Ready to tackle those college applications? The Common Application (Common App) is a student’s secret weapon for streamlining the process. From the general info section to activities and the all-important personal statement, we got the inside scoop from GARRETT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING on how to ace each step. Say goodbye to application overwhelm and hello to college success!
Getting Started
The first step of the process is providing all the general information about you, your high school, and your parents and their educational backgrounds and employment information. There is a good amount of information to collect and have on hand when you are getting started on the Common App journey.
Pay attention to the following tips:
- When you first set up your account, make sure to note the username and password you select (hint – write it down 🤓).
- It is best to use a non-school email address for The Common App – ultimately, the school you decide to attend will send emails to this address in the spring and over the summer, and some high schools may shut down your email account after graduation.
- Make sure to select an email address that YOU CHECK REGULARLY; you will be receiving emails from the schools you apply to, giving you the next steps, alerting you to missing information, and letting you know when admissions decisions are in.
- Collect all of your information beforehand so that you have a guideline to refer to when filling out the application online. Check out the GEC Common App – Gathering Your Materials Worksheet; it provides you with a way to organize your data before you get started.
- Be meticulous: Double-check every detail, from your name and contact information to your high school and graduation date. This includes the capitalization of proper nouns (hint, hint – your name 😉). Accuracy is key.
Academic Honors and Activities
It’s time to strut your stuff! These sections let you showcase your extracurricular prowess and the honors that you have received. Now is not the time to be shy; you want to brag about yourself and leave colleges thinking, “Wow, this student’s got it all!”
- Brainstorm ahead of time – write down everything that you can think of that you did during high school, honors you were awarded, leadership positions held, etc. Make sure to include hobbies, jobs you have created for yourself (like babysitting), and things you have done for personal enrichment outside of academics. Just do an initial brain dump and get it all on paper. Hint to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors – take time after each school year to do this brain dump for the year you just finished; it will make it much easier when you get to your senior year.
- Ultimately you can include up to 5 Academic Honors and up to 10 Activities on your Common App. Look through your list and be selective: Include activities that truly matter to you and demonstrate your commitment and growth.
- The Art of the One-Liner: A one-liner (ok, sometimes it is 2 or 3 lines, but it is called the “one-liner”) is a brief statement that describes a skill or activity that you have already done that plants the seed for how this might benefit someone in the future. This is how you will demonstrate your skills and abilities to an admissions officer, so it is important to be impactful.
- Start with an Action, End with a Result – how do you write a good one-liner? Demonstrate your skills by showing what experiences and achievements you have. Put action words at the beginning or close to the beginning of the one-liner (check out this Action Words resource). Whenever possible, mention the provable, specific, successful results that might interest the person reading your application.
The Common App Essay
Picture this: you, a captivating storyteller. Your personal statement is the spotlight moment of your application. You want to craft a compelling narrative that leaves admissions officers begging for more. Get ready to take them on a rollercoaster ride through your unique journey!
- Start Early: Give yourself ample time to brainstorm, draft, revise, and polish your essay. Procrastination won’t do justice to your story, and a good essay is hardly ever written in 1 draft.
- Be authentic: Share a genuine and personal narrative that reflects your values, experiences, and aspirations. Be true to yourself, and let your voice shine.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of listing achievements, focus on sharing meaningful anecdotes that illustrate your growth, resilience, and character. Paint a vivid picture of who you are.
- The Three Parts: Your essay should break down into three parts:
- The Story – The scene that sets the stage for your message and the hook that makes the reader want to know more. You want to catch the attention of the admissions office early and have them saying, “I want to know more about this kid.” Many students will start off their essays repeating the writing prompt, “The way I overcame adversity in my life was….” DON’T DO IT! Use storytelling instead; it is a much better essay for the admissions officer to read.
- Your Message – What do you want the admissions rep to know about you that they might not glean from your transcript and test scores? It could be a personality trait, a mistake and lesson learned, a hope for the future; there are many options here!
- The So What? – Why does the school care to know this about you? What impact will this have on campus? How are YOU better for this? This is where you make them want you because of who you are!
- Language and Details: Write creatively, use quotes and vivid language, and the always important, PROOFREAD AND SPELL CHECK before you turn it in!
- Words of Wisdom – Don’t use ChatGPT to write your essay. This is being talked about a lot in college admissions offices, so while you think it might be a shortcut in the long run, it isn’t worth the risk to your school admissions status. Finally, be careful of how many people you ask to review and comment on your essays; sometimes, there are too many cooks in the kitchen, and it can cause your personal statement to lose your authentic voice.
Completing the Common Application may seem daunting, but with these tips in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle each section with confidence. Remember to showcase your unique qualities, be authentic in your personal statement, and allow your passion and commitment to shine through. The Common Application is your opportunity to present a holistic picture of yourself to colleges, so make every word count.
Seniors – looking for guidance with the Common App? Check out the GEC Common App 360 Bootcamps being held in August. Get a jump start on your applications before you head back to school! Dates, pricing, and details are available HERE.
Garrett Educational Consulting
Garrett Educational Consulting provides comprehensive application support to students going through the college admissions and boarding school admission process. Learn more about their services by clicking HERE.
425-A S. Sharon Amity Road | Charlotte, NC 28211
980.677.0311
info@garretteducationalconsulting.com
