College applications are the number one source of stress for every senior. While the deadlines for most schools may not be until January, some students like to get a head start and submit their applications as soon as the Common Application opens on August 1st. Common App is an undergraduate college admission application site that allows students to submit to over 1,000 colleges and universities in all 50 U.S. states. However, for some, the opening of Common App only adds more stress to their seemingly endless anxiety.
Common App represents a gateway to higher education that might otherwise be out of reach. For many, its opening marks the beginning of a rigorous process that involves crafting personal essays, gathering letters of recommendation, and highlighting extracurricular activities. It allows students to share personal stories that shape their identities, which provides admissions officers with a well-rounded view of each applicant. “I have been planning my essay since freshman year,” said Kate Tully “I’m currently deciding whether to write it on the way I peel oranges or how I write the letter A”.
Known for being prepared, Luke Mccullough enters senior year with all the Common App requirements completed. After a summer of editing and hours hunched over a computer, Mccullough is ready to submit to all fourteen colleges he is applying to. Including his top pick, the University of Southern California. “Just clicking submit will take a massive amount of weight off my shoulder,” said Mccullough.
The Common App’s user-friendly design which allows students to only need to input their personal information once for a multitude of different applications, aims to make the process accessible for most students. However, the signup process can be a tedious task, “I’ve got a love-hate relationship with the Common App,” said Avery Braswell, a senior at North Atlanta. “It’s a digital doorway to my future, but it feels like checking an endless series of boxes.”
So, as the digital gates of the Common App remain open, North Atlanta students continue to write their futures. As they hit “submit” on their applications, they’re setting the stage for a new chapter in their lives.
