1. NAVIGATING COMMON APP Veronica Valentine Spring 2015
Common App has over 500 member public and private colleges and universities. Students can apply to up to 10 colleges using one application. Some member colleges use the Common App exclusively.

2. When you go to the website (commonapp.org), this is what you will see

3. Home of all support resources
The help center is very detailed and can help with almost everything you may encounter while using common app.

4. Live social media feeds

5. Tabs help you navigate through the application to complete various tasks.

6. Dashboard displays an overview of the
The Dashboard can be considered the “home base”
for managing your Common Application process. At a
glance, you can quickly check on the progress of your
Common App for all schools you’ve added to your list.
Tips
• Sort by Deadline to make sure you’re on pace
to complete your work on time
• Organize yourself by removing any schools from your list that no longer interest you
• Once all materials under Application read “Ready,” you will see a button allowing you to submit to
that particular college/university
Dashboard displays an overview of the
application status for each college on a student’s list.

7. Clicking the triangle next to a college’s name expands the view to show the status in greater detail.

8. My Colleges is where students go to take action on
tasks specific to each college.

9. Each college gets to select the questions it asks…

10. The Writing Supplement allows each college to ask short answer and essay questions. Responses can be either text entry or upload—or both—depending on the college’s preference.

11. Note that while a college’s specific questions are submitted along with the Common Application…

12. …the Writing Supplement is submitted afterward.

13. Left navigation menu displays main pages within the Common App.
The Common App tab is where you put all of your personal/family and education information. You must complete every section on this section before submitting your recommendation requests and your college applications.

14. Each page contains several sections but displays only one at a time.

15. Help Center displays articles relevant only to the task at hand.
The Help Center changes for each top tab and each topic under each tab

16. New school lookup makes finding a high school much easier.

17. Accurate address and CEEB information will automatically populate in the School section of the Education page.
The CEEB number, aka the school code, is You will need to memorize this number as you will need it for college applications, SAT’s, ACT’s and financial aid. You must complete the education tab before you can request recommenders

18. Testing page is driven by what you wish to report.
Remember that Howard County Public Schools does not submit standardized test scores for students. You must request your scores from College Board and ACT. When you register to take the test, you can elect to receive four score reports for colleges for free. Each additional report costs $11-12, depending on the test; check collegeboard.org and act.org for more information on score reports.

19. Testing page is driven by what you wish to report.
Even if you report them on common app, you still send official score reports to the colleges

20. Testing page is driven by what you wish to report.

21. Test Optional/Flexible Colleges
Once an application is submitted, a student can return to the app and edit it for future submissions to other colleges.
Student can return to the testing page and change testing response to “No, I do not wish to self-report” OR keep the response as “Yes” but elect to report a different set of tests.
Answering “No” or electing to report a different set of tests will hide – but not erase – any tests a student may have entered previously.
Any tests/scores entered into a previously submitted application can be retrieved by changing the testing response back to “Yes.”

22. Activities page should be as thorough as possible
Colleges, especially those out of state, may not understand the abbreviations/acronyms for your activities so please make sure you spell it out for them. Make sure you highlight any leadership position you held in the activity.

23. The Activity name picklist appears after selecting Athletics

24. Up and down arrows let students rearrange the order of their activities.

25. 50 character text field
150 character text field

26. Activity type and Activity name do not count against the character count since they are derived from picklists, not free text.
50 character text field
150 character text field

27. Text entry or cut-and-paste replaces uploads
Essay Changes
New prompts
New instructions
Text entry or cut-and-paste replaces uploads
Maximum 650 word count is enforced
You should be able to check out the essay prompts for sometime over the summer so you can get started on the essays prior to the fall

28. The application displays a word count.

29. Students receive an error message if the essay is too short…

30. …or too long.
If cutting/pasting, the text box will accommodate the full amount of text even if it exceeds the word count.

31. Recommendations Adding and assigning recommenders for Naviance schools
If your school uses Naviance, you will not be able to assign Counselor or Teacher recommendations using the Common App. Please contact your counselor directly and he/she will provide instructions specific to your school regarding these documents. If your counselor wishes to submit forms via mail, you can download printable forms that can be completed on paper and mailed to each institution to which you apply. Those are assigned through Naviance. For assistance, please check with your counselor. Other Recommenders are invited and assigned as normal.

32. Recommendations, Cont.

33. Family Educational Rights and Privact Act (FERPA)
Under the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), you can review letters of recommendation and accompanying forms after you enroll at a postsecondary institution and only if that institution saves the documents post-enrollment.
Why should you consider waiving your right of access? Waiving your right lets colleges know that you will never try to read your recommendations. That in turn reassures colleges that your recommenders have provided support that is candid and truthful. While you are free to respond as you wish, if you choose not to waive your right, some recommenders may decline your request, and some colleges may disregard letters submitted on your behalf. FERPA does not give you the right to inspect recommendations before they are sent to your colleges.
After you make your selection, you will be able to invite your counselor and recommenders. Once you make the first invitation, you will not be able to change your response to the waiver question.

34. The Submission Process
The Application, Payment, and Writing Supplement submissions are two distinct processes. Students should refer to the My Colleges page to confirm that all required items have been submitted properly.

38. Have a question. Please contact your child’s counselor or Ms
Have a question? Please contact your child’s counselor or Ms. Valentine for help.