Urgent Common App problem? Check here first

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>Tried to bump the thread below, but for some reason it wouldn't go back to the top. Here's some information on how you can answer your own questions FAST. Good luck with your applications!
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/common-application/622392-applying-students-how-you-can-get-answers-really-fast.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/common-application/622392-applying-students-how-you-can-get-answers-really-fast.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>PS: Here are some quick answers too.
1. School forms not in by the deadline? It's ok. Get them in as soon as possible. Make sure your application and supplement are submitted by the deadline.
2. Sure you paid, but payment has a red triangle? It's ok. Payments are processed offline. Give it up to 48 hours, then check again. See the FAQ pages in the link above if it still doesn't show your payment submitted.
3. Submitted your app a few minutes past the deadline? It's ok. If commonapp.org allowed you to submit, then you made it in. By the way, a deadline of 1/2 means 11:59pm EST on 1/2 -- and each college has defined its own "grace period" for slightly late apps.
4. App says "Downloaded" instead of "Submitted"? That just means the college has accessed your application and is in the process of reviewing your amazingness. Lucky you.
5. Stupid little triangles and squares got you freaked out? Don't worry; they're not reliable. The text tells the truth.
6. Applying EDII after an ED rejection or deferment and it won't let you? Here's how to do it. In Future Plans, specify RD. In the EDII college's supplement, specify EDII.
7. Not sure how to explain a special circumstance? Be honest and brief, and end on a positive note.
8. What to put in the Additional Information section? If you don't think you have anything to include there, leave it blank. That's ok to do. The Additional Information section is there as a catch-all for anything you have to tell the college that doesn't fit anywhere else.</p>

<p>That's all I can think of... if anyone has answers to add here, please keep it going. G'night. :)</p>

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<p>This is very helpful</p>

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<p>you've probably stopped about 50 'HELP ME URGENT!!!' threads by posting this one helpful thread, especially the info on those damn red triangles.</p>

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<p>great post. get this thread stickied.</p>

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<p>hmm...is #7 about me and my crazy postings about my special circumstances? lol</p>

<p>YOUR simply AWESOME!
you've helped me a lot!!!
thanks :D</p>

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<p>coffeelover -- no, #7 is a question I've seen a lot over the past couple of weeks. But you reminded me of it when you posted about the migraines. Thank YOU! :)</p>

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<p>oh haha, yeah i was just messing you. but it does relate to me, i've felt so bad for burdening you with all my questions about it. yet, on the other hand i've been really grateful!</p>

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<p>Thank you for a really informative post. =)
Waiting anxiously for my "submitted"s to turn into "downloaded"s.
how long is the wait time usually?</p>

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<p>Lausdeo, it depends on the college. Some of them seem to have a bot that downloads apps within seconds. Others have people who download apps during normal business hours. geek_son submitted on a Saturday morning; his app wasn't downloaded until the following Monday. So don't wait too anxiously. Enjoy the rest of your break instead. :)</p>

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<p>Great thread and super helpful. Thanks ^^</p>

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<p>1. School forms not in by the deadline? It's ok. Get them in as soon as possible. Make sure your application and supplement are submitted by the deadline.</p>

<p>2. Sure you paid, but payment has a red triangle? It's ok. Payments are processed offline. Give it up to 48 hours, then check again. See the FAQ pages in the link above if it still doesn't show your payment submitted.</p>

<p>3. Submitted your app a few minutes past the deadline? It's ok. If commonapp.org allowed you to submit, then you made it in. By the way, a deadline of 1/2 means 11:59pm EST on 1/2 -- and each college has defined its own "grace period" for slightly late apps.</p>

<p>4. App says "Downloaded" instead of "Submitted"? That just means the college has accessed your application and is in the process of reviewing your amazingness. Lucky you.</p>

<p>5. Stupid little triangles and squares got you freaked out? Don't worry; they're not reliable. The text tells the truth.</p>

<p>6. Applying EDII after an ED rejection or deferment and it won't let you? Here's how to do it. In Future Plans, specify RD. In the EDII college's supplement, specify EDII.</p>

<p>7. Not sure how to explain a special circumstance? Be honest and brief, and end on a positive note.</p>

<p>8. What to put in the Additional Information section? If you don't think you have anything to include there, leave it blank. That's ok to do. The Additional Information section is there as a catch-all for anything you have to tell the college that doesn't fit anywhere else.</p>

<p>9. Submitted on time, but now it shows Downloaded and a date that's past the deadline? See #4 above and relax: You're in.</p>

<p>10. Forgot to add something really important before you submitted? See this</a> post for how to send an update.</p>

<p>11. Screwed up and submitted the wrong essay or other information that absolutely must be corrected? Either follow the instructions in #10, or contact the college's Admission Office and ask how best to send a correction.</p>

<p>12. Want help with your essay? Please don't post it here. Read this thread first: How</a> to safely Use CC for Essay Advice Without Getting Ripped Off. Then visit the College</a> Essays forum to get started. Allow some time for people to respond!</p>

<p>13. Where are the Arts and Athletic Supplements? Or how to send them on paper? First, select the college you're applying to. Then, go to the Future Plans section. There is a completely separate Future Plans section for every college on your list, so you have to do this separately for each college. If the college in question accepts the Common App's Arts and/or Athletic Supplement, you will see questions here about your submission plans. Respond accordingly.</p>

