Are you Common App ready?
Meredith Lombardi, Outreach and Education
July 2022
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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What we’ll cover
● Common App community
● Approaching the application
● Tools you can use
● Your questions
What excites you
about going to
college?
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Common App community
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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Each year, more than 1 million
students apply to college
through Common App.
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Members
979
U.S. States,
DC, & PR
50
International
Members
63
Countries
outside
the U.S.
19
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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U.S. states
22
commonapp.org/blog
2022–2023 new members
27 public institutions
● Ball State University (IN)
● Central Washington University (WA)
● Concord University (WV)
● Eastern Oregon University (OR)
● Eastern Washington University (WA)
● Elizabeth City State University (NC)
● Fitchburg State University (MA)
● Florida International University (FL)
● Grand Valley State University (MI)
● Indiana University Northwest (IN)
● Jackson State University (MS)
● Kennesaw State University (GA)
● Miami Dade College (FL)
● Michigan Technological University (MI)
● North Carolina Central University (NC)
● Stephen F. Austin State University (TX)
● Tarleton State University (TX)
● Texas A&M University (TX)
● The Citadel, The Military College of South
Carolina (SC)
● The University of Memphis (TN)
● The University of Texas at Austin (TX)
● Thomas Edison State University (NJ)
● UNC Pembroke (NC)
● University of Washington Bothell (WA)
● University of Washington Tacoma (WA)
● University of Wisconsin - River Falls (WI)
● Western Washington University (WA)
65+
New members
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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Common App in Maryland
• Capitol Technology University
• Frostburg State University
• Goucher College
• Hood College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Loyola University Maryland
• Maryland Institute College of Art
• McDaniel College
• Morgan State University
• Mount St. Mary's University
• Notre Dame of Maryland University
• Salisbury University
• St. John's College (MD)
• St. Mary's College of Maryland
• Stevenson University
• Towson University
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• Washington College
7 public institutions
20
members
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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● Expanded filter options
○ Public / private
○ Enrollment size
○ Campus setting
○ Merit / need-based aid
○ Specialized mission
○ Test-optional
○ Accepts self-reported test
scores
● Map views of colleges
● PDF export of college lists
● College profiles
● Virtual tours and image
galleries
commonapp.org/explore
Explore colleges
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Approaching the application
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
commonapp.org
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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Common App for mobile provides the same
secure, streamlined application experience as
the Common App online, all from the
convenience of a mobile device.
The mobile app seamlessly integrates with the desktop
experience – allowing students to apply to college, research
financial aid, and get advice from counselors – virtually
anytime, anywhere.
Mobile app available
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Students with financial need can easily request
a fee waiver in the application.
Examples of eligibility criteria:
• ACT/SAT fee waiver
• Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program
• Annual family income within eligibility guidelines
• Federal, state, or local program (e.g. AVID, GEAR UP, TRIO)
• Family receives public assistance
• Living in public housing, a foster home, or homeless
• Ward of the state or an orphan
• Can provide a supporting statement
colleges with no
application fee
fee waivers
granted
Students can search for colleges that charge
no application fee in the application and on
commonapp.org/explore
400+
$100M+
Application fees should not prevent students
from pursuing higher education.
commonapp.org/evolvingtheapp
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Account rollover
Username & password
Remain the same
What rolls over?
A student’s college list and
answers to questions on the
Common App tab
● Profile
● Family
● Education
● Testing
● Activities
● Writing
● Courses & Grades
What does not roll over?
Anything on the My Colleges tab,
including:
● Answers to college-specific
questions
● FERPA release authorization
● Recommender invitations
The Common App launches on August 1 each year, but students don’t have to wait until then.
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Navigating the first-year application
Search filters and a
Requirements Grid
help you easily find
schools along with
deadlines, fees, and
application
requirements
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Navigating the
application
My Colleges includes detailed
information and requirements for
each college on your list.
• Answer college-specific questions
• Complete the FERPA Release Authorization
• Invite and assign recommenders *
• Submit application
• Submit writing supplements, if applicable
When students attend a school using Naviance to submit
school forms, their Common App will prevent them from
inviting their counselor and teacher recommenders.
Students will do this in Naviance.
You are still able to invite ‘other recommenders’ from your
Common App account.
