how to submit common app essay

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Updated: Tuesday, November 19, 2024

How to Submit the Common App

Hitting “submit” for the Common App is a major milestone in every student’s college admissions journey. However, before you can celebrate, it’s important to make sure you understand the submission process inside and out so that you can present yourself in the best light possible.

If you’re currently preparing to submit the Common App, make sure you have a clear understanding of the steps required to complete your applications. Keep reading to learn more about how to submit your Common App with step-by-step guidance from our team of admissions experts. 

Step 1: Navigate to My Colleges

Once you’ve logged in to your Common App account, start by navigating to the My Colleges tab. This tab allows users to complete college-specific questions and supplements and invite and manage the recommenders you choose to write your college recommendation letters . If you’re looking for a little extra guidance, you can access links to video tutorials that break down exactly what you’ll need to do to complete this section.

Step 2: Complete the Questions Section

Look to the left-hand side of your screen and search for the section that says “Questions”. This page outlines exactly what you need to complete for your application to a specific school. The items that appear on the page are what you need to fill out; click on the hyperlinked text to navigate to the sections that you need to complete, such as filling out a list of activities . When you’ve finished all of the required materials, you will see the option to “Review and Submit” your application on this screen, so look out for that to make sure you’re ready for the next step.

Step 3: Make Sure the Recommenders Section is Complete

Click the section below Questions on the left-hand side, titled “Recommenders and FERPA”. On this page, you can invite Recommenders – people who will submit forms and information to colleges on your behalf. Additionally, remember to invite your school counselor, who will submit your School Report and other forms, by clicking the “Invite Counselor” button directly below the button for inviting recommenders. Finally, use the “Invite Teacher” button to select and assign the teachers who are writing your recommendation letters. 

Step 4: Complete the Writing Section Before Hitting Submit

Although you may be eager to submit your applications, don’t forget to complete the writing section first. Look out for a heading titled “Writing Supplements” and a subheading called “Questions”, further down the left-hand side of your screen. You’ll see a list of writing questions that are specific to the school you are applying to. Make sure to fill these out and double-check all of your work before clicking “Review and Submit – Common App”. Please note, there are TWO parts to submit if your prospective school requires any writing prompts.

What If I Have More Questions About the Common App?

If you’re still a little unclear about how to fill out the Common App, don’t stress . There are a few steps you can take for more information:

• Start by checking out the Common App’s guide for first-time students . This comprehensive resource breaks down every step of the process, from gathering materials to planning essays , complete with video explainers.
• Meet with your counselor. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the college counselor at your school or your independent admissions counselor, who can walk you through the process and answer any pressing questions.
• When in doubt, call or email. If you’ve done your research and still can’t find an answer to your question, consider calling or emailing the Common App by navigating to their Help page .

Keep in mind, however, that the closer you get to the application deadlines, the busier the solutions center at the Common App will be. As a result, we always encourage students to finish their applications early, so that they’ll have plenty of time to get answers to their questions and solve any technical difficulties that might arise.

To make the most of the submission process, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how to complete your applications via the Common App. If you’re looking for insight from experts, our team of college admissions counselors can point you in the right direction.

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How to (Quickly) Format Your Common App Essay

July 18, 2024

On August 1st, the Common Application will officially go live for the 2024-25 admissions season. If you’ll be applying to any colleges using this form, it’s a smart idea to start inputting information as soon as possible. Accordingly, many students wonder if there is a specific way to format their Common App essay. We’re here with the answer to this and other frequently asked Common App-related questions in today’s blog.

An important message before we review formatting: please (please!) work on your essays outside of the Common App form . Online applications can be glitchy. As such, the safest route is to write and finalize your essay in Google Docs or Microsoft Word before inserting it into the application.

How should I format my Common App essay?

To format your essays correctly in the Common App, follow these steps:

• Select the prompt you’ve responded to.
• Copy and paste your finalized essay into the text box .
• Check that you have not exceeded the word count. Occasionally, the word count you see in word processing applications is not accurate, especially if you use special symbols like hyphens.
• Insert text formatting, if necessary. Available text formatting options include bolding, italicizing, and underlining. While you may need to use italics for book titles, movie titles, words in a language other than English, etc. there are few good reasons to use bolding or underlining in an essay.
• Remove spaces between paragraphs. The application automatically places a space between each paragraph. If you already have a space, it will become a double space.
• Left align each paragraph . The Common App form does not allow tabbing, so it can be difficult to indent your paragraphs consistently. Left aligning is the simplest option.
• Finally, click the “Preview” button in the top left corner of your screen to see how your essay will look to the reader.

