Common Application
Create an account and begin completing: Commonapp.org
Common App Ready: http://www.commonapp.org/ready - This series of packaged presentations and resource documents covers every aspect of the application, from account creation through submission.
Common App onTrack, a mobile companion to the online application
- The mobile app will become a vital tool for students to view and edit their college lists, receive timely reminders so as not to miss any important deadlines, and view the status of submitted applications. For your information, we have posted a preview video of the mobile app.
Account Rollover
Upon that first sign in, we’ll ask if you would like to roll over your account. If you answer yes, we’ll take you through a few quick steps to confirm the following:
- Your role (current applicant, other student, counselor, parent, etc.)
- Your current high school
- Your communication opt-in selection
- Your acceptance of our Privacy Policy
- Your previous My Colleges list
What information will carry over from one year to the next?
We will preserve the answers you provided to any questions that appear in the six sections of the “Common App” tab: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, and Writing.
Is there any information that will not carry over?
Yes. The following information will not carry over:
- Any information you may have entered for college-specific Questions and Writing Supplements
- Your Release Authorization and FERPA selection
- Any Recommender invitations, assignments, and forms
- PDFs of Common Applications and Writing Supplements submitted the prior year
- Responses to any questions that have been removed since the prior year
- Responses to any questions that may have a different format or different response options from the prior year
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised]
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? [Revised]
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change]
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised]
6. Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New]
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New]
