Introduction
The Common Application began in 1975, it is a nonprofit membership college application, representing about a thousand higher institutions of education. Instead of applying for individual registration in every school, most applicants go for the common application once and send it to any of their preferred schools. Most of the colleges then review and accept this application from outstanding students. Let’s talk whether all colleges use and accept the common application.
Do All Colleges Use And Accept The Common Application?
No, not all colleges use and accept the common application, but some colleges accept it.
The common application gives colleges that employ a good review process, hence, they look at each candidate, considering their grades, essays, SAT/ACT grades, recommendation letter, and other things.
Furthermore, over 54 universities from 18 nations accept the common application. Certain colleges require their students to use their proprietary(individual) application, this application is only used by that particular college, and when the application is complete and submitted, it is only submitted to that institution.
Requirements For The Common Application
1. First-Time Students
- Parent/legal guardian information
- Citizenship information
- High school transcript
- List your interests, hobbies extracurricular activities, clubs, community engagement, and work experience
- Military service information
- Standard test scores(SAT/ACT etc.)
- List of up to 20 colleges/universities you want to apply to
- List of academic honors and achievements
- Letters of recommendation, such as from counselors, advisors, teachers, coaches, employers, mentors, and /or parents/legal guardians
- Personal essay: Depending on the college or program, you may also need; additional essays or answers to prompts, a portfolio to show your work, a resume, a Common Application fee waiver form, and a college-specific fee waiver form.
2. Transfer Students
- Parent/legal guardian information
- Citizenship information
- Military service information
- Standardized test scores and dates
- List of internship, research, volunteering, and work experience
- List of colleges, universities, and/or programs you want to apply to
- Letters of recommendation, such as from employers, professors, counselors, advisors, teachers, coaches, or someone else who knows you personally.
Depending on the college or program, you may also need;
- Official or unofficial college transcripts
- Official or unofficial high school transcript
- Essays or answers to prompts
- A portfolio to show your work
- A resume
- Certificate of continuing education courses
- Internship information
Why Doesn’t Every College Use and Accept the Common Application?
There is a huge expense for the college to have the hardware and software compatible to receive and review the applications. This cost is a huge chunk of application fees.
Also, many schools are small and do not get that many applications that they need an entire computer system to review.
Furthermore, many do not like the cookie-cutter questions and essays on the application, they prefer to be in control. The Common Application has encouraged many unqualified and disinterested students to apply to schools they have no intention of going to or don’t qualify. Many prefer to pre-screen by having you fill out their applications. Interest is significantly higher in a school if you apply separate application.
Advantages Of Using The Common Application
- It costs about a thousand institutions. Regardless if you register to numerous schools, you could hypothetically only need to finish one; the Common Application. Some institutions need their candidates to use it to apply.
- It helps to fill out one application to apply to some colleges. Most of them will ask for information that will not change, like your full details, grades, and reports, and needs to only be provided once for numerous colleges. You have all the outlined requirements, but if you do, it implies no registration cost at all, this would assist you to save some money during the application procedure.
- Although the Common Application is one general application, you can start up within it and also access your documents the following year, should you want to utilize it again. This is very important if you want to transfer, or if you deferred from attending college for a year.
- There’s more to it. That’s the application is not the end to the one application, or numerous school sites. There are several other versions. The Common Application’s most direct competitor is a general application, and it boasts over 42 institutions via its site.
- The application process is quick, applying to at most 20 schools with one application.
- The applicants will receive updates on their mobile devices.
- The applicants can easily manage application requirements and deadlines.
Disadvantages of The Common Application
- There is no longer a hard copy of the common application. Though most of the candidates have to use the internet connection, some couldn’t access that and the fact that the common application is now all digital is very likely to bring problems for some qualified ones.
- To be a part of it, you must register at the school. This is because there will most likely be some institutions you have in mind or wish to apply to.
Colleges That Accept Common Application
Some of them are as follows:
- Auburn University.
- Birmingham-Southern College.
- Samford University.
- Spring Hill College.
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
- The University of South Alabama.
- Tuskegee University, etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, not all colleges use and accept the Common Application, most of these colleges cannot bear the cost of using the application, and they may want to take full charge of the application process and not bank on cookie-cutter questions.
The Common Application has its advantages and disadvantages but it is widely used in the United States, and not all colleges accept it.
FAQs
What is the difference between the Common Application and General Application?
The Common application only accepts schools that have the same broad admissions procedure, while the general college application accepts school that is accredited and follows the National Association for College Admission Counselling’s ethical guidelines.
What is the duration to finish the Common Application?
It takes two to three months because you will be required to write essays which will take time.
How long does it normally take to receive a message/call from a college?
It takes six to eight weeks the receive a decision.