Why should I bother formatting my Common App essay?

Incorrect or sloppy formatting can be distracting for a reader, especially if there are

different degrees of spacing between your paragraphs,

inconsistent indentation.

Formatting your essays correctly makes it easier for the reader to focus on your content versus its presentation.

Does my Common App essay need a title?

You do not need a title for your Common App essay. With such a limited word count, a title will add little to your composition. Instead, we recommend dedicating the time, word count, and energy that it takes to come up with a title to other aspects of your essay.

How long should my Common App essay be?

The official word count for the Common App essay is 250 to 650 words. That said, the most effective essays we’ve seen are typically between 500 and 650 words. A 250 to 300-word response is often too short to be effective or revealing, so you’ll want to aim for a higher word count if possible.

Does font size matter?

You have to use Size 16 Wingdings. Just kidding. Any (legible) font and font size is perfectly fine—the application will automatically reformat when you paste it into the application text box.

Can I make changes to my essay after submitting?

Yes, but there is a caveat. Let’s say you submit an application to Duke and decide you want to change or add something to your essay before you submit it to Harvard and Stanford. You can go ahead and do this, but those changes would not register on applications that you have already submitted, only on applications that you have yet to submit.

Technically, you can submit completely different versions of your Common App essay to different schools, but there are very few situations in which we would actually recommend this.

Do all colleges on the Common Application require the Common App essay?

Nope. Many do, but some do not. For others, it is optional (pro tip: always submit if optional).

You can find this information within the “Writing” tab on the main Common App form:

For any schools in the “Not Required” section, check their “Application Information” area in the “My Colleges” tab for further insight.

For example, the University of Washington specifies the following:

No Common App personal essay

The Common App personal essay will not be reviewed as part of your application to the University of Washington. Be sure to complete the University of Washington writing section to tell us everything you want us to know.

This means that you can use your Common Application essay (usually as-is) for UW’s required personal statement.

In addition to the Common App essay, what other essays will I have to write?

This depends on which schools you are applying to. Starting August 1, you can start gathering supplemental essays for every school on your list. To do that:

• Add the school(s) you’re applying to in the “College Search” tab.
• Click on the “My Colleges” tab to see the colleges you’ve added.
• Fill out basic information about yourself, including your intended major or choice of department. Sometimes, your choice of major or program triggers additional essays.
• Click through every drop-down tab of the school’s “Questions” section. Most often, supplemental essays are found in the “Writing” or “Writing Supplement” areas, but they can be located elsewhere as well.

We recommend collecting all your essays in one place before you start working. Understanding which prompts you need to write will help you balance information across your application. For example, if a particular school does not require/review the Common Application personal statement, you can adapt its content for use in other essays.

Final Thoughts

After all the hard work you put into your essays, there are just a few final steps to attend to before you submit those essays to your colleges of choice. Luckily, formatting your Common App essay correctly can be completed quickly and will pay major dividends toward your application’s overall presentation.

Looking for additional essay-writing resources? We’ve got you covered:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Kelsea Conlin

Kelsea holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Tufts University, a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her short fiction is forthcoming in Chautauqua .

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Apply to college

Whether you're applying to college for the first time or transferring to complete your degree, here’s how to get started on your college application.

What is Common App?

Each year, more than 1 million students apply to more than 1,000 Common App member colleges worldwide through our online college application platform.

Follow the steps below to get started, or visit our first-year and transfer application guides for more information.

How it works

Create your profile.

Your Common App profile is your chance to shine. It’s everything you want a college or university to know about you - from your academic coursework to your extracurricular activities.

Add colleges to your list

Now you get to decide what’s most important to you in a college or university. Search through the characteristics and add colleges that align with them.

Gather requirements

Once you’ve decided where you want to apply, make a checklist of everything required. Each college and university is different, so make sure you stay on top of their application requirements.

Submit applications

Be sure to take a moment to celebrate this huge accomplishment! And remember to finish the academic year on a high note, apply for financial aid and prepare for the future.

The application guides

Now that you know what to expect from the process, you’re ready to apply. We’ve created two simple guides, one for first-year and one for transfer applicants.

For first-time students

Use this guide if you’re in high school and intend to apply as a first-time full-time freshman. It will walk you through the application from start to finish.

For transfer students

If you’re looking to transfer to a four-year institution or intend to restart your college journey, this is the place to get started.

