What the 2017-2018 Common App Changes Mean for You

Welcome back to Part 2 of our blog that highlights ten of the biggest changes to this year’s Common Application. In Part 1, we revealed tips on who exactly needs to complete the new Courses and Grades section of the application, and the dangers of using Google Drive when transferring your essays from Google Docs into the Common App. But now, let’s turn our attention to six additional Common App changes.

What the 2017-2018 Common App Changes Mean for You

The Common Application, which is accepted by nearly 730 colleges and universities across the country and around the world, underwent a bit of a makeover this summer. Students who created a Common App account prior to August 1 will notice several enhancements to the application as they navigate their way across the online platform over the next few months. Some of the changes are minor, perhaps better viewed as timesavers or user-experience upgrades than major developments. But some of the modifications are significant and provide students ever greater opportunities for self-expression and reflection. Below are our picks for the 10 biggest changes to the 2017-18 Common Application.

So, you find yourself applying to a school in the state of Texas. Whether you’re a resident of Texas or not, you can use the ApplyTexas application for any school on your list in the Lone Star State. Well, almost any school—Rice University prefers to march to the beat of other common platform drums.

If you’re thinking of using ApplyTexas, here are five tips to remember before you start your application:

Grades, SATs, extracurriculars, essays, recommendations…. When you think about all you have to do in order to get into college, it can start to make your head spin. What, though, is the most important factor in the college application?

Mastering the 2017-2018 Common App Essay

Don’t worry, juniors. No one is asking you to write your college application essays just yet. After all, you still need to focus on final exams (they’ll be here before you know it!), end of the year research papers, and everyone’s favorite standardized tests…the SAT or ACT. But sometime over the summer, when inspiration strikes you or (let’s face it) your parents have laid down an ultimatum, insisting you make serious progress on those essays “or else,” you will breathe a sigh of relief. Why? The good folks over at the Common Application have made some pretty terrific changes to the new essay prompts, all with the goal of making it that much easier for you to share your story with admissions readers.

When it comes to applying to college, there’s one online application that’s nearly synonymous with “college application.” That is, of course, the Common Application—a digital, one-size-fits-all document that allows high school seniors to submit their application to up to 20 colleges in one fell swoop. But in the spirit of Martin Luther King Day, we are delighted to turn our attention to another application that can make the college application process a little bit simpler and a whole lot less expensive: the Common Black College Application (CBCA).

The college application process can feel overwhelming. The key to taking control of the application process, however, is getting organized. In this installment of College Coach’s Insider Tips, college admissions expert, Kennon Dick, outlines the key steps to organizing your child’s application process, including knowing your timeline and creating a working to-do list for each college.

Update: Read the latest tips for the 2017-18 Common App.

While colleges pay very careful attention to the names, facts, and details contained within the six main pages of the Common Application, they are perhaps even more meticulous when reviewing students’ responses to their own school-specific supplements. And, unfortunately for applicants themselves, completing these supplements isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem. Looking for (potentially) concealed essay questions or curious about whether you should attach a résumé to your application? Review our tips below to uncover five important facts about Common App supplements.

Update: Read the latest tips for the 2017-18 Common App.

Welcome back to the second part of our series about tackling some of the Common Application’s trickiest questions. Last week we reviewed the Profile and Activities pages, where we provided must-know tips for making your activities list shine. If you have questions about whether or not you should self-report your SAT/ACT scores, or what you should include on the Additional Information section of the application, read on! Here are our top six suggestions for completing the Education, Testing, and Writing components of the Common App.

Update: Read the latest tips for the 2017-18 Common App.

It’s that time of the year again! High school seniors are trading sun tan lotion for history books; summer jobs for sports practice; and extra-long hours of sleeping in for extra early homerooms. But there’s one other major transition on the horizon for many high school seniors: college—and the college applications that go with it. Over the next three weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Common Application in order to bring you our best suggestions for creating standout applications. This week, we invite you to discover our top tips for filling out the Profile and Activities page of the Common App. Ready to get started?