Ariadne College Advisors’ Complete Guide to Applying to College with the Common App

Both first-time college students and transfer students use the Common App to apply to multiple colleges at once, eliminating having to repeat multiple applications. While some colleges have application fees, the Common App is free to use—but it can seem daunting, particularly for students applying to college for the first time.

For more than 15 years, Ariadne College Advisors have supported more than 10,000 families in their college search journey, from identifying colleges to paying for college,and every step in between. Our knowledgeable advisors have deep experience with the Common App, so we decided to put together this comprehensive guide to walk through how to use the Common App for a student’s first college application process, setting you up for education success.

How do you start a Common App application?
Creating an account for the Common App is free and should take a few minutes.

1. Begin by choosing your student type. If your student has never applied to college before, choose “first year student,” even if they have credits from a dual high school-college enrollment process. The Common App can also be used for transfer students who have already attended one college after high school. 
2. Next, choose the email for your applications. We strongly recommend using a personal email rather than the one assigned by your student’s high school, as high school email addresses can sometimes filter out important information from the Common App or colleges. Make sure the email address is one you or the student check regularly, that you’ll both have access to after they graduate from high school, and that uses appropriate language.
3. Complete basic information about the student. The student will need to share their name, date of birth, home address, and phone number. Make sure they use their legal name—if your student goes by a nickname, for example, make sure use their full name so that colleges can match information about the student to transcripts and standardized tests.
4. Verify the account. After completing the profile, your student will receive an email asking them to verify their account. Once they add the verification code, the account is ready to use.

How do I find colleges and universities to apply to in the Common App?

More than 1,100 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and across the blog use the Common App. To begin the search or to identify the schools your student wants to apply to, a good place to start is the Common App’s college search feature. 

If you know the colleges you and your student want to select, you can choose them by name at the top. You can also filter your results and see them in a grid view, to learn quick information about each school, or the map view, to see where they are located.

You can filter colleges and universities in the Common App by:

You can click through results to each individual college and see information like:

• The college’s region and location
• Application requirements for first-year college applicants or transfer students
• Academic programs
• Student life and activities
• Social media accounts

Add the schools you choose to your My Colleges list using the “Add plus” button. This puts the colleges and universities you’ve chosen to look at or apply to on your Dashboard. You can add up to 20 colleges and universities and you can change them, although once your student has submitted an application to a college, they cannot remove it from your My Colleges list.

What do I need to know to help my student complete the Common App college application?
Once you and your student have gathered required materials, set up your student’s account, and chosen the schools to apply to, they can begin the application itself. Application requirements will vary by school, however, here are some common elements that many schools may ask for through the Common App.

Understand the requirements for each college or university
Every school using the Common App requires the My Common Application and the name of your counselor. But beyond that, every school has different requirements. They may include:

• Deadlines: Many schools have Early Decision and Early Action deadlines in November and December with regular applications due in January.
• Application Fees: Some schools charge application fees; others are free.
• Courses and Grades: Some schools may require certain courses from high school
• Test Policy: Some schools require standardized test results like the SAT or ACT. Some do not, and some make it optional. 
• Portfolio: Some schools will require a portfolio that showcases an applicant’s work, like a STEM portfolio or artwork. 
• Writing Supplements: Many schools ask applicants to answer school-specific questions or add a supplemental essay. 
• Recommendations: Many schools require letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, or peers, but the requirements and type of recommendations vary by institution.

How do I request recommendations?
Every college will require forms, such as a high school transcript or official school forms, and many will ask for letters of recommendation. Here is what you and your student need to know to collect that information.

• Understand the recommendation requirements. Revisit the Dashboard and click on the Application Requirements button. This will show which colleges require teacher evaluations, other evaluations, and counselor recommendations, as well as how many recommendations the applicant may need
• Add recommenders or collaborators. Go to the My Colleges tab, then individually add teachers and other recommenders within each college. Start by choosing one of the colleges the student plans to apply to, and click on Recommenders and FERPA. You and the student will also need to complete the FERPA Release Authorization before you can add recommenders.
• Add your student’s counselor. Your student’s counselor will offer feedback through the context of the entire class—for example, class rank. They also submit the School Report and transcripts. The college applicant will only need to add one counselor, and only one time.

If the student plans to apply for Early Decision, parents will need to fill out a form as part of the college’s Early Decision agreement.