Essay Prompts

The Common App essay prompts provide an amazing opportunity for you to tell colleges and universities about who you are and how you can contribute to your future campus experience.

Explore colleges on Common App

Search more than 1,000 member colleges and universities using Common App. See application requirements, access virtual tours, learn about academic programs, testing policies and student experience on campus. Get started today to add colleges to your My Colleges tab in application.

Get Common App on your phone

Take Common App with you where ever you go. Our mobile app helps you track your progress, stay on top of application requirements, and manage deadlines.

College exploration and planning

There are so many important factors involved in finding the right college for you. Here are some resources to help you discover the most important qualities in your future college campus.

Whether you're at home or on the go, we're here to support you throughout your journey in applying to college. 

Download Common App for mobile . 

We want to make sure you have the opportunity to provide details about how COVID-19 has impact you personally and academically on your college applications. If you need it, there is a question on the Common App this year and you will only have to complete the question once. The question is located in the Additional Information section of the application, and will allow colleges and universities to better understand your experience. Your school counselor will also have space in the Common App recommender system to talk about how the pandemic affected your school.

Learn how to plan for the question, and if responding to the question is right for you, by visiting our blog .

Wondering how to approach the college essay? Common App's Scott Anderson offers his timely advice on sharing your personal and academic experience. Learn more on our blog .

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A User’s Guide to the Common Application

As most students will agree, college applications take a lot of work to complete. The sheer volume of information you’re expected to provide can be very overwhelming, especially when multiplied by the 7, 10, or even 15 schools you’re planning to apply to.

Much of this information is also extremely repetitive. Every college will want to know where you live, who your parents are, and how well you did in high school. It’s likely that you’ll send the same recommendations to every college you apply to, and even essay questions may be similar from school to school. This is where the Common Application comes in. 

Introducing the Common Application

The Common App originally came into being in 1975, when 15 private colleges began considering the repetitiveness of college application procedures. In the days of paper applications, filling out separate forms for each college by hand made applying to more than a few colleges a huge amount of work.

The original Common App schools developed a single application form to be used by all member schools. This application could be sent to a number of different schools, thus drastically reducing the workload for college applicants.

The Common App has continued to gain member schools over the years, and as of the 2019-2020 school year, it is now accepted by over 800 colleges and universities.

The Common App is now completed entirely online. Your basic application information is automatically copied to each member school with whom you choose to share it, meaning you only have to enter those details once. While many colleges choose to include a “supplement” with a number of application questions or writing prompts specific to that college, the submission process still takes place through the Common App.

Here at CollegeVine, we’re committed to helping students and their families understand the college application process. To that end, we present this brief user guide to the Common App. While this post will not cover every detail of the application process, it’s intended to provide you with an accessible, practical framework to help you understand the Common App, its online interface, and its main requirements.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Creating and Logging into your Common App account

To get started using the Common App, you’ll need to create a Common App account. Once your account is set up, you can monitor your application progress using the Dashboard, add schools to your list under My Colleges, fill out the actual application part of the Common App, and look up colleges through College Search. We’ll go over each of these sections of your account below.

To create an account, start on the Common App website . In the upper right corner of the main page, you’ll see white text that says “Create an Account.” Click on this button. 

A menu will appear that asks you to identify yourself as either a first-year applicant, a transfer student, an educational professional, or a parent. Select the appropriate choice and then follow the prompts to create a password and fill in your contact information. Make sure to write down your password for future reference.

Once your account is created, you’ll be able to log back into it using your email address and password. Just head back to the Common App homepage and click on “Log In” in the upper right corner, choose the “Student” option when prompted, and enter your login information.

Step 2: Navigating the Dashboard

When you log into your Common App account, the first thing you see will be your Dashboard. You can also access your Dashboard at any time by clicking on the Dashboard tab at the top of the screen.

To use the Dashboard, you’ll need to add the colleges you intend to apply to. You’ll do this through the College Search feature, which allows you to search by location or name. If your college list is not yet finalized, you might use the additional filters to browse colleges according to state, distance from your home, testing policy, or application deadline. Add to your Dashboard the colleges you intend to apply to by clicking on the blue + sign next to the college name. 

Once you add a college to your list, it will appear on your Dashboard along with an overview of your application progress and tasks to be completed. Your Dashboard serves to give you a quick glimpse of the requirements of the various colleges you’re planning to apply to. 

In our example below, the student is applying to the schools you see listed on the left side of the page — Amherst College, Davidson College, and so on. Clicking on “show more details” provides you with a quick way to check what each school requires.

