Getting started on the Common App and it's a bit overwhelming. Does anyone have a step-by-step guide or tips on how to fill everything out? Are there sections I should pay more attention to than others? Any help would be appreciated!
Absolutely, the Common App can seem like a beast, but once you break it down, it becomes much more manageable.
Start with the easy stuff—your personal details, high school information, and family background. That'll get you in the groove without too much stress.
Next, tackle your activities list. Be strategic here; list them in order of importance to you, and really flesh out your involvement and impact in the descriptions. Think of this as telling the story of your extracurricular journey, emphasizing leadership and initiative.
Now, for the education section, get a copy of your transcript to ensure accuracy. Make sure to input all the classes you've taken every year and indicate whether they were honors, AP, or IB classes.
When it comes to the testing section, enter your best scores if you have them, considering many schools are test-optional now.
The honors section is your chance to shine! Include any significant awards, ideally those that reflect national or state-level recognition. You only get to include 5, so make sure they are highly impressive or they relate to your interests/passions in some way.
Finally, pay special attention to your essays. The personal statement is where your personality needs to leap off the page. Start early, and seek feedback from trusted sources like parents, teachers, or counselors.
There's also the additional information section—use it wisely if you have circumstances or achievements that didn't fit elsewhere on the application. For example, if you had a medical condition that impacted your grades for a year or you went through a tough family matter during a semester, include that here.
Remember, each section is a puzzle piece that contributes to the full picture of who you are. Good luck, and take it one step at a time!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.