Presented by Michelle Scharf, Transfer Center Director

 Used by over 500 4-year colleges and universities around the country and world – some of the most popular ones for IVC students are Chapman, USC, Loyola Marymount, and NYU  One application goes to all participating colleges you want to apply to  School forms must be printed and submitted for each school you’re applying to: Final Report (aka School Report), Mid-term Report, Registrar Report  Most schools also require a writing supplement  A fee is paid for each school you apply to – fees vary  You can indicate you feel you qualify for an application fee waiver  Ask a counselor to write you a letter explaining why and mail to schools

 You will need two websites for each school you apply to:  #1: The school website. Check this first! On the school website, you will need to find the “Application Checklist” which will have the following information: ▪ Application due date ▪ Specific school forms needed by that school (not all of the forms may be needed!) - read carefully!

▪ Additional requirements such as a writing supplement, letters of recommendation, specific school requirements, etc.

▪ For example, Chapman University , USC , NYU  #2: The Common App website: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Default.aspx

 Start a checklist of each school you will apply to and include their due date, fee, what school forms they require, whether they want a writing supplement, personal statement, letters of recommendation, transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, and departmental materials  Use the current version of your browser  Disable popup blockers  Once you create your username and password, you can start, save, stop, and log back in – you don’t have to complete the whole application in one sitting If you need support, visit the Applicant Help Center: https://appsupport.commonapp.org/ics/support/splash.asp

Find each college you want to apply to – these will go on your

Dashboard

You can click on the My Colleges tab to see contact info, application deadlines, and application fees.

Ignore the Recommendations Required section – go with what you find on the school’s website for required forms. The Common App is sometimes wrong!

Next, click the

Common App

tab. There are 6 sections to fill out before you are finished. This information will be sent to all schools you apply to. Anything with a red asterisk * must be completed.

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Some confusing areas of the C.A.:



Education

▪ Under Current or Most Recent College, you can put IVC ▪ For Advisor information, you can put me or any counselor you’ve seen ▪ Under Colleges and Universities, indicate how many and what colleges you’ve attended besides IVC. If none, just put “0” ▪ Under Current Year Courses, count how many courses you are taking in fall, spring, and summer and choose that number. You will then list all classes you are taking for the 2014-2015 year

From the Common App website ( these are just suggestions, not prompts ):

  The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice.

scores? What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test

Write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.) This essay will be read by all schools you apply to  Feel free to recycle previous “personal statements” or essays you’ve already written

Your Dashboard will be home to the schools you choose. Click on one to work on that school’s application. The yellow dots tell you they have not been submitted yet. Once you submit an application or writing supplement, the dot will become a green checkmark. Each application and writing supplement is submitted separately.

When you click on a school, it should say “Ready” by Common Application. You just have to answer that school’s questions , assign recommenders, and do the writing supplement if required. Click on the links to complete these steps.

For the

Academic Evaluator

, put the person’s name and email address of who you want to write you a letter of recommendation. Then click the red “assign” button. They will receive an email asking them to log in, complete an evaluation, write your letter and submit it. For the

College Report (formerly known as Registrar’s Report

), print out the offline form only if the school you’re applying to lists it on their application checklist. Submit it to the IVC Admissions office. You will be asked to either include a transcript request form or verification form along with it. That is where you put the university name and address.

If your recommender has trouble with creating an account or logging on, or just wants to submit a hard-copy letter/ evaluation, they can “opt-out” and submit a hard-copy to each school you are applying to.

Be sure to give them a stamped, addressed envelope for each school.

Also, ask recommenders if they are willing to evaluate you and write you a letter before inviting them online. Then, give them at least 2 weeks to complete the task. No one likes being asked to write a letter at the last minute!

 Academic Evaluators will be asked to rank you on the following: academic achievement, intellectual promise, quality of writing, creative thought, productive discussion, faculty respect, disciplined habits, maturity, motivation, leadership, integrity, reaction to setbacks, concern for others, self-confidence, initiative, and an overall rating.

They will then be asked to complete a written evaluation and upload a document.

 This is one of the forms at the bottom, under “Additional Forms”. If your school asks for a Secondary School Final Report (formerly known as a Final or School Report ), then you will need to print this out and give it to your high school to process. They will fill it out and send it with your high school transcript to each college you are applying to. You may have to print out multiple forms if you are applying to multiple schools.

 Another form under “Additional Forms”. Print this out and take it to each instructor you have currently. They will indicate your current grade and sign it. Mail a copy of this form to each school you are applying to and keep an original for you. Remember, not every school will ask for this form.

Once you are finished, all parts of the application should say “Ready”. Click the submit button. A PDF version of your application will be created. Review your application, pay your fee (if not waived), and sign.

Once you see the green checkmark on the dashboard, the schools you applied to have access to your application.

You will submit your writing supplement separately.

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If you need to make changes to your application after submission, you have to contact the college’s admissions office to do so

 If you apply to other colleges after you submit one application, you can make changes and then submit to another 

Keep an eye on your email – check at least weekly

 Don’t miss deadlines for documents such as transcripts, school forms, letters of recommendation, portfolios – it can cost you your admission!