As you can see in this screenshot, there is an “Instructions and Help” box on the right side of the page. This box will appear throughout the Common App, but the frequently asked questions will change depending on what part of the site you’re looking at. If you have a question that isn’t shown, simply click where it says “Instructions and Help” to access more assistance.

Step 3: Using the My Colleges Portal

The My Colleges section of the Common App allows you to access information about each of your chosen colleges’ admissions requirements. You can get to the My Colleges section at any time by clicking on the My Colleges tab at the top of the screen.

As you can see from this screenshot, our student’s My Colleges page is showing more detailed information for the first college on the student’s list — in this case, Amherst College. The other colleges the student is applying to are listed along the left side of the page. 

In order to show information for another college on your list, you’ll simply click the college’s name and a drop down menu will appear with details in the window to the right. 

Your own My Colleges page will not show any colleges until you add some to your list, as described in the Dashboard section above. Once you add schools, the My Colleges page will show the schools you have selected.

The My Colleges page is also where you’ll access the parts of your college applications that are specific to each individual college. As you can see in the screenshot above, under the college’s name on the left side, you’ll see a number of items, including a heading “Questions” which will bring you to any supplemental materials required by that college.

As an example, below is a screenshot of the supplement for Amherst College. Clicking on the word “Questions” under “Writing Supplement” will take you to the following screen, where you’re provided with the prompts and instructions on how to complete them.

Every school’s supplement is different, and you must read the instructions for each carefully. Some schools don’t have a separate “Writing” tab and may have other headings. Make sure you take a careful look at any and all headings in this section to determine if there are more supplementary questions for you to answer — they might not all be immediately visible.

Reviewing the My Colleges tab is a good way to keep track of admissions information for the various colleges you’re interested in, but it doesn’t cover everything in terms of that school’s admissions practices, and it’s not a substitute for more in-depth research. Clicking on the blue link that says “College Website” in the “Links” section of your school’s information will take you to that school’s own admissions website, where you can find out more about their policies.

Step 4: Filling Out the Common App

The Common App section is where you’ll actually fill out the substance of your college applications. You can access it at any time by clicking on the Common App tab at the top of the screen.

A menu will appear on the left side of your screen with headers that include things like “Profile” and “Family”. For each of these sections, you’ll need to provide answers to a number of specific questions. 

Some of these questions will be in multiple-choice format, and you’ll have to choose one option (or more, if specified). Others will ask you to enter certain small items of data, such as a name or phone number. Still more will require you to write out a longer answer, up to and including the personal essay, which we’ll cover in further depth in other blog posts.

If you’re unsure about how to answer some of these questions, you can visit the “Instructions and Help” section of the Common App website. Your guidance counselor or another school official may also be able to help.

These are the sections of your Common Application:

This section is where you’ll enter more detailed information about yourself. It includes sections like name, address, and demographics. Scroll down to see each section header, and click on the downward pointing triangle to open each menu and complete each field. 

The Profile section also includes the Common App’s fee waiver request form, which you can learn more about on the CollegeVine blog in our post How to Receive a Common App Fee Waiver .

This section is where you’ll answer questions about your household, your parents, and your siblings. Again, you’ll scroll down to see each section header, and click on the downward pointing triangle to open each menu and complete each field. 

We at CollegeVine have covered this topic in greater detail in the blog post Why Does the Common Application Ask Where my Parents Went to College?

This section is where you’ll answer questions regarding your educational experiences, like what school(s) you’ve attended and your scholastic achievements . You’ll also list all the courses you are taking now or have taken in your most recent year of schooling.

This section is where you’ll tell the Common App whether you would like to self-report your standardized test scores. If you elect to self-report, you’ll be given the option to tell the Common App which tests you’d like to report your scores for, and then to enter your scores for those tests.

Activities:

You can read more about this section by reading the CollegeVine blog post  How to Fill Out the Common App Activities Section .

This section is where you’ll answer questions that require longer written responses, starting with your personal essay. 

Under the “Personal Essay” section, you’ll find a list of topics to choose from, and a box in which to copy and paste your essay text. (We strongly recommend that you compose your essay first in a Word document or other format outside of the Common App website.) Check out our post How to Write the Common Application Essays 2019-2020 (With Examples) for more information about writing a standout personal essay. 

Under the “Disciplinary History” section, you’ll be asked if you have been found responsible for a disciplinary infraction either at school or in the community, and you are given an opportunity to address or explain what happened. 

