The Common Application: What a deal!

The Common Application is a great aid in the college admissions process. October 2009: See my comment below this section.

Large university systems such as the UC system, the Cal State system, and NYU use one application, which can then be sent to each of its schools.

The Common Application allows that same ease of application with almost 500 mostly private schools. One application, one essay, from a list of choices, a one-to-two page supplement for each individual school, and you are pretty much set.

Everything you need is in one place, lists of participating schools, all necessary forms, instructions about what to do, and a check list for getting things done.

Each college or university also has their own application/admissions site, with an application, should you choose to use it, but why would you? On the Common Application site, you can fill out one application, paste in your essay, and send it off to the schools of your choice.

From the list of participating schools, you can see which require a short supplemental essay, and fill out the additional short supplemental application, if required.

The Common Application Web Site has Academic Rec forms, midyear reports, counselor forms, everything required by the (mostly) private schools that participate in this program.

Common Application Web Site

October 2009, Comment on the Common Application

In the past two years or so, as the number of schools using this feature has increased, so has the complexity of the process. This is not due to anything connected with the Common Application, but rather with the supplements to it that most colleges require.

Over the years many of the supplements have moved from asking for basic information, and a brief statement about why you chose this particular school, to requiring yet another essay. Sometimes two, or short answer responses that take time.

Don't get me wrong, some of these are great topics, and there is nothing wrong with beginning to reflect, and think, as compared to the dumbed down high school educational requirements with which you have spent four years. But you need to be prepared.

On top of that, some have a "character count" restriction. So it may be more difficult to compose on the form and express your thoughts. (For character counts, do a Google search for "Free Character Counter, cut and paste.)

Sometimes the college presents this as a "feel free to comment, but optional," essay, but when an application suggests a response is "Optional," one should always write the essay.

In addition, there are supplements for athletes and other special groups of students.

You many not discover some of these essay requirements until you are actually filling out the application, and have completed what you thought were the required essays. Two for the Common Application: one required, one optional.

The essay topics can be more philosophical, for instance, than your original topics, and require thought and reflection. This is not easy for anyone, and for a high school student, this can come as a stressful shock.

My advice?