The Common Application is a great boon to college applicants for many reasons. It may be completed online or on paper, and copies sent electronically or by mail to any of almost 300 member instutitions. See a list of all these colleges and their application deadlines and requirements here.

Note: Be sure to check each of your college's individual websites to confirm application information supplied by the Common Application site.

Using the Common Application saves you a great deal of time better spent on college research and visits, as well as schoolwork and extracurricular activities! It also saves time for your school counselor and the teachers who will write your recommendations.

The Common Application is widely used. This year the Common Application organization anticipates the submission of its two millionth application..

The Common Application is composed of several different forms. Click on the name of a form to see what it looks like:

First-Year Common Application

The First-Year Application is a 5-page form filled out by the student that asks for personal information, test scores, activities, and essays.

Click for more specific information about filling out the First-Year Application.

High School Forms

Teacher Evaluation: A 2-page recommendation form to be filled out by a high school teacher of your choosing. This form is filled out by a teacher and sent to the college. Most private colleges require one recommendation, but some ask for two or even three, depending on your intended course of study. Unless discouraged, feel free to send in an extra teacher recommendation.

Secondary School Report: A 2-page recommendation form to be filled out by your high school counselor. A sealed transcript and high school profile may accompany the school report or be sent in with your part of the application (or both).

Midyear Report: A 2-page form for reporting mid-year grades to be filled out by your high school counselor. A few colleges want 1st quarter grades if you are applying early.

Supplementary Forms

School specific forms are filled out by the student and supply additional information necessary for application to a Common Application college.  Some examples are:

• A Pre-Application form to send in with a fee as soon as you know you'll apply
• Supplementary recommendation forms to be filled out by teachers, counselors, coaches, peers, parents, or others
• An extra essay question, often one that asks why the student wants to attend the college
• A request to submit a copy of a graded analytical paper from a high school class

Miscellaneous Forms

Arts Supplement and Athletic Supplement: Optional 1-page forms for indicating interests and abilities in these areas. Applicants may also be able to submit CDs or videos highlighting their accomplishments.

Early Decision Agreement: A 1-page form signed by the student, parent, and counselor, required for Early Decision.

Final Report. A 2-page form for reporting a student's final grades, to be filled out by the high school counselor.

 

 

Printable Forms

Information Request Tracker

Application Checklist

Individual College Application Tracker

Essay Checklist

Interview Checklist

Recommendation Checklist

Junior Checklist

Senior Checklist