Hello! Can anyone explain to me how the common app works? I’m very confused!
Not all colleges use the common app – in fact, most state universities do not. You can find out who does here: https://www.commonapp.org/Login
The way it works is you enter your credentials and essays in there once, and all the participating colleges you choose to apply to can access that same info, so you don’t have to enter it more than once, except for the places you are applying that don’t accept the common app. By credentials, that includes grades – picture entering all your subjects and grades freshman year onward for every university you apply to – plus all your awards, test scores, etc. You also enter teacher and counselor names for references. And of course pay application fees. If you’re applying to places accepting the common app, you do all this once. Otherwise, you do it again for each university.
As for the essay part, it often doesn’t always save much time using the common app, because a lot of the colleges using still require additional essays and short answer questions. Some of these universities make you go to their website to see what the additional essay question is, and submit it entirely separate from the common app, but most will let you complete the additional essays within the common app website. You will see those requirements within the common app website when you select that particular university. In fact, some people will choose not to apply to a place solely to avoid having to write five additional essays, or get an additional recommendation or whatever.
Since pretty much all universities have their applications online, the actual process of entering info into the common app form online is not much different than with other applications. But some people, to avoid filling out lots of applications, theoretically may just want to apply to universities accepting the common app, and not requiring additional essays, and then they can tackle their applications all at once.
Thank you so much @mommyrocks ! You are awesome!
I’m sorry to bother you again … But when is a good time to start the application process?
August 1st. 
Can you save the information you entered and work on it later with common app?
Thank you so so so much!
@herewelearn Yes, after August 1st. Before that, what you enter will be deleted.
The website says all current information will be deleted July 23. Does this mean I should not create an account until after July 23 @bodangles ?
Correct! Personally I would wait until the 1st, because that’s when they say the new app “goes live,” but any time after the site purge should probably be okay.
Thanks you so much @bodangles ! You guys are all awesome for helping me. This whole process seems very confusing and I am not even 100% sure what I am supposed to do or when I have to do what, so I get anxious.
On August 1st you can create a free account at commonapp.org. Yes, you can “save your work” in the common app and come back later.