The Common App: A Love-Hate Relationship (and How to Find Your Past Applications)
Ah, the Common App. The bane of many a high school senior’s existence. It’s a digital beast that demands your life story, academic achievements, and future aspirations – all within a few carefully crafted essays. And let’s not forget the endless number of deadlines that seem to pop up like unwelcome houseguests.
But fear not, dear reader! While the Common App might feel like a labyrinth of forms and deadlines, it’s actually quite user-friendly (at least most of the time).
So, you’re asking yourself, “How do I find my past Common App applications?”
The answer is simpler than you think:
You can sign into your Common App account and access PDFs of your submitted applications on your dashboard.
It’s like a time capsule! You can revisit those carefully crafted essays, relive the agony of the supplemental essays, and marvel at how much your writing style has (hopefully) improved since then.
But wait, there’s more!
The Common App is like a digital butler, remembering all those important details you might have conveniently forgotten (like deadlines).
The Common App dashboard also helps you track necessary application documents (like your letters of recommendation) and important deadlines.
It’s amazing, right? They even tell you when your recommenders have submitted their agonizingly late (but hopefully insightful) letters.
The Common App: A Digital Vault (Or Is it a Black Hole?)
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – data privacy.
Common App keeps personal information about you for as long as it is necessary to provide you with the Common App service or we have another legitimate reason to retain it, including for research purposes, longitudinal studies using aggregate data, or for our business purposes.
So, basically, they can keep your information for as long as they want, for whatever reason they want. Let’s just hope they don’t use your application essays to train their latest chatbot.
Navigating the Common App Labyrinth: A Survival Guide
Here are some extra tips to help you navigate the Common App jungle:
- Think of it like a game. The Common App is like a digital quest. There are tasks to complete, deadlines to conquer, and hidden treasures to uncover (like those hidden supplemental essays that pop up out of nowhere).
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The Common App website has a wealth of information, and their customer service team is actually pretty helpful (believe it or not).
- Take your time. The Common App is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t rush through the application process just to meet a deadline.
- Proofread, proofread, and proofread again. This is not the time to be lazy. Grammar errors can make you look like a lazy slob, and we all know you’re anything but that.
- Most importantly, be true to yourself. The Common App is meant to be a reflection of you. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. The colleges want to see the real you, warts and all.
Reapplying to College: A Second Chance (or a Third, or a Fourth…)
Speaking of second chances, have you ever reapplied to a college? It’s a brave move, and the Common App can actually be your friend in this situation.
You have the option of going through the Reapplication Process for up to two admission terms following the original term in which you applied.
So, if you’re not happy with your first college choice, or if you’ve grown and changed since then, the Common App can help you make things right. Just don’t get carried away and reapply to the same school every year – that might start to look desperate.
The College Application Process: A Marathon of Stress (and Hope)
The college application process is a stressful time for everyone. But remember, you’re not alone. Millions of students go through this every year.
Most colleges will notify you by email. If you applied early decision or early action, you should get an answer sometime in December.
So, keep your chin up, keep your fingers crossed, and remember to breathe. The acceptance letter will come eventually, even if it feels like it’s taking forever.
The Common App: A Necessary Evil?
The Common App is a necessary evil in the college application process. It’s a bit clunky, a bit bureaucratic, and can be a real pain in the neck. But it makes the application process more efficient for colleges and gives us a universal platform to showcase our talents and ambitions.
So, the next time you find yourself staring at the Common App, take a deep breath, remind yourself why you’re doing this, and remember that you’re not alone.
Need more help with the Common App or the college application process in general? Join our JobLoving community! We’re a friendly bunch who are happy to offer advice, support, and maybe even a few laughs along the way.