Hey Class of 2024! Here’s my August College Guy Rant about the Common Application!

TWO QUICK POINTERS before I begin:

#1. Stay tuned for my next rant (coming shortly) about college essays – and get going on your writing. No time like summer to get those bad boys started.

#2. I suggest to most seniors that you plan to take BOTH the October 7th SAT and the October 28th ACT. Yes, they’re optional for most schools, and yes, if you don’t test well you can skip these, but there are several compelling reasons many students may benefit from taking (and retaking) these tests in the fall. I also recommend that you prep for these tests using Kahn Academy – it’s free and convenient – by spending 45 minutes a day, three times a week for six to eight weeks.

I don’t want to take up more bandwidth on Standardized Tests here, but if you have questions or concerns about the above give me a call and let’s talk.

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In a scene from Steve Martin’s 1979 movie “The Jerk”, his nebbish-y character Navin R. Johnson runs pell mell down the street upon seeing his name in print for the first time (in the phonebook), declaring to anyone within earshot:

“The New Phonebook is Here! THE NEW PHONEBOOK IS HERE!!!!”

How times have changed. Who uses phone books any more? Do they even print them?

No matter … at this time every summer I find myself filled with excitement and a desire to pronounce to all near and far, whether they give a plugged nickel about it or not:

“The new Common Application is here! THE NEW COMMON APPLICATION IS HERE!!”

Yeah, I’m a bit of a nebbish myself when it comes to this sort of stuff… every August 1st a brand spanking new Common Application comes out, and that means that you can – and should – access, register for free, and – wonder of wonders – begin filling out what will become (for many if not most of your colleges) your bona fide, actual college application!!!

So join in my excitement and go to this web site: www.commonapp.org and click on the “start your application” (or “create an account”) link, hit the “First Year Student” button. Follow directions to create your account and get your college applications started!

Those of you who registered for and began last year’s 2022/23 common application (that’s you if you started the Common App prior to today) can do an “application rollover” by logging in to your existing common application and follow a few simple steps and affirmations. It’s so easy even a college advisor like myself can do it, so jump right in and get in to the new 2023/24 Common Application and do your thing! All information will roll over EXCEPT any potential college supplemental writing you did – those you must start anew.

Note that you need to include at least one number, letters (one capital, one lower case) and a symbol (!@#$%^&*) in your ten to thirty-two (really?!!) character password. Make sure you write down your password (and don’t be too cute – you don’t want to lose it!).

After you’re registered go to the “College Search” link and type in the name – or partial name – of a college from your top 10 list and hit “search”. You don’t need to fill in every blank – takes too long – just a partial name and you’ll be able to locate your school.

Click the box next to your college and then click “Add”.

Do this for every school on your list (don’t be exclusive at this stage – you can add and remove schools freely over the next five months) and then go to your ‘Dashboard’ and voila, there’s your college list!

If you can’t find a particular school (after making sure you’re spelling it correctly) it most likely means that that school doesn’t take the Common Application. Not to worry! Just make a note that you’ll have to register for and fill out that school’s own on-line application. No big deal!

(For those of you who wish to apply to one of the 9 University of California Campuses, they have their own one-size-fits-all U. Cal. Application which you can access here: admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply-now. It also went live on August 1 so go ahead and register and start filling that bad boy out as well).

Now begin filling out your Common Application. The sections are: “Profile” “Family” “Education” “Testing” “Activities” and “Writing”.

The last section, “Courses and Grades”, is somewhat nonsensical and only a handful of larger Universities require you to complete it. If it says you have to curse a bit and save that for later. It’s just busywork, and you’ll need to work off a recent copy of your transcript so get a hold of that this fall if you don’t already have a copy.

Note that with the exception of the “Writing” and “Activities” sections, all the other portions of the Common App are easily completed.

You’ll also be able to see which, if any, of your schools require additional writing – either in the form of an additional essay or short answer questions. Look in the dashboard under each college for their “Questions” section. Most of the “Questions” will be quick and easy, go ahead and fill out all those short answer responses. Occasionally you’ll see a question which requires a mini-essay or full essay response. Examples of questions you might see include:

  • “Elaborate on one of your activities”
  • “Why have you decided to apply to our school?”
  • “Explain your first choice of a major – what has led you to choose this as your field of study”.

Questions of this sort may be limited to as few as 100 words or as many as 400 or 500 words. For some schools you may even be asked to complete a full-blown additional essay of 650 words.

Keep track of ALL EXTRA REQUIRED WRITING by listing them on a chart, along with the asking school’s name.

So there you have your next assignment: register for the Common Application and then fill out the “Profile”, “Family”, “Education”, “Testing” and “Activities” sections of the common application! This is exciting!!! You’re really doing it!!!!!!

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Remember from my last rant that this is a great time to be writing your first and your second (extra…additional…icing on the cake…one for the Gipper) essays. And don’t forget the 250 word optional “How did COVID impact me” question – find an interesting way to respond to that. You also should have (or be constructing) an academic / activity resume which you’ll find multiple uses for. Those of you who’ve met with me have a template to follow. If you’ve not met with me – what are you waiting for?!! – contact me and I’ll share said template with you.

If any of the above has you confused, if you’re still struggling to get going on your essays, resume, or list of colleges, give me a call or email and we’ll chat. I’m currently accepting class of 2024 and 2025 students, and this time of year I’m about helping rising seniors organize their ‘to do’ list for the remainder of the summer and the fall.

And remember to relax, it’s summer vacation fer cryin’ out loud! Keep safe and sane and enjoy yourself!

From your frenetic forecaster, your enthusiastic education, your disciplined didact,

Gary, the College Guy

Auf wiedersehen!