Guide to the Common App in 2025: When it Opens & How to Complete it

The Common App makes it easier to apply to college, but easier doesn’t always mean simple. With dozens of sections, deadlines, and varying requirements per school, the process can become overwhelming quickly. That’s where this guide comes in.

Whether you're getting a head start before senior year or filling it out just ahead of deadline day, we’ll walk you through the Common App from start to finish. Along the way, you’ll find tips to avoid common mistakes, make your application stronger, and stay organized throughout.

What is the Common App?

Let’s start with the basics. The Common App (short for Common Application) is an online platform used by over 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities. It allows you to apply to multiple schools by filling out one central application. From your grades and test scores to essays and activities, you only need to enter your core info once.

That said, not every college uses the Common App, and many schools that do still require additional materials, such as school-specific questions or supplemental essays. You can check which colleges use it on the official Common App college list.

Real Talk: The Common App saves time, but it’s not a magic button. You still need to tailor certain parts of your application to each school. 

When does the Common App open?

Every year, the Common App opens on August 1st for the current application cycle.

You can create a Common App account at any time, but the application for a given school year typically won't be available until August 1st. That’s when you can start submitting to colleges and accessing school-specific questions.

Use the months leading up to August 1 to get your materials ready:

• Build and research your college list
• Draft your personal statement
• Ask for letters of recommendation
• Start filling out your Common App profile

Not sure where you stand? Use Appily’s College Chances Calculator to see how competitive you are at the schools on your list.

When is the Common App due?

Here’s a quick look at how deadlines stack up depending on your application strategy:

Real Talk: Those deadlines sneak up fast. If you’re applying Early Action or Early Decision, August to November goes by in a blink. Start early, even if it feels too early.

Step-by-step: How to fill out the Common App

The Common App isn’t just one giant form. It’s a collection of connected sections that build your full application. Here’s how to take it one step at a time.

Create your Common App account

The first step is simple: make an account at commonapp.org.

• Select “First Year Student”
• Use an email address you’ll have access to after high school
• Enter your basic information and communication preferences

Heads-up: You can create your account early, even before senior year. Your info in the main Common App tab will carry over each year.

Use an email you check often. This is where colleges will reach out about interviews, missing info, and (hopefully) acceptances.

Gather what you’ll need

Before you begin, take a moment to gather your materials. Trust us.. this makes the entire process smoother.

Here’s what to collect:

• Caregivers & community info (jobs, education, contact details)
• Household income (optional, but needed for fee waivers)
• Your current senior schedule
• Academic honors (you can list up to 5)
• Test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, IB—if self-reporting)
• Your activities list (up to 10—include clubs, jobs, volunteering, and family responsibilities)
• Unofficial transcript (to help complete the Education section)

Real Talk: Don't wait until the night before your deadline to hunt down your transcript or test scores. You'll thank yourself later.

Fill out the Common App tab

Now you're ready to start entering your information. The Common App tab is where you’ll enter core information that every college on your list will see.

You’ll move through sections like:

• Profile: Personal, demographic, and contact info
• Family: Parent or guardian details
• Education: Schools attended, GPA, class rank, courses
• Testing: Optional self-reported test scores
• Activities: What you’ve been involved in outside of class
• Writing: Your personal essay and disciplinary history

This is the longest section of the app, but it’s mostly a fill-in-the-blank format. Break it into chunks and take breaks. You don’t have to do it all in one sitting.

Add colleges to your list

Building your college list is the fun part! Once your profile is set up, head to the College Search tab.

You can search by name, location, deadlines, and more. As you add colleges to your My Colleges list, you’ll unlock their individual requirements.

Real Talk: Don’t just pick schools with big names. Make sure you actually vibe with the programs, campus life, and support systems. You’re applying to spend four years there, not just to flex the bumper sticker.

Understand FERPA and invite recommenders

Now let’s talk recommendations. Before you can invite teachers, counselors, or mentors to submit letters, you’ll need to complete the FERPA Release Authorization. This step determines whether you’ll waive your right to view the letters later.

Most students waive it because it’s a trust signal for colleges and recommenders.

Then:

• Go to the My Colleges tab
• Choose a school and open the Recommenders and FERPA section
• Invite your recommenders using their names and emails

Some schools use outside platforms (like Naviance). If yours does, you’ll see instructions after adding your school.

Ask for your letters of recommendation early and in person. Don’t just drop their email into a form and bounce. A little courtesy can lead to a much stronger letter.

Complete each college’s individual questions

Each college on your list may have unique questions, short answers, or essays. These live in the My Colleges tab and vary from school to school.

Some schools may ask for:

• Supplemental essays
• Portfolios or resumes
• Specific major interest questions

Check your:

• Dashboard for deadlines and progress tracking
• Writing Requirements by College to preview essays in advance

Don’t copy-paste your answers across schools without tweaking them. Schools can tell when you’re phoning it in.

Write your essays

The personal essay might be the most intimidating part, but it’s also your chance to shine. Nearly all Common App schools ask for it.

Choose a prompt that lets you be real and reflective. You’re not trying to impress with big words. You’re telling your story.

Quick tips:

• Don’t try to cram your whole life into one essay
• Focus on one moment, theme, or lesson
• Keep it under 650 words

Some colleges may also require additional writing. Those short-answer or supplemental essays are just as important, so don’t leave them for the last minute.

Real Talk: The best essays aren’t the ones that sound the most polished. They’re the ones that sound like you. Don’t be afraid to be specific, honest, or even a little weird.

Submit your application

You’re almost there. Before you submit:

• Preview the entire application with the PDF tool
• Double-check everything (especially names and dates!)
• Pay your fee (or confirm your fee waiver)

You can’t edit anything after submitting to a specific college. But you can still make changes for schools you haven’t applied to yet.

Once you hit submit, take a deep breath. You did it.

Seriously: Don’t wait until 11:58 PM on deadline night. Servers crash. Wi-Fi cuts out. Pets jump on keyboards. Submit early and sleep easy.

Explaining bad grades or difficult circumstances (optional)

This is a space to discuss major life disruptions, like health issues, family emergencies, or global events that have impacted your grades.

It’s optional. If you haven’t experienced something significant, skip it.

If you do fill it out:

• Be honest, but brief
• Focus on how it affected you
• Explain how you responded or grew

This isn’t a space to overshare or try to force a hardship story. Use it only when necessary. 

Common App 2025 FAQs