Common Application

What's the best college prep that rising seniors can be doing this summer? Preparing their college applications! Checking things off your college application to-do list this summer is a great way to stay busy and will help relieve added pressure and stress in the fall of senior year.

Now is the perfect time for current high school juniors to start on their Common Applications. While the Common App doesn’t officially open until August 1st, students can still create accounts, input basic information, and get started on their personal statements. At IvyWise, we encourage students to become familiar with the Common App before senior year so that they can feel confident and prepared as they embark on the college application process.

The Common Application is officially open for the 2021-22 college application season, and there are several changes that high school seniors should be aware of as they embark on their college admissions journey this fall. The Common Application is the most widely used application for college admissions in the US. For the 2020-21 application season, there were approximately 989,063 students who submitted at least one application, an increase of 1 percent over the last year.

Junior year is a busy time for students, and arguably one of the most critical college prep years. There’s only a little bit of time left before summer break and juniors are suddenly rising seniors – and ready to start applying to college. There’s a lot that juniors can do between now and then to prepare and get on track with their college prep.

IvyWise students often begin working with their counselors on the college admissions process in the spring of 11th grade. Although college may seem far away, it's much closer than students think! If you are a junior, over the next few months you should conduct extensive research and develop concrete ideas about where you want to go to college, visit colleges, and make sure that your course load, test scores, and extracurricular activities will help your application stand out.

By Rachel, IvyWise Principal College Counselor The end of the school year is just around the corner – seniors have made their final college choice, AP exams are impending, and for you high school juniors, it's time to start thinking about how to get the most out of your summer. First, let me say, congratulations on having almost completed what is arguably the toughest year in high school! Hopefully you've been focusing on academics, as your junior year grades are particularly important in the college admissions process.

With admit rates at historic lows and more students applying to more colleges than ever, it’s important for students to make sure they’re submitting the best applications possible. Regular decision deadlines are approaching, and as students work to finish up their college applications there are a number of last-minute applications mistakes that they should be mindful to avoid. Before entering the final stretch of the college application process, take time to make sure you’re not making these common application mistakes.

Late October and early November deadlines for early decision and early action applications are just around the corner, so it’s crunch time for students putting the finishing touches on their college applications. Applying early decision or early action can add an extra layer of stress to the college admissions process as students have a shorter window to complete their applications. Students can also feel added pressure knowing this might be their only shot at getting into their top-choice college.

College Application Tips for Regular Decision Applications College application season is always a busy time for students. Between essays, test scores, and letters of recommendation, there's no doubt that you have a lot to keep track of. If it's getting down to the wire and your regular admissions deadlines are approaching, don't panic.

College admissions want to see you exploring your interests and making an impact outside of the classroom, and that includes what you’re doing during your summer break. Planning a productive summer can help you better understand your college and career goals, and can help you stand out during the admissions process, too. While students should start planning their summer activities at the start of the year, it’s not uncommon for many students to wait until the last minute to decide how to spend their summer break.

In April, we gave you tips on how to have a successful summer, and this month we have one more. Many IvyWise students have been working with their counselor to finalize their college lists and build resumes. They will begin drafting their personal essays later this summer.

You may be thinking that summertime is perfect for relaxing in the sun, hanging out with friends, and taking a break from school, but when it comes to college admissions, summer vacation is a crucial time for planning and working on application materials. Furthermore, summertime is an excellent opportunity to explore personal interests that can be emphasized on college applications. Here are some of IvyWise's suggestions for spending your summer vacation in a wise, productive, and fun way with some tips on how to get started!

For many rising seniors, the end of their junior year marks the beginning of the long, and often stressful, college application process. While the full Common Application and school specific supplements aren't released until August, some essay topics have already been revealed, and many students are taking the initiative to begin working on their application essays even before summer kicks off. While it's a great idea to get started as early as possible, there's much more than just essay brainstorming to complete the summer before senior year.

The school year may be coming to a close, but the college admissions process is just revving up for next semester’s high school seniors. While the summer is a good time to recharge, it’s also a great time to get on track for the college admissions process, no matter what grade you’re in. When it comes to college preparation, the earlier families start, the better.

Now that the early application round has closed, the window to craft thorough, compelling, and thoughtful regular decision applications is quickly closing. Many regular decision deadlines aren’t until January 1, so if you’re just now starting on your admissions journey, or need some help getting back on track, here’s what you need to do now in order to catch up and be ready to submit great applications by the regular decision deadlines. Make an appointment as soon as possible with your college counselor to go over your balanced college list (or what you have so far), what you need to do now to get on track, and collaborate on a plan of action.

The summer between junior and senior year is the prime time for college bound students to start brainstorming and writing their college application essays. The Common Application has already released the essay prompts for the 2022-23 application season, and with account rollover, students can get started on their Common App now, getting the bulk of the work out of the way before the start of the school year in the fall. What does it take to write a good essay?

IvyWise counselors Eric and Rachel discuss the importance of identifying interests, forming a plan to make an impact both inside and outside the classroom, and committing to these activities for the long-term on the Just Admit It! college admissions podcast, giving listeners expert insight from former admissions officers. Listen Now!

The new Common Application, CA4, has been released. You have likely heard some of the announcements about changes, but with application season upon us, it is critical to make sure you are prepared. New look Earlier this year the Common Application gave people a sneak peek at CA4's new look.