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United States · shared application

Common App

Common App lets first-year applicants reuse a core application across member colleges, but every college controls its own deadlines, supplements, recommendation rules, fees and testing policy.

Back to the USA overview
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ROUTE FILE · USA
Photo: Julio Lopez on Unsplash

Usually for

  • First-year applicants to Common App member colleges
  • Students applying to several member institutions
  • Applicants coordinating counselor and teacher forms

Stop and re-check if

  • University of California campuses through the UC Application
  • Institutions using only their own portal
  • Transfer applicants using a different Common App workflow
01 / THE WORKFLOW

From blank form to confirmed submission.

  1. 01

    Create the correct account

    Choose first-year status and use a long-term personal email.

    Verified account
  2. 02

    Complete My Common Application

    Enter profile, family, education, testing, activities and writing accurately.

    Reusable core record
  3. 03

    Add colleges

    Review each college’s requirements page before assuming the core record is enough.

    College checklist
  4. 04

    Invite supporters

    Assign counselor, teachers and other recommenders according to each college’s rules.

    Forms in progress
  5. 05

    Finish supplements

    Complete college questions, writing supplements and portfolios.

    College-specific work complete
  6. 06

    Review and submit separately

    Preview the PDF, sign declarations, pay/waive fees and submit each college individually.

    Confirmation per college
01

What carries across

Your core profile can be reused, which reduces duplicate entry.

  • Profile and family information
  • Education and courses
  • Activities and honours
  • Common App personal essay when a college uses it
02

What does not carry across

The most consequential requirements are often college-specific.

  • Deadlines and application plans
  • Writing supplements
  • Recommendation counts
  • Testing and portfolio rules
03

After submission

Each college usually creates its own applicant portal.

  • Save the submission confirmation
  • Activate each college portal
  • Check missing-item status
  • Complete financial-aid requirements separately
CHECK THE LIVE RULESOfficial sources for Common App
Common App first-year guide

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