young women for this scholarship. These women are required to be Georgia residents, but do not have to attend college in Georgia. The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship is a project of P.E.O. International, so candidates are competing with students from the US and Canada. In 2022, only sixteen students out of the 900 total STAR scholarships awarded were from Georgia. The criteria for STAR are similar to those for Georgia State Scholarship except the GPA is 3.0 minimum and there is no financial need component. I have attached a brochure for the STAR Scholarship. Interested candidates need to send the attached information form via email (vhinesley@bellsouth.net) to me by no later than Thursday, August 31, 2023. Please remind these young women that this is a competitive program in which we are not only looking for someone who meets the minimum GPA or has a financial need but that they also need to demonstrate that they are well rounded in their school activities, community involvement, etc. on their information form. Chapter BK's Scholarship Committee will meet to review their information and will select our top candidates to interview in September.

An application can be picked up outside of Dr. Morton's office. 

7 Ways to Fight College Application Stress!!

By CollegeData

Online application services, such as the Common Application, can make applying to college more convenient—if you know what to watch out for.

The idea of applying to all your colleges with one application sounds ideal. But there's a little more to it than speeding through an online form and clicking "send." Here's a rundown of the leading platforms and tips for making the most of any service you choose.

The Leading Online College Application Services

There are several organizations with platforms that help students apply to multiple colleges and keep track of deadlines and application requirements.

The Common Application is the oldest and most well-known of the application providers. It is accepted by more than 800 public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. and internationally. Initially, these colleges were required to include essays and recommendation letters in their evaluation of applicants, but this is no longer the case.

The Common Black College Application allows students to apply to more than 50 historically black colleges and universities. Students can apply to as many colleges as they like for a single $35 fee.

The Coalition for Access and Affordability is the newest application service provider, launching its first application in 2016. Its more than 100 member institutions must meet specific requirements that show they provide support to lower-resourced and underrepresented students; have affordable tuition, high graduation rates, and low levels of student debt; and offer low-cost, in-state tuition or need-based financial aid.

State-Based Application Services are hosted by some public state university systems to allow students to apply to multiple campuses within the system.

The Universal College Application is similar to the Common Application. Colleges using the service do not have to require essays or letters of recommendation. Although the number of colleges accepting the Universal College Application is small (about 15 - 20 schools), several Ivy League schools and big-name colleges are among its members, as well as some smaller schools that accept the application exclusively.

Tips for Applying Online with Application Services

Don't apply to any college on a whim. Application services make applying to multiple colleges much easier. But resist the temptation to apply to more colleges just because you can. You'll avoid unnecessary fees and unwieldy college lists by sticking with schools you are serious about.

Know how to use the application. Each service has a unique interface, process, and features. Before you get started, take the time to learn about the platform and tools, and how to get technical help if needed.

Check for extra forms, questions, and requests from the college. Beyond the standard application, many colleges ask for extra essays, recommendations, work samples, and information about you. A benefit of using any of these services is that they help you keep track of these different requirements and when they are due.

Don't tell every school the same thing. You might be tempted to use the same or similar answers on the supplemental essays. Don't. Use the supplemental essays to explain why you want to attend a particular college, what makes the college special to you, and what you think you can contribute.

Print out your application and review it before clicking "send." Be sure to go over the application with your counselor or parent to make sure there are no omissions or mistakes. Also, there are rare instances where electronic applications get lost, so keep a backup copy.

Don't panic over technical problems. Colleges understand that technical issues delaying an application aren't the student's fault. They usually extend deadlines if such heart-stopping trouble arises.

 

Best Colleges Report - 2023

Check out the best of the best from College Raptor.  This comprehensive report lists the best colleges in many categories including: price, location, academics, public, private, small, by geography and much more!!  

 

Best Colleges Report 2023 

Evening with UGA Event for Juniors and Seniors

The University of Georgia is hosting an Evening with UGA event for juniors and seniors. This program is designed to help students learn about the opportunities available to them at UGA and our admissions process. We have already sent an invite to students, but we ask that your share this information as well.

This event will take place on Tuesday, August 15, from 6:00-7:30 PM. I will be sharing information with local high school students and their families about America's first state-chartered institution and why so many great students are choosing UGA as their college destination.

Space is limited and this program will fill up quickly. Please encourage your students to register, by using the button below.

REGISTER NOW!

Best,

Austin Todd

Office of Admissions | University of Georgia

Terrell Hall | Athens, GA 30602-1633

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Common App Opens Today!!

 By The Princeton Review

The Common Application, also known as the Common App, makes it easy to apply to multiple colleges using one application. Is your dream school a Common App college? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is the Common Application?

The Common Application is a single online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once. The Common App dashboard also helps you track necessary application documents (like your letters of recommendation) and important deadlines.

What colleges use the Common App?

Common App colleges are a varied list of institutions: private, public, big, small, engineering colleges and liberal arts schools. Check out the full list of the 918 Common App schools.

When does the Common App open?

Get ready for application season! The Common App goes live every year on August 1.

When is the Common App due?

Your application deadline depends on whether you are applying early decision (typically November 1) or regular decision (typically January 1). Deadlines also vary by school, so be sure to check dates for every college you are applying to. You can find application deadlines (plus tons of school information) in our online college profiles.

What are the Common Application essays?

You’ll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions. Check out previous Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing about which essay to write.

Do you apply for financial aid through the Common App?

The financial aid process begins with filling out the FAFSA and is separate from submitting your Common App (and with different deadlines!). Learn everything you need to know about financial aid.

What does the Common App cost?

The platform itself is free to use, but every college charges their own application processing fee (usually $30 to $75 for U.S. applicants and more for international applicants). You can apply for a fee waiver if you need one.

How do you apply to Common App colleges?

Follow these steps to apply to college through the Common Application.

1. Create a Common App account.

All you need is an e-mail address to get started. You'll be prompted to create a login and password and to answer a few quick questions about who you are (parent, teacher, or counselor) and when you're applying to college.

2. Confirm which of the schools on your list accept the Common Application.

Not all schools accept the Common App. Colleges may require that you fill out their own application form or ask you to use another application system like ApplyTexas for Texas colleges. Add schools that interest you to the My Colleges list in your Common App account.

3. Review the admission information for every school you are considering.

Keep in mind that Common App schools can have different writing, testing, essay, and letter of recommendation requirements. Make sure you do your research! You’ll use the same Common College application form but admission requirements may differ from school to school.

For example, one college may require the SAT, while another school might be test optional. Many schools will ask you write essays in addition to the Common App essay or have additional college-specific questions for you to answer. You’ll be able to submit all of these extras through the Common App dashboard.

4. Gather the information you KNOW you’ll need

For the most part every application will ask for a copy of your high school transcript, a list of your extracurriculars, and information about your parent or guardian's educational background and work history.

5. Start working on your application

Your Application Dashboard will show all your colleges and the status of each component of your application. Pick an essay topic, start filling in general information, or ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation. There's no college application task too big or small!  

6. Track the status of your application(s)

The icons on your Dashboard are there to guide your way. A green check means your work has been submitted to that particular college, a yellow circle means your application is still in progress, and a red dash means that a particular section is not required for admission to that college. 

6. Submit!

Submit all your application materials by 11:59pm (in your local time zone) on the deadline date posted in your Common App Dashboard.