Between letters of recommendation, transcripts, financial aid and essays, college applications can be a stressful and confusing time for juniors and seniors. 
One stressor seniors and juniors might experience when beginning the process of applying to college is choosing the right platform to submit an application on.
Common App, Coalition App and Questbridge are just a few of many application platforms that can be used to submit an application. While all of these platforms are widely accepted and have their own benefits, according to Best Colleges, Common App is the most frequently used one.
“The Common App is great because it’s one (used) for thousands of schools, but it’s very comprehensive,” counselor Patrick Clark said.
Though navigating Common App can be a daunting task for many, it is actually a quite simple process. Here is a guide on how to master the basics of Common App.
Common Application
When using the Common App, students should expect to fill out two different applications. The first application is called the Common Application, which will be submitted to every college that is in one’s college list. The second application is a College/University Application, which will only be sent to a specific college.
The Common Application consists of seven sections: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing and Courses & Grades.
Since this application will be submitted to every college that one applies to, the process may take a while. But it allows for one to submit applications to multiple schools.
“That’s the big benefit, is that it’s a lengthier application. But once you get it done, it’s done,” Clark said.
While this application is submitted to every university in one’s college list, some colleges may not require every section of the application to be filled out. For example, Butler University does not require the Courses & Grades section to be submitted in one’s application.
College/University Applications
As mentioned before, students should expect to fill out a College/University Application in addition to the Common Application. This application is specific to the college one is applying to.
Students may have to fill out many College/University Applications depending on how big their college list is.
Often, in this application, the college will ask questions about what major one intends to pursue at that college, what application deadline (early or regular) one wants to be considered for and if one will be applying for financial aid.
Furthermore, the college may ask one to submit letters of recommendation from their teachers and transcripts from a counselor. Students can request letters and transcripts through Naviance.
“Once you (set up) your Common App, you’re going to match your Common App and your Naviance account, and then everything will still run through Common App for you but Naviance for the school,” Clark said.
Finally, a college may ask a student to write an additional essay or answer a few short-response questions.
After this application and the Common Application have been completed, students can submit their final completed application to the college.
While applying to college can be difficult, using platforms, such as Common App, can make the process easier.
Senior Sofie Selgado-Gonzalez recommends that students use Common App because of how direct the process is.
“I think the process is very straightforward and efficient, so yeah,” Delgado-Gonzalez said.
However, if one is not interested in using Common App or other similar platforms to apply to college, they can always apply directly through a university’s website.
For senior Bawi Tha Lang, applying directly through University websites was the best option because of its affordability and efficiency.
“…I realized the application process through the websites was much more quicker than Common App (because) going through all that (for) just applying to five or six different colleges,” Lang said. “It was much more quicker to just go through the websites and just into like a couple of questions that, you know, are quick and easy.”
No matter what application platform one chooses, it’s important that they put effort and determination into each of their applications. While there could be uncertainty while filling out an application, one can always talk to a counselor or trusted adult for help.
