Submitting college applications has been made easier with the Common App. SchooLinks is another useful resource that provides insightful information about universities/colleges. The Common App main page consists of numerous tabs and can be manually linked with SchooLinks, both are used in building an application.
SchooLinks is beneficial for students, on its home screen students are appealed by the names of scholarships and the amount of money in a green font. There are also clickable icons on the left for school, career, activities, colleges, etc. A student can find all kinds of good information about a college they are interested in using the search bar.
Common App has 5 sections where students write their personal information such as what college their parents attended or activities they have participated in. There’s also a section for personal statements. This section can take the longest to complete as students want their statements to be perfect. However, they also need recommenders like teachers or coaches for letters of recommendation.
This step is done via the SchooLinks website. Students may request a teacher by searching up their name or email in order to send them a link where they can write the letter. If students choose to waive their rights on the Common App, they will not be able to view the letters.
Students submit their college applications through the Common App to their chosen universities and are read by admission counselors. If students apply for early action, they need to submit it by Nov. 1. Other application deadlines depend on the college/university and vary from December to January 2025.
Taft Counselor Melissa Gallagher stated, “So many applications [students] fill out, some of that basic information like name and address, don’t have to be filled out over and over again and minimizes the busy work and [students] do it once and they’re done.”
According to Taft senior Kathy Huynh, “I am confident with the app and using it to submit my application. Since, everyone uses it and it’s convenient because so many colleges use the CommonApp.”
Common App is used among almost all universities; therefore, it must be reliable and efficient. Students trust the app and have no doubts about its delivery. The process doesn’t require filling out the same section repeatedly, making it less time consuming.
Taft senior Atlas Diaz stated, “The hardest part would be making sure everything is formatted correctly for the essay and making sure I put in the right information.”
Overall the Common App aids future undergraduates applying to college with having their information in one location and finding new colleges with SchooLinks, another resourceful tool.
