Common Application Becomes Available
Ah...the start of application season is upon us!
The application process may be daunting, but it is also exciting. Today is especially exciting, as it is the official release of the 2012-2013 Common Application. Every year we make sure that rising seniors (or more accurately, their parents) are aware of how to go about applying to college, and it usually begins with the Common App.
The Common App is an online application used by most colleges. By creating an account at commonapp.org, students will greatly reduce the amount of paperwork needed to submit applications (and consequently, greatly reduce their stress level!). The basic structure of the Common App doesn't change too much from year to year, but the supplemental essays required by each college do change quite dramatically. You can sign up by creating your account here.
We'll be sharing some tips and tricks for admissions essay writing later on in the month. But first, let's go over some technical issues that students might run into when submitting their Common Applications online. These may seem like obvious things to avoid, but they trip up students year after year!
1. Make sure you preview the application before submission!
The Common App let's you see a preview of exactly what colleges will see when you submit your application. Take advantage of this! Once you've submitted the application, it cannot be cancelled.
2. Did you actually submit the application?
Of course you did! But humor us and us and double-check it anyway.
There is a three-part submission process that requires students to hit three different submit buttons: one for the application, one for the supplement and one for the application fee. If you submit the application and the payment, but not the supplement, the college you are applying to will not receive that application you've worked so hard on. They won't even know that you're interested!
As always, TA is here to provide advice throughout the process. If you have any questions about the Common Application or the application process in general, please don't hesitate to ask us!
