Every year, the common app opens on August 1st. Before you sign up for common app, open a practice account. Here is FAQ from common app https://membersupport.commonapp.org/s/article/Practice-account-FAQs

• Do I need to create a separate email address for my practice account?

It's not required, but it's a good idea to use a different email address for your practice account to avoid confusion with your actual application account.

• Will my practice account information be shared with colleges?

No, your practice account information is not shared with colleges. Your student account information is shared with colleges, they can see if you added them to common app.

• Can I delete my practice account?

Yes, you can delete your practice account at any time.

• Can I add colleges to my practice account?

Yes, you can add colleges to your practice account and familiarize yourself with the application process for each college.

• Are the prompts on the practice account the same as the ones on the actual application?

Yes, the prompts on the practice account are the same as the ones on the actual application. This allows you to practice answering the prompts and get a better understanding of what each college is looking for in their applicants.

Overall, using a practice account on the Common App is a great way to prepare for the actual application process and become familiar with the platform. Take advantage of this resource to ensure a smooth application process when it's time to apply to college.

It's important to remember that while the Common App allows you to apply to up to 20 schools, it doesn't mean you should apply to that many. Applying to too many schools can be overwhelming and expensive, and it's important to prioritize your choices based on your personal preferences and goals.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for a range of 12-15 schools. This allows you to apply to a mix of reach, target, and safety schools while also being realistic about the amount of time and effort required to complete each application.

However, there may be reasons why you have more than 20 schools on your list. For example, if you're applying to many reach schools and want to increase your chances of acceptance, or if you're hoping to receive merit aid and are applying to multiple safety schools. In these cases, you can explore other application options offered by some of the schools on your list, such as the Coalition Application or the Universal College Application.

Ultimately, the key is to be strategic and thoughtful about your college choices and application strategy. Focus on finding the best-fit schools for you and put your best effort into each application to increase your chances of admission.

There is a section on the common app that asks you to fill in your grades. Not all colleges use this section of the common app. Most colleges request a transcript from your school. Some state universities (e.g., Univ of Pittsburgh, UIUC) do not ask for a transcript from school when you apply. They ask for SRAR - Self Reported Academic Record. You should fill out the SRAR exactly as it appears on the transcript. Sometime in January or early February, when your 1st semester senior year grades are finalized, you should ask your counselor to send in the mid-year grades. The mid-year grades are requested by most Regular decision colleges (check on the individual college’s website or in the common app). Some early action or early decision colleges also need mid-year grades if they have deferred you. A strong 1st semester (also sometimes called 7th semester) grade record can help if you are deferred. Finally, when you commit to a college, it will require your school to send a final transcript. Any inconsistencies in the transcript Vs. what you have reported in the SRAR may raise doubts and can be a cause for rescinding your offer. So be careful when you fill out the common app grades section or the SRAR. 

If a student completed high school courses like Algebra 1, Geometry, and World Language 1 in middle school and these courses appear on their high school transcript, then they should include them in the "other courses" section of the Common App. However, if the courses do not appear on the high school transcript, then the student should not include them in this section. Some colleges may accept all high school courses, including those taken in middle school, be reported on the SRAR, while others may only want to see high school courses taken during the traditional four years of high school.

If a student has taken dual enrollment courses and the courses and grades appear on their high school transcript, they do not need to enter the college information separately in the Common App. However, if the student took a course directly at a college (not through their high school) and the course and grade do not appear on their high school transcript, they should enter the college name and courses taken in the appropriate section of the Common App. In this case, the student will need to request an official transcript from the college to be sent to each college they are applying to.

If a student has taken online courses, they should include them in the appropriate section of the Common App and provide a description of the course. It's important to note that online courses may be evaluated differently than traditional in-person courses, so students should be prepared to provide additional information or documentation if needed.

If a student's 12th-grade classes change for any reason after submitting their application, they should send an update to any colleges they have applied, been admitted to, or been deferred from. This is especially important if the change in classes affects the student's academic performance or GPA.

