Using+the+CommonApp

Using The CommonApp The Common Application ([|www.commonapp.org]) is an online college application used by over 400 colleges and universities. The idea is that high school seniors will only have to fill out one general application (instead of a bunch of individual ones all asking for the same information). The only difference between colleges’ applications is a short section called the “supplement” which involves usually writing another essay or answering a few short answer questions. However, not all colleges have supplements and the rest that do, usually have supplements that are accessible through the commonapp website. I am probably making this out to be way harder than it actually is, so if you are confused, all of our guidance counselours are thoroughly experienced with the commonapp. In addition, the commonapp’s techguys can email back faster then Mr. deMarrais can give detention, and are very, very, very helpful.

Here is a preview of the commonapp; the highlighted sections are the parts that are different then last year's comomapp:. The actual 2011-2012 commonapp will be available August 1st.

When it comes to writing your common application essay, do it sooner rather than later. __The prompts for the commonapp are the same every year__, with the very last option being “Topic of Your Choice”. Though the actual commonapp (you will use to apply) may not be available till the August before your senior year, you can still create an account, log in and check out the prompts now, ahead of time. So if you write your essay during the end of your junior year, (when most of your other classes are winding down), you can have the whole summer to edit it and be the first of your classmates to ask your teachers to review it, before the last minute rush.

Here’s a story. I have this friend right, and she heard that she would be able to submit the commomapp to one school for early action and then be able create another version, edit it, and send that version off to colleges. Everyone she talked to and all the websites she read said she could do it. Well, guess what? She couldn’t. Because while everyone said they knew you could, no one knew how to do it specifically. So she was stuck sending out an essay she hadn’t finished editing fully, to all her top choice schools, instead of just her safeties. So for anyone wondering, I did some digging and here is a specific list of instructions:. It’s also on the commonapp’s Instructions page.

It’s very useful to mention every and any extra-curricular activity you have put a good amount of effort into over your high school and even middle school years, if that’s when they initially started. This shows colleges how diverse and well-rounded you are. Usually though there is not enough room on the commonapp’s activities section to adequately describe all your activities. In that case, on the writing section of the commonapp, there is a part where you can upload additional information. Here is an example of an you can fill out will all your extra-curricular information. This can also be very useful when applying for scholarships.

//Don't let that "Ahh Senior Year!!" be a scream of fury. Let it be an sigh of relief and contentment as you stretch out comfortably, relaxing poolside. : ) //