Finally, under “Additional Information,” you can include information on any special circumstances which might be relevant to your application and are not addressed elsewhere in the Common App.

Step 5: Submitting the Common App

As you can see, there’s a lot to be filled out on the Common App, and you’ll most likely go back and change some of your responses more than once. Once you’ve completed the Common App and your individual colleges’ supplements to your satisfaction, it’s time to submit your application.

Before you submit, you’ll need to thoroughly go over your application to make sure that you’ve answered all the questions and filled in all the blanks. The Common App will notify you if you’ve left any required questions unanswered, but it’s best to look over everything yourself as well. Leave yourself time for this step.

In order to start the submission process, go to your My Colleges section. Let’s say that you’ve completed all the necessary fields under the Common App section, as well as the writing supplement required for Amherst College. Everything is in place for you to actually submit your application to Amherst through the Common App portal.

When you reach this point, you’ll click “Review and Submit — Common App” under the “Application” heading. The following steps will only become visible to you once you’ve completed your application; if anything is missing, you won’t be able to access this process at all.

The first step in the submission process will involve reviewing your application yet again. This time, instead of clicking all the individual tabs, you’ll simply view a PDF print preview of your entire application, set up as one document. 

Take this opportunity to make sure there are no errors — it’ll be your last opportunity to do so. It may be helpful to actually print the PDF and review it on paper. Sometimes seeing a physical copy can reveal typos or other mistakes you missed when reviewing it on a screen. When you’ve completely reviewed it and are satisfied with your application, hit the red button that says “Continue.”

At this point, the Common App website will reroute you to that particular college’s payment page. Here, you’ll submit your application fee directly to the college. (If you have requested a Common App fee waiver, you will not be required to make a payment at this point.)

Once your application fee is submitted, you’ll sign and date your application. Then comes the big moment: finally hitting “Submit” on your Common App. 

Step 6: Submitting Supplements  

For most schools, submitting the Common App is not quite the end of the process. You’ll also need to submit your school-specific supplement, and you cannot do so until your Common App itself is submitted.

To submit your supplement, you’ll click on “Review and Submit Writing Supplement” under the “Writing Supplement” heading. This will lead you through a process similar to the one you went through in order to submit your Common App. Follow the instructions given by your particular school.

When you finish the process of submitting your writing supplement, return to your Dashboard within your Common App account. Look for the school to which you just submitted an application. If a green check mark has appeared across from that school’s name under the “Application” column, congratulations! You just applied to college!

Step 6: Additional Tasks

Remember, submitting the Common App is not the only thing you need to do in order to apply to your chosen colleges. While your counselor and recommenders will be able to submit their documents through the online system, you’ll have to make sure that your official test scores are sent directly to your colleges by the agencies that administer those tests. For more about this process, check out our post What You Need to Know About Submitting ACT & SAT Scores to Colleges .

You’ll need to repeat the submission process for each college you wish to apply to. This is admittedly a bit repetitive, especially if you’re applying to a large number of schools, but it’s still better than filling out all those separate forms individually.

Common App FAQs

We at CollegeVine realize that you may still have many questions about the Common App, and we’ll address some of those in future posts. For the moment, here are a few questions about the Common App that we frequently encounter.

“How do I download a PDF of my application?”

Once your application is complete and you begin the process of submitting it to a college, you’ll be given the opportunity to review your application in PDF “print preview” form. Many students want to hold onto a physical and/or an electronic copy of that PDF, and that’s a smart thing to do; technical glitches are always possible when using an online application system.

Downloading a PDF of your completed application is usually quite simple, but the details and screen appearance of the process will vary based on technical details like what type of computer and what Internet browser you’re using. If you’re having a hard time with your PDF, you might try opening your Common App in a different browser.

Generally speaking, when you view the PDF preview of your application, you will be able to save a copy through the program that you used for opening it. In most cases, you will be able to select File>Save As, and then specify what you would like to name this document, as well as where you’d like to save it to on your computer.

Keep in mind that your saved or printed preview of your Common App is not a valid application—it is simply a preview of the online version. You cannot print your application PDF and mail it to the school as a means of applying. You may only submit it officially online, through the Common App portal. 

“How do I sign my FERPA waiver?”

Your FERPA waiver basically governs whether you’ll be allowed to view the recommendations you receive from your guidance counselor and teachers after you enroll in college. Signing it waives your right to review the recommendations and generally makes them more valid, as it ensures that your recommender is submitting an honest, unbiased assessment. 

