Common app help

<p>So I just made my account for the common app but I have no idea what to do with it and how to use it. Please help. </p>

<p>Is the common app topics released yet and if so what do I do to get started.</p>

<p>Also for some schools that common app does not include do i have to go to the schools website to submit my essays. Please help I want to know everything</p>

<p>jk–</p>

<p>Second item first: if a college does not use the Common App you will need to visit the “Admissions” section of that college’s Website to find out what you have to do. Chances are the college will have its own on-line application. Also, instead of or in addition to on-line, it might have a paper application which you can download, print, fill-out, and mail-in.</p>

<p>Regarding the Common App (CA): do you know the schools to which you want to apply? If so, the first place you should visit on the CA is the “College Search” tab and find the schools you wish to target by performing a search, checking the schools you want on the list that comes up, and clicking on “Add”. Find at least one start with (you can add more or delete others at any time later).</p>

<p>Once you have added some schools you should be able to find them in the “Dashboard” tab. (This is where you will track the progress of your applications for each school. Some of your schools might require additional application material called “supplements”. You’ll find those here, too.) But don’t worry about that now.</p>

<p>Go to the “Common App” tab and start filling out information as requested. Simply click on the leftside menu to see each form and click “Continue” to advance through the form.</p>

<p>The essay questions are available in the “Writing” menu item. You can look at them there.</p>

<p>Is that enough for now?</p>

<p>QUESTION:::
“Please provide an answer below if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application.”
What kinds of things should be mentioned here? Is it like a mini essay, or more like a little resume that lists accompliments?</p>

<p>Not a resume: your activities and accomplishments should be captured in other parts of the application. Nor is it a request for an additional essay. It is fairly likely that you do not have need to fill in anything here and your application will be fine if you leave it blank.</p>

<p>The prompt is deliberately generic to allow for anything you might think should be relevant to assessing your application but is not otherwise captured by the application. These might include:
– Family, financial, or health issues that might have affected your life and academic performance. You might have dealt with these in your essay, but then again you might not have. (You will probably want to coordinate your reporting of this with the person who will be filling out your counselor recommendation.)
– Additional explanation of coursework or activities (Why a course is listed twice, or why is one year of a math or language sequence missing?)
– Significant research or other publications you have that you did not have room to cite elsewhere in the application
– Additional AP/IB/other tests you have taken or plan to take that exceed the 10 for which space is provided in the test section (this is what you are directed to do by the application).</p>

<p>Very helpful, Descartesz. Thanks so much.</p>