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What is the Common Applica8on?

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What is the Common Applica8on?
The Common Applica8on is a comprehensive tool that students are able to use to
apply to more than 600 colleges around the world.

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The Common App Advantage

There are four reasons to use the Common App to apply to college:
1. Connect to More The Common Applica8on has more than 600 colleges and
universi8es within its membership. No other online system matches the diversity
of colleges and universi8es accessible through the Common App.
2. Work Smarter Using the Common App will save you 8me in the applica8on
admission process. Enter your informa8on once and it will be shared across all of
your schools.
3. Stay on Track - Using the Common App, you will be able to manage your
deadlines and view your applica8on progress in one convenient dashboard.
4. Streamline Recommenda8ons Teachers and Counselors will have a seamless
way to manage documents and outstanding tasks for their students.

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Forty years of innova8on

The Common Applica8on was started in 1975 by 15 forward thinking colleges and
universi8es.
1985 celebrated 100 members and universi8es.
In 1995, the Common App was available to students on oppy disk.
In 1998, the Common App moved to an online applica8on plaVorm.
2015 marks 40 years of increasing access to college, a refreshed website and the
largest new group of members.

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The Common Applica8on was used by more than 860,000 students to apply to
college in 2014 2015.

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The process begins at commonapp.org where applicants can create an account and
sign in to the applica8on.

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Crea8ng an account is easy. Applicants will just need some basic prole informa8on
like name, date of birth, address and phone number. And of course, a valid email
address. That email address will become the applicants username and the Common
Apps primary method of sending updates and reminders, so it should be an address
that is used on a regular basis. Its also a good idea to make note of your password
and keep that reminder handy, since youll need to log in each 8me you access the
Common App. If you lose your login informa8on, the Common Applica8on Applicant
Solu8ons Center is always here to help, but its s8ll a good idea to keep your
password someplace safe so you can locate it later on if necessary.

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 Students should use their legal name as it appears on ocial school documents
and standardized test scores. This will allow colleges to match documents with the
correct applicant.
Students who are gradua8ng from high school in June of 2016, should apply as a
rst year student unless their counselor has instructed them otherwise.
By checking the box indica8ng that you give permission to colleges and universi8es
that you have added to your MyColleges list, you are allowing colleges to
communica8on with you prior to submission of your applica8on. This
communica8on might include deadline reminders, scholarship opportuni8es or
other informa8on that will help you in the college admissions process.

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Applicants should use the mailing address where they would like all college related
materials to be sent.

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This is the welcome screen that applicants see when they rst sign in to their
Common App.

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The next couple of slides will help applicants become familiar with the Common
Applica8on and the important tabs that they will encounter.

The Common App ID (CAID) is the unique iden8er that allows colleges to match your
applica8on with suppor8ng documents. Write down this number with your important
college applica8on informa8on it will be useful if you need to contact
appsupport.commonapp.org.

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The Dahsboard provides a snapshot of all of your colleges.

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The My Colleges tab will list detailed informa8on about the colleges you have added
to the list and requirements for all of your colleges.

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The Common App tab is where you will go to complete the main sec8ons of your
applica8on.

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The College Search tab is used to search for colleges that you would like to add to
your My Colleges list.

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On the right side of the screen, you will see the Instructions and Help Center link.
This link appears in the same place on every page of your application. Help is
available when you need it, where you need it, 24/7/365.

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It is helpful for applicants to gather some basic informa8on before they begin
comple8ng the Common Applica8on.
The following informa8on will be helpful:
Copy of your high school transcript
List of senior year courses
School counselor name and contact information
List of your activities, work, and family obligations
Standardized test scores and dates
Parent/guardian educational history and occupation/employer information
Sibling grade level and educational information

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Informa8on about the Applicant Solu8ons Center

Remember, were always ready to help you. If you experience a problem or have a
ques8on, let us know by going to the Applicant Help

Center and searching the FAQs or clicking the Ask a Ques8on tab. Its probably a good
idea to add appsupport@commonap.org to your address book or contact list. We
know youll have ques8ons, and we are here to answer them. Help us make

sure our responses dont end up in your Spam or Junk folder by adding our support
email address to your contact list.

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