Summary:
The Common App is a centralized online application system used by over 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States and a few other countries. It allows students to apply to multiple schools by filling out one main application, saving time and reducing duplicate work.
What Is the Common App?
The Common Application, often called the “Common App,” is a standardized online platform for undergraduate college admissions. Instead of filling out separate applications for each school, students can use the Common App to apply to many colleges at once. The system collects key personal information, academic history, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters in one place, which is then shared with each college a student chooses to apply to. It is one of the most widely used college application platforms for U.S. colleges and is especially helpful for students applying to many schools at the same time.
How It Works
To use the Common App, students create a free account on commonapp.org. After setting up a profile, they fill out a general application form with personal and academic details. This includes their high school courses and grades, standardized test scores (if required), a list of extracurricular activities, and one main personal statement essay, which is sent to all participating colleges. In addition, many colleges have supplemental questions or school-specific essays that must be completed separately within the Common App portal. Students must also request letters of recommendation and submit application fees (or request fee waivers) for each college.
Timeline and Deadlines
The Common App opens each year on August 1 for students applying to start college in the following fall. Most application deadlines fall between November and January, although some schools offer early decision or early action options with earlier deadlines. Students are encouraged to start the process early, as writing essays, collecting documents, and finalizing school selections can take several months.
Advantages of the Common App
The biggest benefit of the Common App is convenience. Students can apply to dozens of colleges using a single platform, avoiding the need to re-enter the same information multiple times. It also helps students stay organized, with a dashboard that shows each college’s specific requirements and deadlines. For colleges, the Common App makes it easier to collect and compare application materials from a wide range of applicants. The platform also offers fee waivers for students with financial need, making it more accessible.
Important Considerations
While the Common App is widely accepted, not every college uses it. Some schools use other platforms (such as the Coalition Application or UC system portal) or have their own application systems.
Also, just because a student uses the Common App doesn’t mean all applications will be the same—colleges often require different supplemental essays, short answers, or portfolio submissions. Applicants must read each college’s instructions carefully and tailor their materials accordingly. In particular, the main Common App essay should be strong and personal, as it is the only major writing sample sent to many schools.