Common App
The Common Application. A single online platform used by ~1,000 U.S. colleges to streamline the application process.
The Common Application, universally called the Common App, is a single online application used by approximately 1,000 colleges and universities. Students complete one set of personal information, essays, activities, and recommendations, then submit the package to multiple colleges. Each school may add school-specific supplemental essays.
The Common App accepts both Early and Regular Decision applications and is accepted by most selective private universities and many publics. A few schools (UC system, MIT before 2026, the University of California, Georgetown) use their own application platforms or a different shared platform.
For parents, the practical workflow is to set up a Common App account in the spring of junior year, complete the basic profile and personal essay over the summer, then add school-specific supplements as the student finalizes the list. The Common App's "My Colleges" view shows each school's deadlines and supplemental requirements clearly.
Related terms
View all terms- Coalition AppAn alternative shared college application platform with a "locker" for student work and a focus on access. Used by some schools that also accept Common App.
- Regular DecisionThe standard application deadline at most colleges, typically January 1 with decisions returned in late March or early April.