10/23/23: Common App Technical Issue
This is all the Common App has shared since users began having issues this morning … but at least we know it is a known issue they are working on:
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Storytelling Matters
One of the reasons we place so much emphasis on essay work? The ability to tell a story — especially your story — matters. And not just in the college application process.
There is little that can match good storytelling for strongly connecting us to one another, influencing us to make decisions, and making us believe in the products that we depend on in our everyday lives. Sharing stories strengthens and bonds us to each other, our workplaces, our relationships, our communities, and the world around us. All great speakers have discovered that telling stories has a much greater influence on their audience than simply spewing out data.
Read more here!
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Upcoming Merit Deadlines
Some colleges have merit deadlines that are earlier than posted deadlines. For example, if you are applying to BU in RD, the merit deadline is 12/1. Same with UConn, Pitt, Vandy, and others. You’ll find a list below via College Kickstart, but keep in mind this list might not be exhaustive. Please check the application instructions for every single school on your list if you want to apply by merit deadlines.
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Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It
A tough one to read as a college counselor. Nothing new here from where we sit, but these are still hard truths and a call to action. It’s on all of us—not just parents!
A must-read!
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Colleges That Require the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
Applicants need to complete the SRAR for the following schools, where required. You can typically find more information about the SRAR on a school’s application instructions. Please read them.
Example:
Baylor University (TX) — optional
Binghamton University (NY) – optional
Clemson University (SC) — required
Duquesne University (PA) – optional
Florida A&M University – optional
Florida Atlantic University — required
Florida Polytechnic University (NOT Florida Tech) – optional
Florida State University — required
Kean University of New Jersey — optional
Louisiana State University – optional
Montclair State University (NJ) – optional
New College of Florida — optional
New York University – required
Northeastern University (MA) – required
Pennsylvania State University — required
Rutgers University (NJ—Camden, New Brunswick and Newark) — required
Texas A&M University — required
United States Air Force Academy (CO) — required
University at Buffalo (NY) – optional
University of Connecticut – optional
University of Delaware – required
University of Florida — required
University of Illinois — required
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – required; also uses CA Courses/Grades Report
University of North Florida — optional
University of Oregon – also uses CA Courses and Grades Report (need to submit only one of the two—not required to complete both)
University of Pittsburgh (PA) – required
University of Rhode Island — required
University of South Florida — required
University of Tennessee Knoxville – required
University of Texas Arlington — required
University of Texas San Antonio – required
University of West Florida — required
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) – required
***Please be sure to check with each individual college website to determine if this information remains current — PLEASE READ the application instructions!***
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College Admissions Interviews
General interview prep questions below!
High School Experience
- Tell me a little bit about your high school.
- Tell me about the courses you are taking currently.
- Tell me about your favorite class(es) you have taken. Why favorite(s)?
- Which class has been your least favorite? Why?
- Which classes have been the most difficult (or most challenging)?
- What subjects do you plan on studying at [school name]?
- What activities and/or classes have you taken part in related to that field?
- What does your dream career look like, what is your dream job?
Extracurricular Activities
- What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
- What do you like to do for fun?
- When you’re not in class, studying, or doing homework, what do you do with your time (organized activities or things for fun)?
- How did you get involved/started with ____ activity?
- What activity is the most meaningful to you and why?
- What extracurricular activities do you hope to be involved with in college?
- How have you spent your high school summers?
University Specific
- What type of environment are you looking for in a college/university?
- How did you become interested in [school]?
- What do you find most appealing about [school]?
- Why do you think you [school] might be the right fit for you?
- Do you know any students at [school]?
- If you had an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee anything about yourself, what would it be? Why?
- What would you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that may not come across on your application?
- If I were to ask you to think back in three months to your visit to [school], what would be the first thing to pop into your head?
- What have you learned about [school] that seems unusual or surprising?
Miscellaneous
- If you got up and your best friend sat down, how would they describe you?
- How would your teachers describe you?
- If you had a year to do anything you wanted, what would it be and why?
- What books are you currently reading? Or what have you read recently for school?
- What has been a controversial issue at your school? What was your reaction, and how did you get involved?
- Where have you made the biggest impact at your school or in your local community?
- Where is your favorite place you have ever been? Why? Where would you like to go (if money and time were no object)?
- Would you and where would you like to study abroad? Why?
- What do you think is the most pressing issue of our time? Why?
- What is your favorite book and why?
- Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you wanted to talk about?
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Colleges Using The Self-Reported Academic Record — SRAR
Applicants must complete the SRAR for the following schools, where required. You can typically find more information about the SRAR on a school’s application instructions. Please read them.
Examples:
https://www.clemson.edu/admissions/applying-to-clemson/srar.html
https://admissions.northeastern.edu/application-information/required-materials/
https://admissions.psu.edu/apply/srar/
List:
Baylor University (TX) — optional
Binghamton University (NY) – optional
Clemson University (SC) — required
Duquesne University (PA) – optional
Florida A&M University – optional
Florida Atlantic University — required
Florida Polytechnic University (NOT Florida Tech) – optional
Florida State University — required
Kean University of New Jersey — optional
Louisiana State University – optional
Montclair State University (NJ) – optional
New College of Florida — optional
New York University – required
Northeastern University (MA) – required
Pennsylvania State University — required
Rutgers University (NJ—Camden, New Brunswick and Newark) — required
Texas A&M University — required
United States Air Force Academy (CO) — required
University at Buffalo (NY) – optional
University of Connecticut – optional
University of Delaware – required
University of Florida — required
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – required; also uses CA Courses/Grades Report
University of North Florida — optional
University of Oregon – also uses CA Courses and Grades Report (need to submit only one of the two—not required to complete both)
University of Pittsburgh (PA) – required
University of Rhode Island — required
University of South Florida — required
University of Tennessee Knoxville – required
University of Texas Arlington — required
University of Texas San Antonio – required
University of West Florida — required
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) – required
***Please be sure to check with each individual college website to determine if this information remains current***
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Common Application Refresh Starts Today, 7/27, at 5pm Eastern
Application refresh dates. The system refresh begins this afternoon (July 27), which will conclude the 2022-2023 application season. The first-year application will close to applicants and recommenders at 5 pm ET on July 27, 2023. The transfer application will close to applicants and recommenders at 5 pm ET on July 28, 2023.
Account rollover. You can roll over your account on August 1. For more details about how account rollover works, reference the Solutions Center for frequently asked questions and tips in the application guide for first-year and transfer students.
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Common Application Rollover
Each year on August 1, Common App launches a refreshed application, including any new questions and new colleges. Students will need to sign in and refresh their Common App accounts for the new cycle.
For more details about how account rollover works, reference our Solutions Center for frequently asked questions and tips in our application guide for first-year and transfer students.
Application refresh dates. Mark your calendars for our system refresh dates, which will conclude the 2022-2023 application season.
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- The first-year application will close to applicants and recommenders at 5 pm ET on July 27, 2023.
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