1. commonapp.org
#commonappready
© 2015 The Common Application

2. THE PROFILE SECTION #commonappready commonapp.org
© 2015 The Common Application

3. Presenter notes 3
© 2015 The Common Application

4. What is Common App Ready?
A comprehensive training resource
Ready-to-present slide decks
Introduction to the Common Application
Getting Started
Searching and Adding Colleges
Explanations of the following sections: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing
Payment and Submission 4
© 2015 The Common Application

5. How to use Common App Ready
Schedule a workshop for your students, parents, colleagues, or anyone else who would benefit from learning about the Common Application
Organize your workshop(s) around your needs by presenting the slides all at once or in multiple sessions
Use the accompanying guide (also recorded in the footer notes of each slide) as your script
Direct participants to our training videos for more information: appsupport.commonapp.org 5
© 2015 The Common Application

6. Please begin your presentation with the next slide.
Now YOU are Common App Ready
Please begin your presentation with the next slide. 6
© 2015 The Common Application

7. THE PROFILE SECTION commonapp.org #commonappready
© 2015 The Common Application

8. Sign in to your account Pro-tip: Bookmark apply.commonapp.org
Welcome to Common App Ready.
Students should navigate to commonapp.org, click on Apply Now to create a new account or to Sign In to an existing account.
Pro-tip: Bookmark
apply.commonapp.org
© 2015 The Common Application

9. Navigate to the Common App tab
This is the welcome screen that applicants will view upon signing into their accounts.
Applicants should navigate to the Common App tab.
© 2015 The Common Application

10. Profile Section overview
The first section within the Common App is the PROFILE section.
Sections can be completed in any order and you can access each section by clicking on that section name
© 2015 The Common Application

11. Profile Section overview
The Profile section includes:
Personal information
Your address
Your phone numbers
Background
Languages you speak
Your citizenship
Scholarship Information
Request for a fee waiver
The Profile Section includes the basic information about who you are as an applicant, where you live, where you are from, what languages you speak and whether or not the cost of applying to college and submitting college applications would be a burden to you.
© 2015 The Common Application

12. Move between sections by clicking CONTINUE
Personal Information
Pro-tip: Use your legal name so that colleges can match your application with standardized test scores and other documents.
Move between sections by clicking CONTINUE
The personal information section asks your name, your sex and your date of birth.
Applicants can move between sections within the Common App by clicking on Continue. To make changes to information, applicants must click on “Edut”
Applicants should use their legal name that will appear on high school transcripts and standardized test scores. This will allow the colleges to match the application with the other documents.
© 2015 The Common Application

13. Where do you want to receive your mail from colleges?
Address
Where do you want to receive your mail from colleges?
Colleges will send you information about their programs, special academic opportunities, and a decision letter.
What if you have a home address and a school address? The Common App provides you with space to share both a permanent and an alternate mailing address with colleges.
© 2015 The Common Application

14. Email address defaults to the one you provided at registration.
Contact Details
address defaults to the one you provided at registration.
Contact Details Section
During the college admissions process, there are several reasons why colleges might want to contact you: Colleges may call or to alert you to missing documents. Students might call you to invite you to an event on campus and share their experiences at the college. The bottom line is, if a college has a reason to contact you, you want them to be able to reach you.
Applicants should use an address that they check on a regular basis.
© 2015 The Common Application

15. This section is OPTIONAL but can be helpful to colleges.
Demographics
This section is OPTIONAL but can be helpful to colleges.
What are demographics? Statistical data about people.
This section of the Common App enables colleges and universities to learn more about you and your background.
This page asks about your religious preference. For example, a Catholic College might be very interested in knowing if their applicants are Catholic. It won’t affect admissions, but it can help ensure that the right information is getting to you.
Military Service – an increasing number of colleges have special programs and services for those who are currently in the military or who have served in the military.
If you choose to answer these questions, you may provide whatever answer you feel best applies to you or any groups of which you feel you are a part. For example, if you wish to answer the ethnicity question but feel that the established categories do not fully capture how you identify yourself, you may provide more detail in the Additional Information section of the application.
Please note, in order to complete this section and receive the green check, you will need to read the statement that affirms you understand this section is optional and that you have completed the section to your satisfaction.
© 2015 The Common Application

16. Tell colleges where you were born and where you have lived.
Geography
Tell colleges where you were born and where you have lived.
Geography
Colleges are interested in learning where you are from as it helps put applications into context. For example, international students may have different requirements for admission while living abroad for the majority of an applicant’s life might change their perspective or alter their educational path." 
© 2015 The Common Application

17. How many languages do you speak?
Why do colleges care about what languages you speak?
Is English your first language or just one of five languages that you speak? And what is your level of proficiency in those languages?
Proficiency in a language is about how comfortable you are using another language as a form of communication. In order to be proficient, you must be able to communicate effectively and converse comfortably.
Why does this matter? Colleges use this information as context for your application.
And it is ok if you speak one language.
© 2015 The Common Application

18. Citizenship
In the citizenship area you’ll indicate your United States citizenship status from the list you see here. Depending on how you answer the question, you may be asked to provide some additional information, for example if you select that you have dual citizenship you will then be asked to indicate the other countries in which you hold citizenship.
Colleges are interested in citizenship for several reasons. For example, international students might have additional requirements in the admissions process. Additionally, some scholarships might be just for students who are US citizens or permanent residents.
© 2015 The Common Application

19. Citizenship
Pro-tip: Applying for financial aid? Don’t leave this blank. Colleges need it to match your application to your financial aid documents.
Adding your social security number to your application allows colleges to match your application with your financial aid documents (FAFSA and College Board CSS Profile).
While an applicant’s Social Security Number is transmitted to the college, it will not be available to those who don’t need to see the information.
© 2015 The Common Application

20. Pro-tip: Scholar Snapp connects students with scholarships.
Scholarship Information
Pro-tip: Scholar Snapp connects students with scholarships.
The Common Application has partnered with Scholar Snapp to connect students with scholarships to help pay for college. Participation is optional and students will receive information about how to pay for college.
The Scholar Snapp solution allows you to apply for a scholarship online and then re-use that information for other scholarship applications without requiring you to retype your personal information for each subsequent scholarship application.
© 2015 The Common Application

21. One fee waiver will cover all of your Common App submissions
Fee Waivers
One fee waiver will cover all of your Common App submissions
Common App Fee Waiver –
The last area of this section provides an opportunity to request a Common App fee waiver if your financial circumstances qualify you. If you answer Yes to the fee waiver statement, you will then be able to select the qualifying statement that applies to you, as well as providing your signature.
Members of the Common Application do not want the cost of applying to college to become an undue burden to you and your family. If you feel that the cost will be a challenge to your family, then you can request a fee waiver.
Your school counselor will be asked to verify your qualifying statement when they submit your transcript and school report via the Common App Recommender System or Naviance.
© 2015 The Common Application

22. Help when you need it, where you need it
Applicant Solutions Center
Help when you need it, where you need it
24/7
Every day of the year
FAQs
Videos
Chat
Information about the Applicant Solutions Center
You now have the information you need in order to work on your Profile section. Remember, we’re always ready to help you. If you experience a problem or have a question, let us know by going to the Applicant Help
Center and searching the FAQs or clicking the Ask a Question tab. It’s probably a good idea to add to your address book or contact list. We know you’ll have questions, and we are here to answer them. Help us make
sure our responses don’t end up in your Spam or Junk folder by adding our support address to your contact list.
appsupport.commonapp.org
© 2015 The Common Application

23. commonapp.org
#commonappready
© 2015 The Common Application