<p>I am in a somewhat unusual position in which applying to more than 20 schools is actually a rational (if time consuming) strategy. As the Common App allows only 20, is it possible to create a second Common App to apply to the remaining schools?</p>
<p>No, it is not possible to:</p>
<p>1) create a second username for the common application
2) apply to more than 20 schools using the common application</p>
<p>There are tons of schools that accept an application method other than the Common Application, including some that also accept the Common Application. So, if you really feel you need to apply to that many schools, then use the 20 Common App spots on schools that only accept the Common App, and then apply to the others using other application methods.</p>
<p>Also, be aware that your strategy is quite costly. If you qualify for application fee waivers, there is usually a limit on how many fee waivers you have.</p>
<p>If you do not qualify for fee waivers, then realize you will be spending a lot of money. In addition to application fees, you also need to pay for your test scores to be sent. If you had more than one sitting of a test, or took both the SAT and the ACT, then scores from each test sitting have a charge. For example, if you have 3 sittings of the SAT to send to 25 schools, that would cost $787.50 alone.</p>
<p>If you are applying for Financial Aid and are required to send the CSS Profile, there is a fee for each school you send it to. </p>
<p>If you are filling out the FAFSA, good news: it’s free; bad news: you can only send it to 10 schools. To get around this, you have to submit it to 10, then delete those schools, then add 10 more, etc. If you have updates or changes to the FAFSA, you will need to repeat the process.</p>
<p>Also, if others are submitting letters of recommendation on your behalf, then instead of submitting them electronically through the Common App, you will need to provide postage-paid, pre-addressed envelopes.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the helpful, and thoughtful responses. It is clear that applying to more than 20 schools can be both costly and potentially unwieldly. Nonetheless, if, for a range of reasons, one wishes to do so, do the terms of the Common App actually prohibit the use of more than one? It doesn’t seem to state so anywhere. Also, what information, if any, is matched? If different addresses were used, would that be sufficient? Or is the Social Security number required and matched? Thanks.</p>
<p>In the Help section of the Common Application , in response to the statement:</p>
<p>I want to register for more than one account</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not sure how they restrict this - but I imagine the data you would enter on a second account would by necessity be very similar to the data you provided on the first account. There are certain fields which cannot be left blank, and I don’t think you could apply to schools without providing data that matches the transcripts and test scores you also provide.</p>
<p>Here is how the Common Application responds to the statement:</p>
<p>I would like to know the number limit of schools that can be added to the My Colleges list.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>When you submit the Common Application, you have to affirm the statement:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I would interpret this statement to include attempting to circumvent the application rules in order to apply to more schools than the Common Application permits.</p>