
Common App
The last few years have surely been challenging and rewarding as you have progressed academically and personally toward graduation day. Hopefully your higher education plans will provide exciting new experiences and opportunities.
With the stresses of the college application and financial aid process upon you, you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) are most likely in the midst of gathering required information. Now is the time to begin submitting applications to schools, applying for scholarships, talking with recruiters, and possibly trying to figure out how to afford it all.
Remember Upward Bound, is here to support you as you begin the transition into college and beyond. Below, you'll find information on the Common App which is a handy tool to apply to multiple colleges at once. One the best things about the Common App is Upward Bound students can complete it for FREE!!
If you need assistance with the college application process, be sure to attend UB Saturdays. If you need additional assistance, please reach out to Cassie or use the button below to schedule an appointment.
What is the Common App?
Completing the Common App Step-by-Step
- Filling out your application takes time and if you have to keep interrupting your progress to find information it can take even longer. Get a head start by collecting information before you begin.
- High School Transcript
- List of activities, work, and family responsibilities
- Test Scores and Dates
- Parent/Guardian Information
- Academic Honors and Achievements
2)Create an Account
- Creating a Common App account is easy and should only take a few minutes. You can create your account here. You'll need to select first-year student, create your login credentials, and complete your registration information.
3)Add Colleges
- Once you've created your account you can start adding colleges using the College Search tab. You can search for colleges by name, location, application deadline, writing requirements, and more.
- Once you've added colleges, you can see them on you Dashboard in the My Colleges tab. You can add up to 20 colleges.
4) Engage Supporters
- A lot of colleges will ask for letters of recommendation. Make sure to research what types of recommendations colleges require and reach out to the appropriate people.
- Guidance Counselors
- Parent/Guardian
- Teacher
- Advisors
- Other- Upward Bound
- You can invite recommenders on the Common App once you complete the FERPA Release Authorization. You will need you recommender's name and email address.
5) Understanding Requirements
- Each college needs you to complete common questions, but beyond that application requirements vary. Each college can determine their unique requirements for:
- Deadlines
- Application Fees
- Personal Essay
- Courses and Grades
- Test Policy
- Portfolio
- Writing Supplements
- Recommendations
- You can find each college's specific requirements in multiple places including, Explore Colleges, My Colleges, Requirements Grid, and Writing Requirements by College.
6) Plan Essays
- Writing essays can feel like the biggest part of your application. With a little bit of planning, organizing, and drafting, this task will be more manageable.
- Writing prompts can appear in the following sections of the Common App:
- Common App Personal Essay
- College-Specific Questions
- Writing Supplements
7) Submit your Application
- Submission is a three-step process:
- Reviewing your application
- Paying the application fee (Not applicable for UB students)
- Submitting your application
Common App Walkthrough
Common App Resources
Below you'll find additional Common App resources.