by Elyse Krantz, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Your love of playing cello…

Your fascination with mountain biking…

Your desire to speak out against prejudice…

Your journey to become student body president…

A strong Common App essay can be written on virtually any topic.

Many of the most selective colleges in the country rely on alumni interviewers to get some additional perspective on applicants. We’re excited to welcome one of our regular listeners, who also happens to be an alumni interviewer for her alma mater, to the show to offer some perspective on how the process works and tips for interviewees. We’ll also discuss FERPA, including what it is and how it impacts students and families. And finally, in Office Hours we’ve got insight on how to maximize the Common App activities section.

It’s sleek. It’s modern. It has a snazzy new blue and white color scheme. But there’s so much more to love about the 2019-20 Common App. Below are some of our favorite Common App elements that have students everywhere shouting from the rooftops, “This is why applying to college can be fun!”

The Common App is here! As of August 1, this year’s Common Application is available to all applicants. If you have not yet created your Common App account, follow steps 1-7 below. If you created a Common App account prior to August 1, steps 8-10 are for you! Either way, take a few moments to bookmark this site. You’re going to be using it a lot over the next few months.

Don’t expect to get much work done on your Common Application on the last four days of July. Between July 28 and 31, the Common App website will be unavailable to students as it undergoes its annual makeover. The big reveal is slated for August 1 – although commonapp.org will likely be up and running in the wee hours of July 31. In previous years, Common App updates have included new essay prompts, the addition of a Courses & Grades section, and clarifying language around applicants’ sex and gender. While no major revelations are expected in the revamped 2019-20 Common App, we do anticipate the following six changes.

Last month we reviewed how to complete the first three pages of your Common Application. Today we’re taking a deep dive into the four remaining sections of the Common App: the testing, activities, writing, and (relatively new) courses & grades pages. Unlike the first part of the Common App, these pages require a significant amount of writing and allow you to share more of your personal story with admissions officers. Keep reading to discover how to make a positive impression on your Common App!

How to Complete the Profile, Family, and Education Pages of your 2018-19 Common Application

If you recently created your Common App account and aren’t quite sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place! Here we’ve outlined the most important components of your Common Application, beginning with the Profile, Family, and Education pages. There’s nothing we love more than dissecting everyone’s favorite college application. Are you ready to discover some valuable Common App tips? Let’s go!

How to Create Your 2018-19 Common Application Account

From essays and interviews to campus tours and costly fees, there are dozens of steps to applying to college. But creating your Common App is one of the easiest and, if approached in the right mindset, also one of the most empowering. Once you’ve set up your Common App account, you are no longer just a prospective student, but are well on your way to becoming a genuine college applicant!

The Common Application opened up for the new school year on August 1, so, rising high school seniors, you can apply for college.

Right.

Now.

On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Elizabeth Heaton discusses this year’s changes to the Common Application, institutional variance in financial aid awards, and accelerated degree programs.