The college application process during a student's senior year of high school is exhausting, for both parents and students alike. In the old days, before the Internet, a student had to fill out many forms for each individual school by hand. However, that is now a thing of the past. The current trend and wave of the future is using The Common Application.
Since 1975, this non-profit organization has provided both print then online apps for over 400 institutions. The idea was to create a common application so first-year students and transfer applicants could save time and money. TCA says, "This allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework." It's become so popular that last year alone 1.4 million apps were submitted online.
Who are the Member Schools?
"Membership is limited to colleges and universities that evaluate students using a holistic selection process [that] includes subjective as well as objective criteria, including at least one recommendation form, at least one untimed essay, and broader campus diversity considerations." Since many educational institutions in the US evaluate solely by grades and test scores, they are not allowed to join. Only the schools listed on TCA website are part of the process, otherwise, the student is not able to submit the common app to a non-participatory university.
Schools that participate include:
- Harvard College*
- Brown Univ.
- State Univ. of New York (SUNY)*
- Rice Univ.
- Stanford Univ.
- College of William & Mary*
- Yale Univ.
- Univ. of Massachusetts
- Caltech*
- Swarthmore College*
Student Application Process
Teachers and guidance counselors (or those involved in College Admission Counseling) only used to have the option of downloading PDF files and mailing in the forms. However, TCA developed a faster and more efficient way so they can complete forms online, which pushes the student's app along quicker as well. This is optional, teachers and counselors do not have to go paperless though it is free for the school.
To create an account, go to the TCA website (the link is given in the second paragraph) and indicate which high school the student currently attends. Then select a teacher or counselor by accessing the 'School Forms' section. An email will be sent to that school official to begin the process via the web (or offline if s/he so chooses).
On TCA website, there are Flash Video demonstrations and printable PDF step-by-step instructions of how to join and utilize all resources.
The Common Application for Undergraduate College Admission is a valuable resource when saving time and money on the collegiate application process. Taking advantage of this service could save students a lot of potential stress and allow them to enjoy their last year of high school.
*These two articles, Best State Schools for Financial Aid and Best Schools for Financial Aid, discuss public and private institutions that are most generous with their financial aid packages. Many of the schools on the above list in this article are listed.
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