The Common Application is perhaps one of the most useful tools in applying to educational institutions in the 21st century. Membership is open to any student who wishes to apply to any of the 450 member colleges and universities.
By utilizing the Common Application students can reduce the time it takes to apply to multiple colleges which will enable them to spend their valuable time preparing better for college. They can spend more time composing thoughtful admission/personal essays and seek out scholarship opportunities, as well as apply for financial aid.
The Common Application is generalized and covers all the necessary information for applying to the college of your choice. Students sometimes wonder if it is necessary to send along a resume with their college application. With the common Application an extracurricular section is provided for activities/community service, hobbies, and work experience so it is not necessary to include a resume. There are also supplements to the Common Application which are specific to each college a student applies to. These supplements give additional information to the college about who you are, why you chose the school, and what you can contribute to the school's community.
The supplements to each individual college require personal essays which are the most challenging type of paper for a student to write. Understandably, some students feel uncomfortable about writing a required 250-500 word essay about themselves or a topic that invokes passion in them. Students should understand the importance of these essays and that they are an essential part of the application process. These essays provide a clear picture as to how well you can organize your thoughts, express yourself, and communicate. Certainly, it will be better to write about a topic that you are familiar with but many schools provide suggestions for the applicant. Typically, colleges release their individual supplements in the summer for fall enrollment.
If you are looking to save time and your hand from a lot of writing, the Common Application is the one for you. Applying to many colleges at the same time with one application will allow you to concentrate on all the other important things you have to do when you are getting ready to go to college.
