A Guide to the Common App

Posted on by Boswell Family Charitable Foundation
A young man sitting at a laptop in a modern office, with dozens of university pennants like Harvard, Yale, and UCLA erupting from the screen.
11
Mar

The college application process can be stressful, but tools like the Common Application are designed to make it easier. The Common App allows you to apply to over 1,100 colleges and universities with a single form, streamlining a big part of your senior year. This guide breaks down what you need to know to use it effectively.

When to Get Started

While the new Common App opens on August 1st every year, college admissions counselors suggest you begin working on your application as early as possible—ideally, during the summer before your senior year. This gives you plenty of time to draft essays and gather materials, helping you avoid the stress of last-minute deadlines.

Key Best Practices:

A student sitting at an outdoor table with a laptop and a planner, writing "START EARLY" in a notebook.
  • Start Early: Don’t wait until the deadline. Allotting at least two to four months for the process is ideal.
  • Ask for Recommendations Early: Request letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors before the end of your junior year, or very early in your senior year, to give them enough time. 
  • Use the Preview: Take advantage of the Common App preview to review your application and assign outside advisors to check your progress. 

How to Complete the Common App 

The process is straightforward and designed to be completed in a logical order. 

  1. Create an Account: Go to commonapp.org or download the mobile app. You can create an account at any time. 
  1. Add Your Information: Fill out your user profile with details on your education, extracurriculars, demographics, and household information. 
  1. Add Your Schools: Search for and add the colleges you are interested in to your “My Colleges” list. 
  1. Invite Collaborators: Invite teachers, counselors, or others who are providing letters of recommendation or other supporting documents. 
  1. Review Requirements: Each college has unique requirements, so be sure to check the application requirements for every school on your list. 

Key Components of Your Application 

  • The Essay: The Common App has seven first-year essay prompts for the 2025-2026 school year. You only need to choose one. The essay is your chance to tell a story about yourself beyond your academic record. The maximum word count is 650 words.
  • High School Transcript: Colleges require an official high school transcript, which is a record of your courses and grades. Your school’s counseling office will typically send this directly.
An infographic showing the components of a Common App "Unified Profile," including an essay, transcript with high grades, SAT scores, and extracurricular photos.
  • Standardized Test Scores: While many schools are now test-optional or test-blind, a good SAT or ACT score can still help your application and may even lead to scholarship opportunities.
  • Extracurricular Activities: This is often the most overlooked part of the application. Be sure to be detailed and explain any leadership roles or accomplishments you had in your clubs, sports, and other activities.

Financial Aid and Fee Waivers 

Don’t let application fees be a barrier to your future. 

  • The Common App platform is free to use, but individual schools may charge an application fee. 
  • Fee Waivers: If you qualify for a fee waiver due to financial hardship (for example, if you received an SAT or ACT test fee waiver), you can indicate this once in the application, and the waiver can be applied to any school you apply to. 
A close-up of a student’s hand pointing to a tablet screen that says "ELIGIBLE" for a Common App Fee Waiver.

Updates for the 2025-2026 Common App 

  • “Challenges and Circumstances” Question: The optional “community disruption” question has been renamed to “challenges and circumstances” with new language to capture a broader range of impacts you may have experienced. 
  • Character Limit Reduction: The word count in the “additional information” section has been reduced. This encourages you to be succinct and focus on the most important details. 

We are so excited for you as you begin this process! 

Boswell Family Charitable Foundation