COMMON APPLICATION
WORKSHOP
www.commonapp.org
HOW TO APPLY
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www.commonapp.org
Remember username/password
The navigation menu appears on the top
of the screen. Students can move
through the application by clicking
through each of the sections.
You can add colleges on the College
Search tab
Once you have added colleges, you will
see them displayed on the Dashboard
and be able to review requirements
specific to each of them on the My
Colleges tab.
PART ONE: DASHBOARD
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The Common App dashboard is the central location to monitor
your applications, including deadlines, requirements, and
progress.
Dashboard icons give a visual indication of the status of your
progress. Green checkmarks signify that work has been submitted
to that college, while yellow circles indicate work that is ready for
submission or is still being worked upon.
The Application Dashboard will display all of your colleges and
the status of your work for each major admissions component:
Common Application, application fee, college Writing
Supplement, and Recommendations. From here, you can get a
quick overview of your progress, and jump directly to the work
you want to complete.
Students should refer to the Dashboard page to confirm that all
required items have been submitted properly and by the deadline.
 DEADLINES
VARY GREATLY
DASHBOARD
DECISION OPTIONS
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Early Decision is a binding option, where applicants
receive a decision regarding their candidacy much earlier
than other applicants. In exchange, the applicant - if
admitted - will immediately accept that offer of admission
and withdraw their applications from other institutions.
Early Action is a non-binding option, where applicants
receive a decision regarding their candidacy much earlier
than other applicants, but with no obligation to enroll or
withdraw their applications from other colleges.
Rolling Admissions An admission policy of considering
each application as soon as all required information (such
as high school records and test scores) has been received,
rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing
applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling
admission policy usually notify applicants of admission
decisions quickly.
PART TWO: MY COLLEGES
The 'My Colleges' screen is where you will
complete work for each college to which you
intend to apply.
 You must first add a college to your My Colleges
list before you will be able to use this screen (use
the College Search screen to add colleges to your
list).
 Assign Recommenders through this tab
(teachers/counselors)
 Shows college deadlines and application fees
 Click on the name of the college to see collegespecific questions and writing supplements (pay
attention to word limit)
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MY COLLEGES
PART THREE: COMMON APP
COMMON APPLICATION
Be sure to enter in the high schools that you have
attended and Palomar if you took a class there. Use
overall GPA listed on transcript for “cumulative
GPA”. *This is different than the CSU’s/UC’s!*
GPA is either weighted with AP classes, or
unweighted without AP classes
 Graduating class size is 549. GPA scale is 4.
 Class Rank- choose “None” (District does not rank).
 When entering in test info indicate # of tests. Report
highest scores as requested. If you are taking a test
in the future (Oct/Nov) put that date on your
application. Must send ACT/SAT scores to every
school directly from College Board and ACT.
 Report AP and SAT Subject exam scores.
 Honors and extracurricular activities/work exp.
 Short answer/personal essay (choose one prompt)
ACTIVITIES, AWARDS, EXTRACURRICULAR
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For activities and awards be sure to include
EVERYTHING
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Use words like: mentor, taught, led, organized,
responsible for, etc.
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Clubs (list leadership positions)
Sports
Church activities
Community service
Awards and honors (from coaches or if a team makes CIF)
You want to represent LEADERSHIP, IMPROVEMENT,
DEDICATION within the activities section and your essay.
Work: list responsibilities for your job and what you
do with your earnings
Ed. Prep Programs: summer programs like Upward
Bound, COSMOS, and other ones like AVID.
SENIOR YEAR COURSES
Senior Schedule: Enter in 1st semester and 2nd
semester courses as listed on transcript. You
will also list ALL senior year classes (including
non-A-G courses).
 Course scheduling system= Semester
 Select “Full Year” after course title. If you are
planning on dropping/adding a class, indicate
either “first semester” or “second semester”
 If you listed a course on your application and
then drop it, you MUST notify the admissions
office at each university to which you applied.
