What is a Common Application?

Applying to College
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What is a Common Application?

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<p>iT iS sOmEtHiNg ThAt yOu UsE tO aPpLy To CoLlEgE bUt DoN't WoRrY cOlLeGe Is ObViOuSlY nOt FoR yOu</p>

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<p>Because of all of the variation in application formats, a group of colleges agreed to standardize their applications. Some colleges accept either the common application or their own application. Some colleges do not have a separate application but only use the common application. Some colleges accept the common application, but require that additional information be submitted, usually specific essays. Obviously the college that you are applying to has to be part of this group before it doesn't you any good.</p>

<p>Go to <a href="http://www.commonapp.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.commonapp.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

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<p>(godesiree, that was hilarious.)</p>

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<p>The site says:</p>

<p>"The new Common App Online, for Spring 2006, Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 admission, will be posted in early July."</p>

<p>However, I've heard that the common app doesn't change from year to year. So... would it be alright to start working on it in June?</p>

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<p>The application itself is dated but I don't think the essay questions change so you probably can work on them.</p>

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<p>FYI Variance, since you ask about UNC-CH a lot...Carolina doesn't take the Common App. But a lot of other schools do. :)</p>

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<p>do Duke and Elon take it?</p>

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<p>Dukes does take the Common App, Elon does not.</p>

<p>List of schools that currently take the common app
<a href="http://www.commonapp.org/commlist.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.commonapp.org/commlist.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Just a note, but there are also a handful of state schools that use their own common apps. I appiled to all of the UC's this past year, and only needed to use on app as well.</p>

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<p>so you only need to write 1 essay for many schools..
thats nice..</p>

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<p>Yup, I recycled the same essay for all 12 schools. The trick is to work really really hard on that one essay, equal to the input required of you in writing 12 (in my case) different essays. Works out beautifully!</p>

<p>TTG</p>

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<p>Some schools will take the common app, but require additional essays. At any rate, tailor the essay a little towards each school. Try to include something special about each school. For example, change the sentence about why you have always wanted to attend (blank) because of its excellent program in (blank) and the center for (blank) that is on campus.</p>

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<p>Actually, I DO think Elon takes the Common App, per their website. You might want to call/email admissions to make sure, though, because it's not on the official list of schools that take it.</p>

<p>From <a href="http://www.elon.edu/admissions/apply.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.elon.edu/admissions/apply.aspx&lt;/a> :</p>

<p>
[quote]
Elon also accepts the Common Application (paper format only) with no additional Elon-specific supplements required.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I didn't realize this until after I applied using Elon's application, though...but to be honest, their application didn't take very long.</p>