Complete Common App core

Overview

Complete your Common App core sections now. This includes demographics, academic history, activities, honors, and personal information. Quality and accuracy matter.

Common App Sections to Complete

Profile

• Basic information
• Contact information
• Demographics
• Family information

Family

• Parent 1 and Parent 2 information
• Siblings
• Legal guardians if applicable

Education

• High school information
• Current courses
• Grades (if your school reports)
• College credit courses

Testing

• SAT scores (if submitting)
• ACT scores (if submitting)
• AP scores
• IB scores
• Other tests

Activities

• Up to 10 activities
• 150 character description + 50 character position
• Most significant first

Honors

• Up to 5 honors
• 100 character name + 50 character context

Additional Information

• Optional space for context
• Explanation of grades, courses, circumstances
• Not a cover letter; use sparingly

Activities Section Mastery

Categories

• Academic
• Art (performing or creative)
• Athletics (club, varsity, intramural)
• Career-oriented
• Community service (volunteer)
• Cultural/Ethnic/Religious
• Family responsibilities
• Foreign Exchange
• Internship
• Job
• Journalism/Publication
• Junior ROTC
• LGBT
• Music
• Religious
• Research
• Robotics
• Science/Math
• Student Government/Politics
• Student Teaching
• Technology
• Theater/Drama
• Other Personal Interests

Description Format

• Use action verbs
• Be specific about impact
• Quantify when possible
• Show what YOU did, not the club's mission

Example (good): "Increased library book circulation 25% by implementing reading challenges and peer recommendations."

Example (bad): "Member of Library Club. Helped with events."

Ordering Activities

Most important first:

1. Your main "spike" activity
2. Other leadership
3. Athletics (if major)
4. Employment (if significant)
5. Community service
6. Interests

Tips for Activity Writing

Show Impact

• What changed because of you?
• Numbers and specifics
• Personal contribution highlighted

Show Growth

• Progression of responsibility
• Skills developed
• Longer commitment

Show Authenticity

• Your genuine interests
• Not just "resume building"
• Stories that matter to you

Avoid

• Overstating role
• Including weak activities
• Listing meaningless memberships
• Generic descriptions

Honors Section

What Counts as Honor

• Awards
• Recognition at events
• Rankings or placements
• Leadership positions
• Significant achievements

What Doesn't Count

• Routine GPA mentions
• Common honor roll memberships (unless selective)
• Participation awards
• Class standing (only for top 10%)

Testing Section Strategy

What to Submit

• Scores above school's 25th percentile
• Scores below the range only if test-required
• Multiple attempts, submit your best
• Super-scoring varies by school

What to Skip

• Scores significantly below range
• Scores that hurt application
• Outdated scores

Demographics

Be accurate:

• Race/ethnicity (as you identify)
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation (optional)
• Religious background
• Languages spoken

Family Information

Parent Information

• Education (last degree earned)
• Occupation
• Employer
• Student's relationship

Siblings

• Age
• Current status (in school, etc.)
• Relationship to you

Financial Aid Status

If applying for financial aid:

• Mark on Common App
• Complete FAFSA
• Submit CSS Profile if required
• Financial aid affects admission at some schools (need-aware)

Legacy Status

If you're a legacy:

• Mark on Common App
• Varies in importance by school
• Doesn't guarantee admission

Veterans, Military

If applicable:

• Mark veteran status
• Describe service
• Some schools prioritize military experience

First-Generation

If you're first-gen:

• Mark on Common App
• Can be mentioned in essays
• Relevant to college fit

Common App Accuracy

Verify Every Detail

• Name matches legal
• Dates correct
• Spelling consistent
• Numbers accurate

Consistency

• Across all sections
• Matches transcript
• Matches other applications

Submission Preparation

Review Completely

• Every section
• Activities list specifically
• Honors section
• Writing supplements

Save Drafts

• Every session
• Before logging off
• Multiple backups

Get Feedback

• Parents, counselor review
• English teacher for grammar
• Peers for tone

Technical Details

Browser

• Chrome recommended
• Firefox also works
• Don't use Internet Explorer
• Don't use mobile for final submission

Save Frequently

• Auto-save
• Manual save after each change
• Print/PDF before submitting

Before Submission

• Preview complete
• Ready to submit
• Verify payment method
• Confirm school list

Final Pre-Submission

Last Review

• Read every section aloud
• Check for typos
• Confirm activities align
• Verify honors accurate

Submission Confirmation

• Save submission confirmation
• Print receipt
• Check email

After Submission

• Check portal for application appearing
• Confirm receipt
• Address any flagged items

Common Mistakes

Rushing Core Sections

• Skipping detail
• Generic descriptions
• Missing context

Inconsistencies

• Dates not matching
• Information conflicts
• Names spelled differently

Over-Explaining

• Too much in additional info
• Cover letter approach
• Focus on clarity

Missing Required

• Required fields blank
• Optional fields left despite being relevant
• Not understanding requirements