The college application process can be quite a tasking job for both students and parents. From researching an undergraduate course offered by a university to figuring out scholarships and covering educational expenses to finding out about accommodation, writing SOP, Essay, and LOR, to getting proper documentation ready, the application process for applying to a university in America is no cakewalk. It requires a lot of time and effort. Coming up with a well-written SOP and a LOR can be done with the help of professional SOP writers providing SOP and LOR writing services.
Tired of having to go through the monotonous process of reviewing every college application, a small group of private schools and colleges joined hands to come up with a common, standardized application that could be sent to multiple colleges. Launched in 1975, the Common Application was paper-based for 30 years. In 2007, it was available online.
The study abroad consultants can assist you with the admission process if you wish to study in the USA. You can also check out the Common App, which makes it easier for students to apply to colleges. It helps first-time and transfer students to apply to multiple universities all at once. So, you no longer need to worry about filling in the same details all over again. The Common Application is accepted by more than 1000 education institutions in the US, which streamlines the college application process.
Also, applying to various colleges can be an expensive process. Through the common application, students get a Fee Waiver option. This allows students from low-income backgrounds to apply to universities on their wishlist.
Through this blog, you will get to know how the Common Application makes it easier for you to study in the USA, by applying to a course and a university of your choice.
Application Procedure of the Common App
While technology has made it easier for students to apply to a university of their choice by being at their homes, it can yet be quite a daunting task for someone who is not tech-friendly. However, the Common App has a very easy process that doesn’t require much technical know-how. All you need is your personal, educational, and professional details, important documents, an electronic device, and a stable internet connection and you are good to go.
While the Common App also has guidelines mentioned for you to apply to a university in America, we have also provided information about the steps involved while applying for a university for a bachelor course in the US for your benefit.
Step 1- Creating an Account
Create your Common App account. It is available on both Android and iOS devices. Even if you don’t intend to start right away with your college application, you can still make an account. You can answer questions on the Common App tab and fill out the list of colleges you wish to apply for, later on.
While creating your account, choose your student type.
- Choose ‘first-year student’, if you haven’t yet attended college.
- Even if you have college credits from dual enrollment high school courses, still select ‘first-year student’.
- Choose ‘transfer student’, if you have already attended one or more colleges after graduating from high school.
When it comes to your login credentials, colleges may wish to get in touch with you. So give your email ID only. Make sure you mention your email ID properly and check regularly for any updates from the university you have applied to.
You need to complete your registration process by filling out your basic information like name, date of birth, residential address, and contact number. Ensure that you have mentioned the name that is written in your legal documents like your birth certificate, ID proof, official school records, and marksheets.
Then, select “Create account” and you are ready to go further.
Step 2- Gather Materials
To be able to fill in the necessary details required for a college application, you need to start first by gathering all the important information. So, get hold of your high school transcripts containing your scores and grades. If you have had any achievements in academia and extra-curricular activities, do include that as well.
Then, make a list of all your interests, skills, and hobbies. This will help the admissions committee know about how you are as a person outside the classroom. You need to give details about how if you were a part of any club or a community, what were your contributions.
You need to fill in your obtained scores in some of the standardized tests like SAT, ACT, and English proficiency exams, required by the university you wish to study in the USA. This helps in assessing your reasoning, thinking, analytical skills, and language competency.
After this, you need to provide information about your family, parents, their occupation, employment status, and education level. If you have had any family responsibilities, do include that. Remember, it’s all about being distinct from the rest of the crowd. So provide all the information that brings out the best picture of you.
Step 3- Adding Colleges
Once you have made your Common App account, you need to start with your list of colleges that you want to apply for. Look for the universities that are a part of the Common App, then add the colleges to the list. You can only add up to 20 colleges/schools.
After having completed your list of colleges, you can find them mentioned on your Dashboard and in your ‘My Colleges’ tab. You can edit your list of colleges at any time. However, once submitted you can no longer remove those universities from your ‘My Colleges’ list.
Step 4- Involving Supporters
Every college application requires you to furnish letters of recommendation (LOR). For this, you need to be in touch with your teachers, coaches, counselors, and advisors. A LOR is an essential aspect of your application process as it acts as proof of your behavior and your credibility as a student. So, you need to be able to come up with a good LOR for which you can seek help from study abroad consultants who provide SOP and LOR writing services.
Step 5- Knowing the Key Requirements
There are some basic questions that all universities will ask. Beyond that, their application prerequisites might slightly vary. Each college might have certain specific requirements when it comes to:
- Deadlines
- Application Fees
- Personal Essay
- Courses and Grades
- Test Policy
- Portfolio
- Writing Supplements
- Recommendations
Also while going through a college, the ‘Explore Colleges’ section allows you to get more details like application information, faculty, college campus, scheduling visits, etc. In the ‘My Colleges’ or ‘College Search’ tab, you can find out more about what the university wants from you in your application.
Step 6- Writing an Essay
Preparing a well-written essay indeed is a task that requires you to put in a lot of thought, time, and effort. It forms a crucial part of your college application procedure. In the app, you might find that certain colleges may ask you to give short answers to their questions, and there might be certain essay prompts available.
There might also be some universities that may want you to provide writing supplements like an additional essay or a writing sample. This is asked by a university only based on the type of essay or answers you have provided. So, you have to be very careful with what you write in your essay. On the Dashboard or ‘My Colleges’ tab, you can look for more information about the writing supplements, tests, deadlines, etc.
Step 7- Tracking your Application Status
A green check on your Dashboard indicates that you have submitted to a particular university. A yellow circle means your application is under process. A red dash means that a specific portion is not required for seeking admission to a particular college. Track your application status daily.
Step 8- Submitting your Application
Ensure that you review and go through every detail that you have provided. Then pay the application fees (if applicable) and submit your application on the College App.
Conclusion
With the advent of technology and high-speed internet, we see how applying to college has become easier. All you have to do is research your choice of course and university. The process of applying to a college no longer needs you to fill in the same details again and again or for you to go to a particular place. You can apply to a college from being at home, through the help of the Common App. It has made the application process so much easier as all the information you need regarding your university for pursuing a bachelor’s in the US is available in one place. This saves you a lot of time and effort and gives you more time to plan out your SOP, essay, and LOR, and for you to gather sufficient funds and proper documentation for your college application.
The Common App has not only streamlined the application process but has helped even students from a not-so-sound economic background to choose colleges as per their interests as the app provides a fee waiver for college applications. This way, it has ensured that it’s accessible and affordable for all.
Like any other college application, even in the College App a student is required to write an SOP, LOR, and an essay. These documents form a key aspect of your wish to study in the USA. You have to write your SOP, LOR, and essay coherently based on what the university requires you to ask. So, put your best foot forward and impress the admission authorities. To come up with a well-written SOP, LOR, and essay you can reach out to Contentholic’s team of one of the best SOP writers in India who deal with various SOP and LOR writing services.
