Douglas Olsen
The Common Application, or Common App, is a centralized application system that allows students to apply to multiple universities at once. It is a convenient way to apply to over 800 colleges in the USA, as well as universities in Canada, China, and Europe. The Common App is a useful tool for international students as it provides a one-stop application process, making it easier to manage the college application process. International students can use the Common App to share their school-leaving scores, write personal essays, and provide additional information to universities. The application also allows students to indicate future test dates if they have not yet received their official scores. While the Common App simplifies the application process, international students should be aware of potential additional requirements and fees that may vary by college.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Application process | Students can apply to multiple universities at once |
| Application fee | Schools decide whether to charge the same fee for domestic and international students |
| Payment process | Handled by Flywire for international students |
| Additional details | Each college may ask international students to complete additional details in the 'My Colleges' section |
| Essay topics | International students are expected to talk about their history |
| Activities | Students can list up to 10 activities with a description |
| Writing section | Contains three sub-sections: Personal Essay, Disciplinary History, and Additional Information |
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What You'll Learn
Common App essay topics
The Common App is a convenient way for students to apply to multiple universities at once via a common application. This can be especially useful for international students, who may be applying to universities outside of their home country and wish to keep their options open.
When it comes to essay topics for the Common App, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the essay should be personal and authentic, giving the admissions officers a sense of who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It's an opportunity to showcase your unique experiences, perspectives, and writing skills.
- A significant cultural experience or tradition from your home country that has shaped your perspective or values. This could be a festival, ritual, or family tradition that holds special significance for you.
- Challenges you've faced as an international student. For example, adjusting to a new educational system, learning a new language, or adapting to cultural differences in the classroom and campus life.
- Academic or intellectual interests that have been influenced by your international experiences. Perhaps you've developed a passion for languages after living in multiple countries, or maybe you're interested in global politics or international relations due to your exposure to diverse perspectives.
- How your perspective on current global issues or social causes might contribute to the campus community. For instance, if you've volunteered for a cause close to your heart, or if there's a particular social issue prevalent in your home country that you wish to raise awareness about.
- A memorable experience you had while travelling or living abroad, and how it impacted your personal growth or worldview. This could be a story about overcoming a challenge, embracing a new culture, or forming meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds.
Remember, the essay should showcase your unique voice and experiences. It's important to provide specific details and anecdotes to make your essay engaging and memorable.
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Application fees
The Common Application, or Common App, is a single online college application form that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once. It is used by over 900 colleges and universities, including private, public, engineering, liberal arts schools, and more. The Common App is free to use, but each college charges its own application processing fee, which is usually between $30 to $75 for US applicants and more for international applicants. International students can apply for a fee waiver if required.
The Common App is a convenient way for international students to apply to multiple colleges in the US using one application form. Instead of filling out the same general information, such as your address, GPA, and extracurricular activities, multiple times for each college, you only need to do it once with the Common App. The Common App dashboard also helps applicants track necessary application documents, such as letters of recommendation, and important deadlines.
The Common App goes live every year on August 1, marking the start of the application season. The financial aid process is separate from submitting your Common App and has different deadlines. To apply for financial aid, you will need to fill out the FAFSA separately.
It is important to note that not all schools accept the Common App. Some colleges may require you to fill out their own application form, while others may use a different application system, such as ApplyTexas for Texas colleges. Therefore, it is essential to check whether your desired colleges accept the Common App before starting your application process.
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Additional information
The Common App is a centralized application system that allows students to apply to multiple universities at once. It is a convenient, fair, and accessible way to apply to over 800 colleges in the USA, as well as universities in Canada, China, and Europe (a total of 64 international institutes). The Common App is particularly useful for international students, who can use it to apply to a wide range of universities with a single application.
The Common App has a Writing Section that contains three sub-sections: the Personal Essay, Disciplinary History, and Additional Information. The Additional Information section is where applicants can share other relevant information that has not been presented elsewhere in the application. This section is optional, and students should use their judgment to decide if including additional information will strengthen their application.
When completing the Additional Information section, students should consider including information that will provide a more holistic view of their qualifications, experiences, and potential contributions to the university. This could include explanations of any unique circumstances, such as educational or personal challenges, that may have impacted their academic performance or extracurricular involvement. For example, if a student had to take a gap year due to illness or family responsibilities, this could be explained in the Additional Information section.
