Common App Advice: Never Do This

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
21

I just came across this: https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/3017/We-re-refreshing-the-Common-App-System-on-July-21

It sounds like you might be filling out an old application. The good news is most stuff rolls over into the new application (see: https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/2856/What-do-I-need-to-know-about-Account-Rollover)

But just thought I’d point that out-- be careful of losing stuff in the transition. (I don’t have a kid applying so I’m just going on info based on these two links)

22

@ClaremontMom Yeah, I learned my lesson. I saved everything into word documents on my computer

23

I would recommend creating a separate gmail for all your college stuff and writing ALL your guys’s essays in Google Docs!! Google Docs automatically saves every letter that’s typed! I am applying to 21 schools this fall/winter, and I created a separate doc for every school! It is much more organized and stress-free (well not really stress free xD)! Good Luck!

24

@DreamforIvy Dude, are you kidding me, 21 schools??!?? How do you even find that many schools you want to go to???

25

Here is another tip: Don’t wait until the last day to submit your apps – sometimes the Common App goes down on very busy days, or you might have a payment snafu. Shoot for submission at least a few days before the due date so you don’t have to panic if there is a problem.

26

@Magnamious Yes, 21 schools! I’m applying to that many because I want to keep my options open and some of the schools have automatically considered scholarships. So you never know what you might receive!

27

@intparent Good tip!

28

@DreamforIvy Doesn’t the Common App have a limit of 20 schools?

29

@HPhelpbot123 Yes, I am applying to 2 in-state schools and they don’t use the common app.

30

21 schools? Save your money @DreamforIvy and cut back on your list. You have WAY too many reaches and your ACT scores are going to hurt you. Taylor your apps to the schools you have a chance of getting into, or you could turn out like some of the other kids on CC who get shut out of every school except their local state school, where they could have focused on more reasonable top schools (ranking 25-50) and gotten in there.

  • I have taken the ACT 3 official times and one assessment.

Assessment Sophomore year: 24
1st Official w/ studying: 29
2nd Official w/ studying: 27
3rd Official w/o studying: 31
*

31

I’m wincing in sympathy so hard, that’s Rough. I recommend using something even more definite like Google Drive or another online service, that way even if you lose everything you have on your computer you’ll still have your essay online. Not to mention you can edit it wherever!