<p>According to an article published on schools.com, counting on the Common App is a mistake students often make.</p>
<p>"The "Common App" lets you apply to multiple schools with the click of a mouse. Most colleges require additional materials. The mistake students make, explains Deborah Stieffel, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Susquehanna University, is "not realizing that every school is different. Just because you fill out a Common Application doesn't mean that one size fits all." Avoid stumbling here by visiting the websites of each college at which you plan to apply and submitting supplemental materials on time."</p>
<p>Could anyone give me some examples(other than optional interviews) of such "supplemental materials" which have to be completed before the regular January 1 deadline?</p>
<p>You have to provide teacher recommendations at many schools, transcripts and test scores for all schools, counselor recommendations for most schools, other recommendations at a few schools, and quite a lot of schools allow for optional submissions of art, music, writing, video or research supplements. Also, at schools where the student’s level of interest is considered, it helps to make a campus visit or demonstrate interest in another way outside the application process.</p>
<p>Thank you. Well, I knew about stuff like teacher recommendations and optional supplements, but aren’t they already on Common App so I can send them from there when I apply? Also, I knew about transcripts & test scores, but can there be a special deadline for sending them? On college websites I’ve checked, I’ve found only that you have to finish your SAT’s by December, which I’ll certainly do.</p>
<p>I’m an international student and campus visit is impossible for me. Can you think of other ways I could show interest? Also, since my school doesn’t have a counselor, am I allowed to use the recommendation of my school principal or my class master instead of it?</p>
<p>My recommendation is to make sure that for each of your supplemental applications (when they have short answer questions and/or essays), your answers are reflective of THAT college, and that your answers don’t instead feel like a “cut and paste” from a prior app. Also, contact your geographic admissions rep for each college with any question or just a hello – don’t be a “out of the blue” app at deadline time.</p>
<p>We discovered crucial filing dates from some colleges that weren’t included ont he common app. For example, for certain merit scholarships, schools can actually set much earlier due dates even if it’s still considered regular decision. </p>
<p>There are some schools who only give the option of two teacher recommendations on the common app but will actually take an outside school recommendation and encourage one if you want to be considered for scholarships. However, you have to have these sent in separately.</p>
<p>“We discovered crucial filing dates from some colleges that weren’t included ont he common app. For example, for certain merit scholarships, schools can actually set much earlier due dates even if it’s still considered regular decision.”</p>
<p>Oh, that doesn’t sound too good, as I need a consistent amount of aid. Could you provide me with more details i.e mention which top universities and liberal arts colleges employ such policies?</p>
<p>I think you are reading too much into that comment. What the guy is saying is: (1) don’t miss getting the supplemental information requested as part of the school supplement in; (2) if there is something specific to that school that makes it special for you, be sure you let them know if you have to send something that is not covered in the common app; (3) proofread your supplement so your “Why College X” supplement doesn’t accidentally tell them how much you love College Y. He does not mean not to use the Common App.</p>
<p>Regarding scholarship dates, look at each college financial aid website to see if they have information on scholarships and application information for them. They may mention dates for applications or additional materials there. The Common App will not show that information most of the time.</p>
<p>Thanks, but I actually never construed that comment as an advice to steer clear of Common App. I just wondered what are the materials not covered in Common App that I’m supposed to send before the regular deadline. Anyway (2) is great advice.</p>
<p>I visited some college sites and found that the colleges I’m most interested in either don’t offer merit aid at all, or assert that all applicants for aid will also be automatically considered for merit scholarships. But I still need more info about the merit scholarships, just to be sure if there are some other scholarships I’m not aware of.</p>
<p>The person in the interview was referring to the “supplements”, which some students forget to do or do late, when they realize the “general” commonapp isn’t sufficient.</p>
<p>To show interest, you can email the person in charge of international admission and ask questions (as you would if you were on tour - so, obviously, no questions for which answeres are already provided on the website).You can also ask to be put in touch with a current student in the major you’re thinking of, and/or email a professor in your specialty or the Dept Chair to ask questions that show your interest in their program and in learning from them.</p>
I just wondered what are the materials not covered in Common App that I’m supposed to send before the regular deadline. Anyway (2) is great advice.</p>