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College Common Application Strategies, tips and advice

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So you took the ACT! Now what?

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The college common application is, as the name implies, a uniform application that is accepted at over 680 schools across the country, including many top colleges. Some of its benefits and drawbacks are outlined below:

To Students

To Admission Committees
+ Only one essay + Encourage more applicants to apply
+ Time savings + Simplified process also leads to more applicants
+ Send more applications with less effort  – Less individuality among applicants

The College Common Application Versus the College’s Own Application

college common application

The college common application has helped drive the trend of high school seniors applying to more colleges than ever before.

Some colleges and universities offer the option of using the college common application or the school’s specific application. Officially, schools do not have a preference for their own form and essays over the common application. Colleges must in fact sign a pledge promising not to give preference to the applicants who complete the school-specific application.

Unofficially, there is indeed a slight bias towards the candidates who complete the school-specific applications and answer the more customized essay questions. Those that do make themselves appear more sincere about the college.

Our Advice to You

Consider these questions when you consider a college that accepts both the Common Application and a school-specific application:

  • Are you a “stretch” at this school?
  • Do you really want to attend this school?
  • Do you have the time to spend on this school’s application without jeopardizing your other application deadlines?
  • Are you confident that you can do a better job presenting yourself in the school-specific application than the Common Application?

If you answered “yes” to all these questions, then we would strongly encourage you to choose the college-specific application over the Common Application.

Click here to read the 2019-2020 common application essay questions!