Introduction
The Common App streamlines the admissions process by storing personal information, essays, and counselor recommendations in one place, saving applicants significant time and effort. It supports both first-year and transfer applications.
The platform launches a new application cycle on the 1st of August every year. This is when new universities are added and in-depth college details are provided.
Steps to Follow: Pre-Registration
Step 1: Gather all documents
Before creating your account, ensure you have the following:
- A copy of your high school transcript
- A list of your activities, work and other responsibilities
- Test scores and dates from your college entrance exams
- Parent/legal guardian information
- Academic honors and achievements
Step 2: Find your school’s CEEB Code
A CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) code is a unique 6-digit identifier assigned by the College Board to high schools, colleges, and universities. It helps ensure that test scores (SAT/AP), transcripts, and applications are sent to the correct institutions.
The CEEB code for your high school is often provided to you by your school. Do check with your school counselor for the same.
Step 3: Navigate the different sections on Common App
Understanding the platform beforehand makes registration easier:
- Dashboard: View key information for each college you’re applying to
- My Colleges: Add and manage colleges, complete school-specific questions, and assign recommenders
- Common App: Complete sections (profile, education, activities, essays) shared with all colleges
- College Search: Discover and add colleges using filters such as location, major, or application type
- Financial Aid Resources: Access information and tools related to financial aid
Steps to Follow: During Registration
Step 1: Create an account
- Create your account and choose your student type: If you haven’t yet attended college, select “first-year student”
- Enable account rollover if you’re reapplying or returning
- Ensure you fill in your name exactly as it appears on your official school documents and standardised tests
- Click ‘create account’ to get started!
Step 2: Complete your student profile section
- Student profile: Legal name, date of birth, demographic details, languages, and family information
- Education: Current high school and any schools attended in the past four years
- Courses and Grades: Courses taken in high school or outside school for credit
- Academic Honors: Up to five honours, including title, grade level, and level of recognition
- Testing: Standardised test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, and English proficiency tests for international students, if applicable)
- Activities: Extracurricular activities, leadership roles, work experience, and community involvement
Step 3: Add colleges
- Use the College Search section to find and add colleges
- Build a balanced list of safety, target, and reach schools
- Added colleges will appear on your Dashboard and under My Colleges
- You may add up to 20 colleges and remove them anytime before submission
Step 4: Review each university’s requirements
- Create a document listing different requirements like deadlines, application fees, personal essay, courses & grades, test policy, portfolio, writing supplements, recommendations
- For detailed information, visit the university’s official website or review its Explore Colleges profile on the Common App.
Step 5: Track your deadlines
| Decision Type | Common Deadline (Varies by university) |
| Early Action (EA) | Generally 1 Nov- 15 Nov 2025 |
| Priority Deadline | Generally 1 Nov 2025 |
| Early Decision I (ED I) | Generally 1 Nov- 15 Nov 2025 |
| Restrictive Early Action (REA) | Generally 1 Nov- 15 Nov 2025 |
| Early Decision II (ED II) | Generally between 1 Jan- 15 Jan 2026 |
| Regular Decision (RD) | Generally 1 Jan – 15 Jan 2026 |
| Rolling Admission | Accept applications until seats are filled |
Note: Most colleges in the United States use the Common Application (Common App) or have similar deadlines for their own application systems (UC, MIT, ApplyTexas, Cal State Apply, Coalition, Georgetown, MyIllini, etc.). You are strongly encouraged to visit your university website and look at your deadlines closely.
Step 6: Collaborate with teachers, counselors or other recommenders
- Counselors submit school reports, transcripts, mid-year reports, predicted grades, and recommendations
- Teachers provide academic recommendations highlighting intellectual curiosity and classroom engagement
- Parents submit forms only for Early Decision applications
- Other recommenders (coaches, employers, mentors) offer insight into non-academic interests
Note: Generally, each college has its own recommendation requirements. For example, one college may need two teacher recommendations. Some colleges may not want any teacher recommendations. Colleges can also determine what kinds of other recommenders they want. Some may allow for any recommender type, whereas others only allow an employer recommendation.
Step 7: Plan and write essays
- There are three crucial elements of writing in students’ Common App applications: The Common App Personal Essay, Writing supplements, College-specific essays.
- The Additional Information section (renamed “Challenges and Circumstances”) allows first-year applicants up to 250 words to explain factors that affected academic or extracurricular performance.
Step 8: Submit your application
- Review your application
- Pay the application fee (If you meet certain qualifications, you can request a Common App fee waiver)
- Submit your application
Conclusion
After submitting your common application, the next step is to actively monitor your application status. This includes: Logging in individually to each university’s applicant portal, tracking post-submission updates, uploading any additional required materials (e.g., test scores, mid-year reports) and responding promptly to university requests.
Students who wish to start exploring the application can create their account anytime. With account rollover, Common App will retain students’ responses to questions in ‘My Common Application’, including the personal essay, when the 2026-2027 application opens on August 1. Don’t wait until deadlines approach. Start exploring the Common App early to familiarise yourself with the platform, and plan ahead.
