Navigating College Applications

Start building your My Colleges list

Once you’ve created your account and explored the colleges that accept the Common App, you're ready to start adding colleges.

The College Search tab is where you will search for and add the colleges you want to apply to. If you have a school in mind you can search by name. If you want to keep exploring, you can use the more filters button. Some filters include:

State or country

Distance from a zip code

Enrollment term

Application deadline

Application fees*

Writing requirements

Standardized testing policy

Recommendation requirement

Adding a college is easy! You may add a college using the add button in the search results list. You can also select a college and add them using the "Add to My Colleges" button from their info screen.

Once you've added colleges, you can see them on your Dashboard and in your My Colleges tab. Keep in mind you may only add up to 20 colleges. You may adjust your list of colleges at any time. Once you've submitted, you will not be able to remove those schools from your My Colleges list.

* While some colleges may charge an application fee, others have no fee to apply. And, many will offer fee waivers under certain circumstances, including financial need, veteran status, and more. 

• Understanding requirements

• Plan essays

• Create an account

• Submit your application

• Add colleges

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Keep track of each college’s unique application requirements It's important to stay organized as you work on your applications. Each college needs you to complete common questions and add counselor. Beyond that their applications vary. Each college can determine their unique requirements for: Deadlines Application Fees Personal Essay Courses & Grades Test Policy Portfolio Writing Supplements Recommendations Here are some places where you can find each college's specific requirements: Explore Colleges My Colleges Requirements Grid Writing Requirements by College ACCOUNT ROLLOVER Did you know: Common App accounts can roll over from year to year? Account Rollover is a great tool to explore the Common App, save answers to questions in the Common App tab of your account, and house ideas for your essay.

• Understanding requirements

• Engage supporters

• Create an account

• Submit your application

• Add colleges

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Review and submit your application

Submission is a three-step process: 1) Reviewing your application. 2) Paying the application fee (if applicable). 3) Submitting your application.

• Understanding requirements

• Engage supporters

• Create an account

• Plan Essays

• Submit your application

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Get started at any time

Creating a first year Common App account is easy and should only take a few minutes.

Choose your registration type.

If you are applying to college for the first time you'll select the "First Year Student" button.

Provide your login credentials.

Make sure you use an email address you check often. This is the email the Common App and colleges will use to get in touch with you.

Complete your registration information.

We will need some basic information about you like your name, home address, phone number, and date of birth.

Be sure to use your legal name as it appears on official school documents and standardized tests. This will make sure colleges can match documents to the correct person.

At the end, you will adjust your communication preferences and accept the Common App privacy policy.

Select "Create Account" to complete your account. 

Congratulations on taking this first step in the college application journey!

• Understanding requirements

• Plan essays

• Create an account

• Submit your application

• Add colleges

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Organize and plan for your writing prompts

Sometimes writings essays can feel like the biggest part of your application. With a little bit of planning, organizing, and drafting, we can help you make this task more manageable.

As you work on your applications you can find essays or short answer questions in three sections:

Common App Personal Essay

College-specific questions

Writing supplements

• Understanding requirements

• Engage supporters

• Create an account

• Plan Essays

• Add colleges

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At the end of senior year, I will need to decide what college I am attending. When is National Candidate Reply Date? 

• April 1

• Graduation Day

• June 1

• May 1

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What is the name of a popular, universal application, which allows you to apply to multiple colleges using one application?

• Universal Application

• Common Application

• College Application

• The Application

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What is the primary purpose of the Common App in the college application process?

• To provide a single application for multiple colleges

• To offer financial aid to students

• To rank colleges based on student preferences

• To connect students with potential roommates

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Which section of the Common App allows you to explore and add colleges to your list?

• Dashboard

• My Colleges

• College Search

• Application Status

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What is a key benefit of using the Account Rollover feature in the Common App?

• It allows you to apply to more than 20 colleges

• It saves your answers and ideas for future applications

• It provides a discount on application fees

• It connects you with alumni from your chosen colleges