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Counselor
● Completes school
forms and sends
transcript
● Writes letter of
recommendation
(35% require)
Teacher
Other
recommender
Advisor
● No school requires
more than 2
● Completes teacher
evaluation and
writes letter of
recommendation
(30% require)
● Optional
● Examples include
- Arts teacher
outside of school
- Clergy
- Coach
- College access
counselor
- Employer
- Family member
- Peer
- Other
● Optional
● Students can invite up
to 3 advisors
● Advisors do not
submit any forms
● Can view student’s
completion progress
and a PDF copy of
their application (with
permission)
Recommender types
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Navigating the first-year application
The Common App tab is
where you complete the
main sections of the
application.
FAQs and links to
Common App support
provide assistance
throughout the
application.
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
© 2020 The Common Application, Inc.
Students who have participated in a free college
access program can let colleges know.
• You can report up to 3 Community-Based
Organizations (CBOs)
• Examples:
○ ACES
○ AVID
○ Boy/Girl Scouts
○ College Bound
○ Collegiate Directions, Inc.
○ CollegeTracks - Montgomery County
○ POSSE
○ TRIO (Upward Bound, UBMS, Talent Search)
○ Other
Advising support
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
UStrive — formerly Strive for College — was started
in 2015 as a way to virtually connect students to
trained volunteer mentors in a safe and secure
environment.
Since 2016, students who qualify for a Common
App fee waiver have been invited to connect with a
UStrive mentor in the first-year application.
Beginning August 2022, all first-year and transfer
students have the option to connect with a UStrive
mentor, regardless of fee waiver eligibility.
UStrive mentors help students:
● Apply to college
● Navigate the financial aid
process
● Transition into college
● Get their degree
● Find a job after graduation
Access to UStrive mentors
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
© 2021 The Common Application, Inc.
Activities section
Reporting activities and experiences
helps colleges better understand
your life outside of the classroom.
• Report up to 10 activities
• Estimate the amount of time spent in each
activity
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
The personal essay helps you distinguish
yourself in your own voice.
Writing section
Essay prompt topics
● Personal Growth
● Facing Adversity
● Background, Identity, Interest, or
Talent
● Intellectual Curiosity
● Challenging an Idea
● Gratitude
● Topic of Your Choice
www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts
● Choose from 7 different essay prompts
● 650 word limit
● Use content from Google Drive in your
application
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Located in the Writing section
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters
can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this
space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about
the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family
circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to
reliable technology and quiet study spaces. For more
information, check out our COVID-19 FAQ.
● Optional
● 250 word limit
● Separate from the existing Additional Information
question, which remains (650 word limit)
● Counselors are also asked to discuss the impact of
COVID-19 on the school community in their forms
commonapp.org/blog
Community disruptions
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Courses & Grades
The Courses & Grades section is
required by some colleges to inform
them about courses you have taken
for high school credit.
If you are applying to a college that requires
C&G, you will need an unofficial copy of your
high school transcript to complete this section
Courses & Grades FAQs
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Navigating the first-year application
The Dashboard provides a snapshot
of all colleges on your list.
Access the Requirements Grid to see
a detailed list of deadlines, fees, and
admission requirements for all
colleges on your list.
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Navigating the first-year application
Access financial aid resources
and scholarship opportunities
while completing your
Common App.
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Tools you can use
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Plan for college
● College roadmaps for middle
school, high school,
community college, and
military students
● Application and Recommender
guides
● First-year and transfer video
tutorials
● Learn about paying for college
● Parent resources
commonapp.org/plan
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
A toolkit of tips and best practices
to help you with each step of the
application process
● Getting started
● Preparing your application
● Telling your story
● Working with recommenders and advisors
● Paying for college
commonapp.org/ready
Common App Ready
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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Help when you need it!
● Frequently Asked Questions
● Known issues
● Contact support
● Live member colleges
● Writing requirements resource
appsupport.commonapp.org
recsupport.commonapp.org
24/7 support
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
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Saying things out loud makes
them happen. What will you be?
#BetterMakeRoom
Better Make Room is Common App’s
student-facing branch, so follow us on
social media for resources and tips on
your college application journey! 🤳
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Connect with #commonapp, #reachhigher
and #bettermakeroom
@CommonApp
@ReachHigher
@BetterMakeRoom
@CommonApp
@ReachHigher
@BetterMakeRoom
@CommonApp
@ReachHigher2020
@BetterMakeRoom
CommonAppMedia
BetterMakeRoom
@BetterMakeRoom
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What next steps do
you want to take on
your college journey?
© 2022 The Common Application, Inc.
Your questions
Thank you
Contact 24/7/365 support when you need it
[email protected] (first-year application questions)
[email protected] (first-year recommender questions)
[email protected] (transfer questions)
We’re committed to continuous improvement:
ideas.commonapp.org