In order to sign your FERPA waiver, first go to your My Colleges section. Click on the first college on your list, and then click on “Recommenders and FERPA” under the name of the college.

To access your FERPA waiver, click on the button that says “Release Authorization.” A box will pop up with explanatory text. Click the checkbox to certify that you have read and understood the explanation. Then click on the button that says “Continue.” 

Then, select one of the options to state whether you waive or do not waive your right to review your recommendations and supporting documents.

Click the next checkbox to certify that you understand that your selection here cannot be changed. (Don’t do this until you’re sure what choice you want to make — you can hit “Cancel” if you want to give it some more thought first.) Finally, type your name in the Signature box and the current date in the Date box. Click “Save” to finish signing your FERPA waiver.

The majority of students choose to waive their FERPA rights. It’s not required, but choosing not to waive your rights may make a negative impression on the people who will evaluate your application. Some teachers and counselors may be unwilling to provide a recommendation for you at all unless you do waive your FERPA rights.

“What is the maximum number of schools I can add to the Common App?”

You can add a maximum of 20 schools to your list of schools within the Common App. This is a restriction set by the Common App’s member schools, and there are no exceptions to this rule.

If you change your mind about your list of schools during the application process, you can delete a school from your list using the Dashboard — just click on the gray X to the right of the school name to remove it. If you’ve already submitted your application and/or your school supplement to that school, you are not permitted to remove it from your list.

This is a lot of information to digest in one sitting. Don’t worry too much right now — you can always come back to this post and the others on the CollegeVine blog for guidance. The prospect of answering all of these questions may seem pretty daunting at this point, but there are instructions and resources available to help you manage the process along the way.

You can also take a look at past posts on our blog, which cover everything from choosing colleges to application strategies to financial aid . Best of luck in finding a college that’s a great fit for you!

You may also like:

How to Write the Common App Essays 2019-2020

Essay Breakdowns 2019-2020

How to Fill Out the Common App Activities Section

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

7 Expert Tips for the Common App Essay

• The Common App college essay is required by most Common App schools.
• This personal essay plays a critical role in many institutions’ admission decisions.
• Admissions experts’ biggest tips include writing how you speak and focusing on details.

Each year, over a million high school seniors apply for college through the Common Application . This online system enables you to submit one application to multiple schools, meaning you only have to fill out everything once — including a personal statement .

The Common App essay gives colleges the opportunity to learn more about you as a person and what’s important to you. You should use this space to tell your story and reveal different facets of your personality.

Here, we explain what the Common App essay entails before diving into admissions experts’ biggest tips for crafting a memorable personal statement.

What Is the Common App Essay?

The Common App essay is the main personal statement you’ll submit to colleges that use the Common App and require the essay.

You can find the Common App essay prompts and instructions by navigating to the “Common App” tab on your Common App account and clicking on “Writing.” You’ll get to choose one of seven prompts to respond to, and your essay must be between 250 and 650 words long.

This statement gives you the chance to delve deeper into your interests, experiences, passions, and strengths. You can discuss almost anything you want, provided your topic addresses the prompt you’ve chosen. There are also no rules on style or how to tell your story.

You must submit the Common App essay to all colleges that require it, though some may ask you to submit one or more supplemental essays as well.

The application form provides you with a box in which to type your essay; however, it’s strongly recommended that you compose your essay in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or another word processor before copying and pasting your final draft into this box.

How Important Is the Common App Essay?

The Common App essay is a key part of your college application. According to a 2019 study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling , 56.4% of colleges surveyed considered the personal statement moderately or considerably important. Highly selective institutions tended to place more emphasis on the essay.

“The more selective the college, the more the essay matters,” explained Elizabeth Benedict, a former Princeton writing instructor and the founder and president of Don’t Sweat the Essay Inc .

Benedict, who spoke with BestColleges about the Common App essay, has helped students around the world apply to college for over a decade.

“Applying to a hyper-selective college with mediocre or uneven grades and a fabulous essay will likely not get you into that college, [whereas] applying to a hyper-selective college with top grades and scores, outstanding extracurriculars, and a mediocre essay could sink your application,” she said.

While most experts agree that a strong Common App essay won’t necessarily secure you admission into a highly selective college — especially if your grades and test scores aren’t up to par — a well-written statement could act as a tipping point in your favor.

According to Benedict, this often happens at small liberal arts colleges , which tend to take a more holistic admissions approach .