How to Invite, Assign, and Track Recommenders
When applicants are ready to ask for recommendations, use these tips. Coach your student to give recommenders enough time to reflect and write a strong recommendation for—don’t wait until it’s close to the application deadline

• Find out the recommendation requirements for each college—some may require a certain number of recommendations or some not at all. Some might allow applicants to only use one teacher, while another might require two teacher recommendations. Understand the requirements so you can make sure you cover all of your recommendation requirements.
• Begin in the dashboard with My Colleges and choose Recommenders and FERPA
• Use the Invite button from each section to invite recommenders or use the Invite Recommenders button at the top of your dashboard.
• Select the type of invitation to send. You will need the name and email address for each recommender your student invites.
• After adding the recommender, you can view their information using the Manage Recommenders button
• Teachers, parents, and other recommenders, like a coach or peer, won’t get an email invitation from you until you assign them to a college.

How can I prepare my student for the Writing section of the Common App?

The Writing section of the Common App is one that causes a lot of stress for students applying to college. But with good preparation, you and your student can minimize stressing out about the writing component. 

Encourage them to start the essay prompts early, allowing ample time for revisions. Remind them to let their authentic voice shine through and share personal stories that demonstrate their character and values.

The Writing section varies by college but often includes three parts: the Common App Essay, Questions, and Writing Supplements. Let’s break down each one. 

The Common App essay prompts

Colleges can choose whether they require the Common App Personal Essay. Applicants will see a table informing them of whether their school requires it. To prepare for this, the Common App publishes a list of essay prompts for each academic year, including the 2026-2027 academic year. 

 

College-specific questions

Many colleges have questions they ask that are specific to their school. Students can prepare for this by reviewing the school-specific questions for each institution in the Common App. 

Examples of these questions from the 2025-2026 academic year included:

• University of Wisconsin–Madision: Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. 
• Northwestern University: What aspects of your background (your identity, your school setting, your community, your household, etc.) have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise? 
• Agnes Scott College: Describe a quality of leadership that you have learned in high school and how you wish to apply that quality in the future. 
• Santa Clara University: Think about an ethical dilemma that you care about that our society is currently facing. This can be something happening in your local community or more globally. How can an SCU education help you prepare for and address this challenge? 

Writing supplements 

Again, not every college requires additional writing supplements, and some colleges require them based on answers to other questions. But for many colleges, additional writing supplements are standard. Review the school-specific writing requirements at on the Common App, or check the requirements for specific schools in the My Colleges section of the dashboard. 

Here are some examples from the 2025-2026 academic year from schools that required Writing Supplements: 

• Cornell University: We all contribute to, and are influenced by, the communities that are meaningful to us. Share how you’ve been shaped by one of the communities you belong to. Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. This community example can be drawn from your family, school, workplace, activities or interests, or any other group you belong to.
• Rice University: Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you?
• Brown University: What three words best describe you? (3 word limit)

How do I help my student finish and submit the Common App college application?

Finishing the Common App application is as easy as 1-2-3: 

1. 1. Review the application: Thoroughly review the entire application for accuracy and completeness. Double-check that all essay prompts are adequately addressed and that there are no errors in the form. Applicants do not have to wait until completing every application nor do they need to wait until their counselor or recommenders have completed their portion. When you and your student complete an application and feel confident that together, you have put together the best application possible, it’s time to hit submit.
   2. Pay application fees. While the Common App is free, not every school application is. The application grid from the dashboard can give you a quick overview of the total cost of your student’s college applications. If needed, discuss potential fee waivers or alternative financial options with your student’s school counselor.

• Submit the application. This is it: everything you and your student worked for! Double-check deadlines, do a final review, make sure your payments went through, then hit submit. You and your student have applied for college through the Common App! 

What happens after my student submits their Common App college applications? 

After submission, your student can track the status of their application through the dashboard. The Common App dashboard gives a nice overview of requirements but students should also have their own way of keeping track of deadlines and next steps as they may be submitting applications that are not on the Common App. 

Most colleges will send students an email once they’ve received the application to create an account through the college. Keep an eye on deadlines and make sure supplementary materials, like test scores and transcripts, are sent to colleges on time.

It may take several business days for all application components to be recognized in the college portal, so don’t panic! Pay attention in your portal to any additional requirements such as other essays, scholarship deadlines, and so on. 

How do I prepare for what comes after the Common App application? 

The Common App can seem overwhelming at first, but with this step-by-step guide, you and your college-bound student can confidently navigate the process together. Parents, encourage your student to take the reins while offering guidance and support when needed. Remember, the college application journey is not just about reaching the destination but also about the growth and self-discovery that comes along the way. Embrace this exciting time and celebrate each milestone achieved. With determination and preparation, your student will be well on their way to making their college dreams a reality.

 

Sources: Common App, College Board, Big Future, The Princeton Review, U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, California College of Art