Additionally, the Additional Information section can be used to highlight any special awards, honors, or accomplishments that may not fit neatly into other parts of the application. For instance, if a student has received a notable award for community service or has founded a successful extracurricular club, this could be mentioned here. It is important to use this section strategically and only include information that is truly additional and will add value to the application.
In terms of formatting, the Additional Information section typically has a specified word limit, so students should be concise and focus on providing clear and concise explanations or descriptions. It is also important to review the specific instructions and requirements for each university, as they may have different preferences or requirements for the Additional Information section.
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School leaving scores
The Common App is a centralised application system that allows students to apply to multiple universities at once. It is used by over 900 colleges and universities across 20 countries, serving more than a million US and international students annually. The platform is particularly beneficial for international students, as it simplifies the college admissions process and provides a single location from which to apply to numerous institutions.
The Common App requires students to create an account and input their general information, including name, contact details, and demographic details such as country of residence. International applicants are prompted to specify their visa type as F-1 Student in the citizenship section.
In the Education section, students are required to enter their high school grades, current courses, and test scores. The specific testing requirements vary across colleges, with some mandating test scores while others maintain a flexible policy or do not require tests. Standardised tests such as the SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, IELTS, and TOEFL are commonly considered.
For international applicants, an important consideration is whether their promotion within their educational system is based on standard leaving examinations, such as those given at the end of lower or senior secondary school. This information is relevant for countries like India, where students are required to take 10th and 12th board examinations. In such cases, the Common App provides a section for Senior Secondary Leaving Examinations, where students can input the number of times they have taken their 12th board exams.
Additionally, the Common App may require students to self-report their high school transcripts, which can be uploaded by a school counsellor or an authorised staff member. It is important to mention all the schools attended in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade, especially if the student attended different institutes during these years.
The Common App also provides a fee waiver section, where students can indicate their eligibility for an application fee waiver. This section must be confirmed by a counsellor or the respective college, and individual schools reserve the right to request additional information or deny the waiver.
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Activities section
The Common App allows students to apply to multiple universities at once via a common application. The Activities section is an important part of the application, allowing colleges to understand what an applicant has done and is doing outside of the classroom. It is one of the best opportunities for applicants to stand out among their peers.
The Activities section has a limit of ten extracurricular activities. Applicants should be selective and include the most important or meaningful activities. If more activities need to be added, the additional information section or essays can be used. However, it is recommended to only do so if these activities are essential to the admissions committee's understanding of the applicant's extracurricular life.
The Common App provides a drop-down menu with activity categories, including Junior R.O.T.C., Science/Math, and Academic. Applicants should choose the most specific and relevant category for each activity. If an activity fits into multiple categories, a brief description can be added for context. If the activity does not fit into any of the provided categories, select "Other Club/Activity" and provide a more detailed description.
When listing activities, applicants should include their role and the organization's name. This ensures the activity description can be utilised effectively within the character limit. It is also important to list activities in order of importance to the applicant. Placing impressive activities and those related to the intended college major near the top of the list can help capture the positive attention of admissions committees.
The Activities section should showcase an applicant's interests, hobbies, and specialties. It can include formal activities such as sports teams and clubs, as well as independent pursuits like reading or scrapbooking. Applicants should remember that colleges value consistency and commitment. For example, listing an activity done throughout high school with a leadership role in the later years is more impactful than listing multiple short-term activities.
Overall, the Activities section provides a valuable opportunity for applicants to showcase their unique experiences and interests outside of academics, helping them stand out and make a strong impression on admissions committees.
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Frequently asked questions
The Common App is a common application that lets students apply to many universities at once. It provides access to undergraduate applications to more than 800 colleges in the USA, as well as universities in Canada, China, and Europe.
The Common App is aimed at making the university application process fair and accessible to all students. It is available to both domestic and international students.
International students can report their school-leaving scores. They can also list up to 10 activities and are required to submit a personal essay, a disciplinary history, and any other additional information they wish to include.
The fees for international students vary depending on the school. Some schools may charge the same fee for domestic and international students, while others may have different fees for the two categories. Payment for international students is handled by Flywire.