Experts’ Top 7 Common App Essay Tips

Admissions officers, higher education administrators, education consultants, and college admissions advisors like Benedict have many tricks for approaching the Common App essay. Here are some of their biggest tips.

1. Don’t Mistake a Rare Topic for an Effective Topic

Many students assume their Common App essay must revolve around a unique topic that no other applicant has ever written about, but this is a myth.

“Overuse of a topic doesn’t make it a bad topic,” Whitney Soule told U.S. News & World Report . Soule currently serves as Bowdoin College’s dean of admissions and student aid.

“It’s not just about the topic,” echoes Jennifer Gayles , director of admissions at Sarah Lawrence College, “but why it’s important to you and how you can showcase who you are as a student and an individual through that topic.”

Choosing the right Common App essay topic can be tricky, but it’s extremely important. “Students I work with run the gamut from having a good idea to having absolutely no idea what to write about,” Benedict said. “Often in our brainstorming session, an idea will pop up in discussion, and I’ll say, ‘That’s a good idea,’ and the student will be surprised.”

To identify potential essay topics, Benedict proposes asking yourself a series of questions. Have you experienced a turning point in your life? Are you deeply passionate about a particular subject?

Ultimately, your essay should excite and inspire you, as well as those who read it. “If an essay topic makes your heart beat fast, that’s a good sign,” said Benedict.

2. Pick the Best Essay Prompt for You

Not all Common App essay prompts are created equal. Of the seven prompts, some will no doubt work better for you than others.

Lisa Mortini, assistant director of admissions at New York University Abu Dhabi, asks students to think about what version of themselves they want to present to schools and to trust their instincts.

“Don’t just jump on the first prompt you read and start writing,” she writes in a blog post for NYU. “Ask yourself: Are you excited to talk to us about a specific achievement? Do you want to give us insight into a hardship you faced and conquered?”

In essence, work backward: Start with a topic and then see which essay prompt fits it the best.

This is the same advice given by Thea Hogarth of College Essay Advisors : “Once you have determined the story you really want to tell, you’ll know which prompt will make a good fit. All of the Common App options are broad enough to accommodate almost any story.”

3. Use Your Space Wisely

Students tend to go one of two ways with the Common App essay: They either write way too much and struggle to trim it down, or they write way too little and end up sounding superficial and generic.

The Common App essay word count range is 250-650 words. But just how long should your statement be? Admissions Blog advises aiming for around 500 words. And former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling concurs.

“The most common ‘personal statement’ length is in the ballpark of 500 words,” Leichtling writes for Bright Horizons College Coach . “I consider 500 the ‘sweet spot,’ but don’t stress if you write an essay closer to 430 or 620 [words] that you’re honestly proud of.”

4. Fill Your Story With Details

Details are everything when it comes to the Common App essay, which is why so many experts suggest anchoring your essay in a single anecdote or story.

“Specific anecdotes are your friend when drafting your Common App personal statement,” Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting, writes on his company’s website . “Try to think of a story you often tell people that shows something about you.”

Meredith Reynolds, associate director of admissions at Tufts, similarly recommends that applicants emphasize specifics in their essays. “By focusing on details, you set yourself apart,” she says.

In terms of structure, Benedict advises approaching the Common App essay one step at a time. “Break down the topic to the smallest pieces you can and write a paragraph about each,” she said.

In other words, discuss specific moments from your life. Relate conversations you’ve had. Describe how something felt or looked. It’s the details in your story — not the topic itself — that will help you stand out the most.

5. Channel Your Authentic Voice

The Common App essay is unlike most essays you’ve written for school. Instead of analyzing a piece of literature or a historical event, you must showcase your identity. As such, the words you use should sound like they actually come from you — not a thesaurus or an English teacher.

“[Students] are used to writing academic essays and trying to impress with big words and formal-sounding constructions,” Benedict said when asked about the most common mistake students make on the Common App essay. “The best essays have a conversational voice — not a stiff, academic one.”

Educational consultant Ian Fisher agrees . In a blog post offering language tips for college essays, Fisher expounds on the importance of writing in a way true to how you talk in real life.

“You’re going to have to fight the urge to ‘impress’ your admissions reader with the big words you’ve learned from your SAT practice,” he writes.

Students should, however, avoid using any derogatory, offensive, or inappropriate language. Fisher recommends using words like “debate” instead of “fight” and “undeveloped” instead of “stupid.”

Likewise, students should refrain from relying on cliches. This includes phrases such as “happily ever after,” “beggars can’t be choosers,” and “crack of dawn.” Benedict advises getting someone to “cliche-proof” your essay.