 All acceptances are conditional; MUST earn C or
better
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ASSIGNING RECOMMENDERS(UNDER “MY COLLEGES” TAB)
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The “Assign Recommenders” tab is located in the My Colleges
area of your account, and becomes active once you have
provided the necessary information on the “Education” screen
of the Common App.
Applicants can invite teachers and counselor to provide
recommendations (counselor will complete secondary school
report and upload official transcript). Most institutions require
multiple teacher recommendations. To determine how many
are required for your selected institutions, review their
requirements on the My Colleges page.
After a teacher or counselor is added to a student's list of
recommenders, an email is sent to that school official with
instructions about using the online system.
Don’t forget to click the "assign“ button beside the
name of your teacher so the schools will receive the online
recommendation written by the teacher.
ASSIGNING RECOMMENDERS CONT’D
*Use Help Center for questions (on right)*
REQUESTING LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
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ASKING nicely  for Letters of
Recommendation- packet available in the
Counseling office. Must give at least 2 weeks notice10 School Days! No packet = no letter of rec!!!
Make sure you ask teachers/counselor if you may put
contact info in and to expect an email from Common
App.
REQUESTING LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
SUBMISSION PROCESS
SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION
Students should refer to the Dashboard to
confirm that all required items have been
submitted properly and by the deadline.
 It is your responsibility to preview your
application prior to submitting it to ensure all
your information is entered correctly.
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SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION
You have two ways to submit the application:
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From the dashboard, click on the name of the school and click submit. Or,
from the My Colleges tab, click on the school name and select "Submission
- Common App".
 Either way, The first step is a print preview. If you are satisfied with
the preview, please click continue on the bottom and you will be
routed to the schools payment page. Once the payment has been
completed you need to sign, date, and submit.
Once the application has been submitted, you will be able to
submit the writing supplement (check submission status through
Dashboard)
The only way to preview is through the submission menu. If you are not
satisfied with your PDF preview, click on the X in the top right corner to
close the preview and abandon the submission. The application will not be
submitted until you sign, date, and click submit in step 3.
FEE WAIVERS
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You can request a fee waiver on the Profile screen in the Common
Application Fee Waiver section (under Common App tab).
You must meet at least one of the following indicators of
economic need:
You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT
testing fee waiver.
 You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal
Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
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Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by
the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from
low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
Your family receives public assistance.
You live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless.
You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access
counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.
TRANSCRIPTS
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Counselor will complete secondary school report and
upload official transcript after receiving invite email
from Common App (student must 1st enter in
counselor email).
If you completed a course at Palomar or another
institution, you must request that the institution send
an official transcript directly to the schools at the
time you apply.
At the end of the school year, you must arrange to
send your final, official transcript from SMHS, as well
as any other educational institution you have
attended (Palomar).
All transcript requests go through the Registrar in
the counseling office (Ms. Brahy).
CSS PROFILE
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CSS Profile- Many colleges require both the CSS
Profile and the FAFSA application to determine your
financial aid/scholarship eligibility. The deadlines for
the CSS Profile vary from school to school (please
check each school’s financial aid website for specific
details).
Complete the CSS Profile online at
http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aidprofile
The fee for the initial application and one college or
program report is $25.00. Additional reports are
$16.00.
Fee waivers- if you qualify, fee waivers are granted
automatically (based on info entered on the Profile
app)
COUNSELOR CONTACT INFO
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Lori Nguyen lori.nguyen@smusd.org 760-290-2219
Kelly Lanzarone kelly.lanzarone@smusd.org 760-290-2252
Janet Paul- janet.paul@smusd.org 760-290-2220
Lisa Stout- lisa.stout@smusd.org 760-290-2259
Lisa Berry lisa.berry@smusd.org 760-290-2227
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Title: School Counselor
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CEEB code: 050883
Counselor fax # 760-290-2278
Graduation Date: June 17, 2015
REMEMBER:
4.0 GPA Scale, 549 sr. students
Overall weighted GPA listed on transcript,
NOT CSU/UC GPA!!
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