If you have booked the ALL AMERICAN and ELITE package, we will cover the application fees and work on the application together with you.
The Common Application (also known as the "Common App") is a centralized application tool used by over 900 universities in the US. With a single application, you can apply to multiple colleges simultaneously, significantly simplifying the application process. Even if you have a specific university in mind, it's possible that they do not offer their own online application and require the use of the Common App.
In this guide, we'll show you how to properly utilize the system, what information is needed, and what you should pay special attention to.
The Common App is an effective tool that allows you to apply centrally and efficiently to multiple universities. Many US colleges use this platform as the standard to simplify student admissions and expedite the processing of applications.
A well-filled-out Common App profile can help you:
Save time: With a single application, you can apply to multiple colleges.
Provide uniform information: All important data, such as academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, are entered once and then available to each university.
Maintain an overview: Your dashboard shows you at all times which applications have already been submitted and where information is still missing.
Before you can start filling out the application, you need to create your own account on the Common App website.
Steps to create the account:
Go to the Common App website: Open the page www.commonapp.org.
Create an account: Click "Create an Account" in the top right.
Select account type: Choose "First Year Student" if you are applying directly after high school, or "Transfer Student" if you have already been enrolled at a college.
Enter your email address and a password: Enter your Smarthlete email address that you use regularly and set a secure password.
Important Note:
Use our designated Recruiting email address for registration so that we can support you and track the entire process.
Fill in personal data: Provide your full personal information, such as name, date of birth, and contact address.
Accept the terms of use: Agree to the Terms and Conditions and confirm your registration.
Note on name spelling:
If your name contains umlauts, replace them accordingly:
ä → ae, ö → oe, ü → ue and ß → ss.
The Common Application is divided into various sections that you must fill out in order. Seven main sections must be completed once and then made available for all applications:
Profile: Personal data such as name, date of birth, and nationality.
Family: Information about parents and siblings.
Education: Education from 9th grade onwards.
Testing: Information about your test results (TOEFL, SAT, etc.).
Activities: Extracurricular activities and involvement.
Writing: Main application essay (Personal Essay).
Courses and Grades: Detailed information about your school subjects and grades (if required by the university).
Each section is listed in the menu on the left side and can be accessed by clicking on it. In the following, we will describe the individual areas in detail:
Here you enter general information about yourself. The section is divided into several subsections:
Demographics: Information about gender, date of birth, and nationality.
Geography and Nationality: Country of birth, current residence, and citizenship.
Languages: All languages you speak and understand, including your proficiency level.
Citizenship Status: Select "Citizen of non-U.S. country" unless you have American citizenship.
Visa Status: Indicate that you will apply for an F-1 student visa.
Important Note:
This information is not publicly accessible, but serves the universities only as internal information for the classification of applicants.
This section asks for information about your parents and siblings:
Marital status of parents: Married, separated, divorced, etc.
Education and occupation of parents: Indicate the educational level and current employment of your parents.
Siblings: If you have siblings, you must enter the number, names, and ages here.
The "Education" section is about your previous school education since 9th grade:
Current school: Select your current school from the database or enter it manually.
Expected graduation date: Provide the expected date of your high school graduation.
Additional schools: If you have changed schools in the meantime, also enter these schools.
Course listing: List all the courses you took in your last school year.
Here you enter your test results (e.g., TOEFL, SAT, Duolingo English Test).
Note:
The information is voluntary, but often helpful to demonstrate your academic eligibility.
Describe up to 10 extracurricular activities you have been regularly involved in since 9th grade:
Sports activities (e.g., soccer, track and field).
Volunteer work.
Hobbies and creative projects.
Internships/Practicums
Quality over quantity!
It is more important to list intensive and meaningful activities than simply to name as many activities as possible.
In this section, you will write your Personal Essay. The essay is the central part of your application and provides the universities with a deeper insight into your personality.
Length: Between 250 and 650 words.
Topic: You can choose from seven given topics.
Only fill out this section if the university requires it. Otherwise, this section can be left blank.
After completing the general part of the Common App, you must answer specific questions in this section that are individually asked by each university. These questions often relate to:
Field of study and academic interests.
Admission option (Early Decision, Regular Decision).
Optional essays or additional information.
Here you also enter the contact persons who should upload your transcripts and recommendation letters.
Once all sections are fully completed, you can submit your application:
Review and Submit: Carefully review the application.
Pay the application fee: Pay the fee (we can cover this, depending on your contract).
Confirmation: Sign electronically to confirm the accuracy of your information.
Tip:
Send the application to a less important university first to identify possible errors before sending the applications to your main targets.
A well-filled-out Common App profile is the key to a successful college admission. The Smarthlete team is available at any time if you have any questions!