So Common: Filling Out College Applications

One of the most boring parts of applying to college is what you should do immediately.

What’s the first step to getting in to college? Some incredibly basic tasks. Photo by Matthew Fassnacht on Unsplash

The Common Application, as well as pretty much every other application portal, opened for the Fall semester on August 1st.

If you are a rising senior and you have not yet done so, get a Common Application account now. Do not read any further. Do not do anything else. Open up a new window, and create your account immediately. (Well, if you haven’t subscribed to the Admissions Abstract yet, you can do that first.)

A Common App account is free, and all you need to create an account is an email address. If you know you will apply to the University of California schools, the California State University institutions, State University of New York campuses, any of the colleges using ApplyTexas, or one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities on the Common Black College Application, sign up for those application portals as well.

A Common App account is the main account for…