Common App 101: What to know before you start

Jul 28, 2021

4 min read

Updated: Sep 28

If you're applying to college, you'll almost certainly use The Common App , which more than 1,200 colleges now accept. One of the first questions students ask is which email to use: skip your school account and use a personal address you'll keep after graduation and check every day, because school accounts can filter college messages or shut off after senior year.

Here's what else to know before you start.

Each summer the Common App goes offline for a few days of maintenance in late July, then reopens for the new application year at the start of August. Don't worry: most of what you've already entered carries over when it comes back online.

Gather your information in advance.

Filling out the application takes time, and if you're not prepared, it can take longer. In addition to your high school transcripts, test scores, academic honors, and activities, you'll need to have lots of other information handy.

You'll need basic demographic information about your family. This info includes: Mom and Dad's occupations (make sure you know their job titles), their highest level of education (and the year they earned their degrees), and the number of institutions they attended (as well as the names).
You'll also need to know about your siblings. You'll need to provide which college they attended, the graduation date (or expected graduation date), and the degrees (or expected degrees).
You'll also need a couple of numbers. Including your Social Security Number (especially if you're planning to apply for need-based financial aid) and a North Carolina Residency Number to show that you're eligible for in-state tuition.
If one or both of your parents served in the military, check the schools' application fee policies. Some schools will waive application fees for children of military members (including active, separated, or retired). If your parents are separated or retired, you'll need access to their DD 214 (discharge paperwork for active-duty members) or DD 256 (for Guard or Reserve members) to submit with your fee waiver request

Pick the right email (not your school account).

Make sure to list an email you actively use and check—you'll receive a lot of information after you apply. If information is missing and could delay or harm your application review, you'll want to know.

In fact, you should get into the habit of checking your email daily during your senior year.

So what email address should you use?

First, make sure the email address is appropriate. "BigMamaPartier@gmail.com" isn't the best option for college applications.

You could use your high school email address, but this might not be ideal if it has multiple spam filters or doesn't allow outside emails. Additionally, some high schools disable student emails after graduation.

Many students create a separate email account just for college applications so important emails don't get lost among store promotions, social media notifications, and other less-important messages.

Spend some time on the essay portion

If you followed our advice back in June, you've already been thinking about your essay.

But if not, don't worry. Here's the lowdown:

The Common App has seven essay prompts to choose from:

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.
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?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
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?
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.

Many colleges include school-specific short answer questions or essay prompts. Find specific requirements for each school here.

Register on your preferred schools' sites

Make sure you've registered on the site for every school you intend to apply to. Some schools give benefits for using a specific app type (such as a fee waiver), so check your email for school-specific offers.

Not all schools accept the Common App

Some use the Coalition App or a school- or system-specific app. But even if a school accepts one of several options, you still only need to submit one application.

Choose your colleges carefully

You can add up to 20 colleges to the "My Colleges" tab, but once you've submitted, you won't be able to remove those schools from your list.

Stay organized.

Each college has unique requirements for deadlines, application fees, personal essays, recommendations, and more. You can find out more info in the Requirements Grid. Keep them straight by creating a spreadsheet and adding calendar reminders to your phone.

Learn more

Check out the Common App's First-time Applicant Guide here for more information.