Cappex College Blog

Q. If a college uses both the Common Application and their own institutional application which one should I use? Mark L.

A. The Common Application is just as the name implies. The Common Application may be submitted to more than 300 colleges and universities across the country. There is a good chance you will want to apply to more than one of the colleges that use the Common App.

Therefore, by filling out the Common Application you are doing less work for more schools. You can fill out the application once, write one essay – a huge timesaver – and send it to numerous schools. Much of the Common Application is generic information and it does not make sense to have to complete this information more than once.

Some schools require additional information beyond The Common Application. The Common Application Web site will tell you which schools require supplemental material. Check the site to see if your school asks for additional materials and provide these as needed. Also, if you are applying to study a particular major you may need to include separate materials. To enter a music program, for example, you might need to audition or provide a sample of your work.

So go ahead and fill out the common application. Then, check the college’s admissions requirements and see if there is anything else you might need to include.

Special thanks to Lisa LeVie, counselor at Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth, Mass.

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