6. Get Feedback

Before submitting your Common App essay, show it to someone who will not only offer feedback but also edit and proofread your writing.

Shemmassian suggests giving your draft to “a trusted admissions counselor, English teacher, or other advisor.” Meanwhile, Reynolds says you should “show your essay to two people — one who is a strong writer, and one who knows you really well.”

All recommendations from experts share a common thread: Getting feedback on your Common App essay should be a top priority.

7. Don’t Neglect Supplemental Essays

Lots of competitive universities require the Common App essay in addition to supplemental essays and/or short answers. If you have other essays to submit, don’t spend all your time working on the Common App essay. After all, all essays can impact your admission chances.

“At the most selective colleges and universities, there are usually supplemental essays as well, and those are part of the overall package, and they are very important,” Benedict said.

She also discussed how a great Common App essay combined with weak supplemental essays could reflect poorly on your application and increase your risk of getting rejected .

“I can’t stress enough the importance of the supplemental essays,” Benedict continued. “For the most selective universities, all of the essays taken together present a ‘package’ of who you are.” And how you choose to put together that package is up to you.

Elizabeth Benedict is the founder and president of Don’t Sweat the Essay Inc. , which has been helping students apply to college around the U.S. and all over the world for a dozen years. Elizabeth is a best-selling novelist, a prolific journalist, and an editor of many books. She has taught writing at Princeton, Columbia, MIT, Swarthmore, and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her clients are regularly admitted to top universities and their first-choice colleges.

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Attention, college applicants! The Common App allows you to submit applications to multiple colleges and universities by completing one online form. More than 700 colleges accept the Common App.

Learn about the benefits of the Common App and get our expert tips on how to manage your time through the college admission cycle.

Top 3 Benefits of the Common App

• Save time. Instead of filling out the same information a dozen times, you only have to do it once.
• Reduce senior year stress. Through the Common App dashboard you can track what documents and letters of recommendation you have submitted and what is still outstanding for each school.
• Write only one essay (plus any supplements). You’ll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions. Check out the  Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing!

Read More: QUIZ: Test Your College Knowledge!

How to Start Your Common Application

Before you can submit your application, you’ll need to gather your materials. (Read up on all the pieces of your college application ). Here are your early fall priorities:

1. Create a Common App login.

You can create an account now and start working on your applications later.

2. Make a list of your target Common App schools.

Browse our college profiles , and think about what you want in your prospective college. Our Admissions Experts can help you put a list together!

3. Register (and prep for!) the SAT and/or ACT.

Plan to take the tests so that colleges will receive your scores by the deadline. If you’re thinking of applying  early decision  and you’re not happy with your previous scores, you should take the September ACT or the October SAT. 

4. Research the application requirements for every school on your list.

Even if all the colleges you are applying to accept the Common App, their requirements may not be the same! Does your dream school require certain SAT Subject Tests? Gather this information early on so you can plan your senior year testing schedule.

5. Compose a list of your extracurricular activities.

Don’t forget to include things you do outside of school like your weekend job or playing on a regional soccer team.

Read More: 5 Reasons to Take Both the SAT and ACT

6. Ask for recommendations.

Ask your teachers for letters of recommendation early, and make sure they have all the information they need (like a résumé  of your accomplishments ) to meet the deadline.

7. Write your Common Application essays.

You'll choose from one of seven  college essay prompts . Keep in mind that many colleges may also ask you to complete supplemental essay questions that are tailored to their schools.

8. Start collecting parent or legal guardian information.

The Common App will ask you to list their information about their educational background and employer, so if you don’t have this info, start asking! Don't forget to keep up your grades! Read our expert tips for managing homework AND your college applications .

The Common App: Dates & Deadlines

• Common App goes live : August 1
• Early Decision Deadline: Typically November 1
• Regular Decision Deadline:  Typically February 1

Application deadlines vary by school, so be sure to triple-check the dates for each school where you plan to submit an application. Here’s a sample list of application deadlines for several colleges.

Exceptions to Note

College-Specific Requirements:  Not all Common App schools have the same writing, testing, essay, and letter of recommendation requirements. For example, if you’re applying early action to Stanford, you should know that October is the last acceptable SAT test date and September is the last acceptable ACT test date. Make sure you’ve done your research!

Financial Aid:  The financial aid process is separate from submitting your Common App (and has different deadlines!). Learn everything you need to know about financial aid .

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