<p>Question not answered above? It's probably answered on the Common App Web site, in one of these two places.
a. Common</a> App Support Center
b. Common</a> App School Forms Support Center</p>

<p>Absolutely certain you need help from someone with super powers? Submit</a> a ticket to the Common App tech support team -- they're really helpful and responsive, from most of the posts I've read about them. Use this as a last resort, though, to make sure they're able to stay helpful and responsive!</p>

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<p>1. School forms not in by the deadline? It's ok. Get them in as soon as possible. Make sure your application and supplement are submitted by the deadline.</p>

<p>*2. Sure you paid, but payment has a red triangle? * It's ok. Payments are processed offline. Give it up to 48 hours, then check again. See the FAQ pages in the link above if it still doesn't show your payment submitted.</p>

<p>*3. Submitted your app a few minutes past the deadline? * It's ok. If commonapp.org allowed you to submit, then you made it in. By the way, a deadline of 1/2 means 11:59pm EST on 1/2 -- and each college has defined its own "grace period" for slightly late apps.</p>

<p>4. App says "Downloaded" instead of "Submitted"? That just means the college has accessed your application and is in the process of reviewing your amazingness. Lucky you.</p>

<p>*5. Stupid little triangles and squares got you freaked out? * Don't worry; they're not reliable. The text tells the truth.</p>

<p>*6. Applying EDII after an ED rejection or deferment and it won't let you? * Here's how to do it. In Future Plans, specify RD. In the EDII college's supplement, specify EDII.</p>

<p>*7. Not sure how to explain a special circumstance? * Be honest and brief, and end on a positive note.</p>

<p>*8. What to put in the Additional Information section? * If you don't think you have anything to include there, leave it blank. That's ok to do. The Additional Information section is there as a catch-all for anything you have to tell the college that doesn't fit anywhere else.</p>

<p>*9. Submitted on time, but now it shows Downloaded and a date that's past the deadline? * See #4 above and relax: You're in.</p>

<p>*10. Forgot to add something really important before you submitted? * See this</a> post for how to send an update.</p>

<p>*11. Screwed up and submitted the wrong essay or other information that absolutely must be corrected? * Either follow the instructions in #10, or contact the college's Admission Office and ask how best to send a correction.</p>

<p>*12. Want help with your essay? * Please don't post it here. Read this thread first: How</a> to safely use CC for essay advice without getting ripped off!. Then visit the College</a> Essays forum to get started. Allow some time for people to respond!</p>

<p>*13. Where are the Arts and Athletic Supplements? Or how to send them on paper? * First, select the college you're applying to. Then, go to the Future Plans section. There is a completely separate Future Plans section for every college on your list, so you have to do this separately for each college. If the college in question accepts the Common App's Arts and/or Athletic Supplement, you will see questions here about your submission plans. Respond accordingly.</p>

<p>*14. Print preview doesn't look right; some stuff is missing or chopped off? * Not a problem. If it looks right on the Web form, it will look right to the college. See this</a> post for explanation.</p>

<p>*15. Teachers mailed their recs, but commonapp.org says the forms are incomplete? * Yeah, it'll do that. It'll do it forever if your teachers are identified as "online providers," which they are if you gave their email addresses. It won't affect your application, as long as the colleges actually receive the recs. If they don't receive the recs, they'll usually contact you within a week or two after the deadline to let you know your file is incomplete and ask you to resend the missing documents (and they'll even kindly let you know which ones are missing!).</p>

<p>Question not answered above? It's probably answered on the Common App Web site, in one of these two places.
a. Common</a> App Support Center
b. Common</a> App School Forms Support Center</p>

<p>Absolutely certain you need help from someone with super powers? Submit</a> a ticket to the Common App tech support team -- they're really helpful and responsive, from most of the posts I've read about them. Use this as a last resort, though, to make sure they're able to stay helpful and responsive!</p>

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<p>wow geek_mom... EXCELLENT information resource!</p>

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<p>Okay, commonapp was having problems last night as you may of heard..As a result my apps that were due 1/1 said they were submitted 1/2...but the commonapp said they were successfully submitted...Just to make sure, does this mean the university will accept them?</p>

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<p>@Doctor17: Yup.
(Edit/disclaimer: Of course I can't guarantee 100% what the university will do; however, if commonapp.org didn't bounce your submission and tell you the deadline had passed, then you've made it within that university's grace period.)</p>

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<p>Thank you!!!</p>

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<p>Thank you geek mom! Traversing this forum last night, I realized what an amazing person you are. Most of us are greatly indebted to you for your wise counsel and experience.
Thank you for helping all of us college applicants. =D</p>

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<p>Thank you geek_mom! Very informative! Good luck to all of us!</p>

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<p>Bump for new posters.</p>

<p>Thanks for the nice words, guys. And yes, good luck to all of you!</p>

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<p>Omg...I don't know why I swore I listed 7 activities. But how come only 3 ended up getting sent?! I freaked out and mailed them a letter with the 4 that disappeared. Will the university accept?</p>