Greetings from the heart of application season! My clientele is often available to meet with me at odd hours, so I have been logging some late nights working hard to get applications done before my seniors head back to school. Last week I was finishing a call after 10:30 PM. The student commented on how late it was and I reminded them that it is “August” consulting and this is when we get a core piece of the work done. They paused and said, “Right!”
I explained that I settled on the name because August is the month that the Common App opens, kids head to college, it’s my favorite month, AND as an adjective it means dignified or respected, two things I try to bring to the process for students. Here are few things to be aware of with the Common App for the 2025 application season:
Pop-Up Essays
I hate them. When you look at specific school applications on the Common App, there are two clear places that you can see writing. One is on the margin, where the school lists that writing is required. The other is in the Questions section, where it will specifically have a section labeled “Writing”.
The challenge is that schools put supplements in other places. (One school has a short essay in the Contacts section ?!?) This requires going through the application with a fine-tooth comb to suss out places where an essay might be hidden.
Another place that an essay can appear is after you have clicked the major/school you anticipate applying to. Once the school has that information, a supplemental essay can pop up.
And my LEAST favorite way that colleges provide a required supplement(s) is in the application portal, AFTER you apply. Just when you have submitted your essay and think you are done, there is more work.
Inclusivity
Last year many schools asked about how you will contribute to an inclusive environment on campus. I continue to see colleges asking the same question. The good news is that this is usually a straightforward piece for students to write.
Applications Changing or Not Ready
The Common App opens for the new application cycle on August 1st but gives colleges a final deadline of August 31st to have their pages updated. When they rollover the Common App, I work hard to determine which schools require supplemental essays and get my kids started on the next phase of the writing. It is so frustrating when schools do not have their application ready. This is a standard date that always seems to sneak up on some colleges. Even more frustrating is when the colleges change the supplements during the month of August. 90% of the schools are ready but some wait or change their prompts in the middle of the month, after students have completed the writing.