Students can usually submit updates through the college's applicant portal or by contacting the admissions office directly. It's important to follow each college's specific instructions for submitting updates and to provide any necessary documentation or explanation for the changes.

In the Common App, students can list up to five honors, and these honors should be academic in nature. However, the Common App also allows for other types of awards to be included in this section, as long as they are not activity-related.

National, state, and regional awards, as well as school-level awards, can all be included in the honors section of the Common App. Some examples of academic awards that could be included are National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, or a specific academic subject award. It's important to note that these awards should be related to the student's academic achievements rather than their extracurricular activities.

When listing honors or awards, students should be sure to include any relevant details or context, such as the name of the organization or institution granting the award, the level of the award (e.g., national, state, or school-level), and any specific criteria that were used to determine the award. This information can help give context to the award and demonstrate its significance.

Fill in your SAT or ACT dates and scores. If you took the test multiple times, you do not need to fill all the dates. Fill the dates that match with the highest scores in both sections and then put the composite as super score. Many colleges only need self-reported scores, some need official score reports. For going test optional, do not fill up the section. For future tests, say 0, you can always update scores later.

In the Common App, students can list up to five honors, and these honors should be academic in nature. However, the Common App also allows for other types of awards to be included in this section, as long as they are not activity-related.

National, state, and regional awards, as well as school-level awards, can all be included in the honors section of the Common App. Some examples of academic awards that could be included are National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, or a specific academic subject award. It's important to note that these awards should be related to the student's academic achievements rather than their extracurricular activities.

When listing honors or awards, students should be sure to include any relevant details or context, such as the name of the organization or institution granting the award, the level of the award (e.g., national, state, or school-level), and any specific criteria that were used to determine the award. This information can help give context to the award and demonstrate its significance.

The Common App allows students to list up to 10 activities in the "Activities" section of the application, but it's not necessary to use all 10 spots. It's more important to focus on the quality and significance of the activities listed rather than the quantity.

When listing activities, students should order them based on their level of importance to them. The activities section is an opportunity for students to showcase their interests, talents, and accomplishments outside of the classroom, so it's important to choose activities that highlight their unique strengths and passions.

It's also important to provide context and details for each activity listed, including the name of the activity, the role or position held, the duration of involvement, and any relevant accomplishments or awards. This information can help admissions officers better understand the student's level of commitment and achievement in each activity.

If there are any significant changes to a student's application after it has been submitted, it's important to notify all of the colleges that they have applied to as soon as possible. This includes changes to courses or schedule, new test scores, and any major accomplishments or awards received.

However, it's important to use discretion when deciding whether to send updates to colleges. Admissions officers typically do not like to receive too many updates, especially if they are minor or insignificant. It's generally best to only send updates if they are truly important and could potentially have a significant impact on the student's application.

If a student does need to send updates, they should try to bundle them together into one concise email or letter. This can help ensure that the admissions office receives all of the relevant information at once and makes it easier for them to process the updates. Students should also be sure to follow any specific instructions or guidelines provided by the colleges regarding updates to their application.

Personal information changes, such as changes in address, phone number, or email address, should be updated directly on the student's application portal or by contacting the college's admissions office. These changes are important to ensure that the college can stay in contact with the student and provide important updates and information throughout the admissions process.

If a student has improved their test scores, it's important to send the updated scores to all of the colleges they have applied to as soon as possible. This can potentially improve their chances of admission or scholarship offers.

Changes to the senior year schedule, such as course changes or add/drops, should also be immediately updated to colleges. This information can be provided through an updated transcript or by directly contacting the admissions office.

Other important updates, such as new awards or leadership positions, can be included in a letter of continued interest if the student is deferred. This can help demonstrate continued interest and commitment to the college, and can potentially improve their chances of admission in the regular decision round.

Check your portal to see how to update the college. If not through the portal, you can do it over email. Don’t send too long an update, be concise.

It's important to keep an eye on your college portals and email/phone for any messages from colleges asking for additional information or verification. Colleges may require additional documentation to verify information provided on the application, such as transcripts or test scores.