Here’s a snapshot from your not-so-distant future: you’ve finished your Common App. Yessss! You’ve written (and revised) a killer personal statement, perfected your activities list, and secured some jaw-dropping rec letters. But…you still have to click “submit.”
Anddddd…now your palms are getting sweaty. I’ve seen more than one of my private test prep clients come in saying that their application is technically finished, but they just can’t send the thing! And that makes perfect sense, in a way: you’ve put months and years of your life into this thing, and the stakes ARE serious. How will you know when you’re really done? How will you know you haven’t skipped something crucial?
I invite you to borrow my sanity-saving strategy. Before you submit your Common App to your dream school, follow this simple list to make sure your carefully crafted words come out the way you want them to. Double-check your application this way, and you’ll be ready to hit that “send” button with confidence.
1) View your entire application as a PDF.
Go to the section that says “Review and Submit – Common App.” Don’t worry, it’s ok to click: you can’t actually submit anything until you pay the application fee, but we need to see what your application looks like from a birds-eye view. There should be a place to “Review and Submit.” Click on it, and it will take you to a PDF version of your ENTIRE APPLICATION to that school!
2) Check for accuracy.
Now that you’re looking at the PDF, read over all the information, including the basic information. Yes, you’ve read it a thousand times before, but don’t let your eyes glaze over just yet. And do double-check that your intended major for that school is correct.
3) Check the formatting.
I’m talking nerdy minutiae here: Did you indent (or not indent) all your paragraphs? Do any words get cut between lines? Are there any special characters that turned into a crazy webding when you copy-pasted them into the Common App portal? Do all your paragraphs have a single space between them? Or no space at all? Make sure it’s consistent. Is there a space between the essay prompt and the beginning of your essay? I personally prefer to include one, because it makes it easier on the eyes.
4) Check for Continuity.
This is the part that requires the most effort….but it’s also the most important! Once the details are in order and won’t distract you, read the entire PDF top to bottom in one go. Does the Activity List make sense? Would someone get an accurate picture of who you are from that? Does your main Common App essay fit in with what we gathered from your Activity List? There should definitely be a common theme that comes through. Is one popping out at you as you re-read?
5) Fill in Any Gaps.
If this particular college has asked for supplemental questions and essay(s), keep reading through to those. Do these additional essays effectively show other parts of your personality that we didn’t get so far, or do they repeat content? If they repeat content, you might want to rewrite some of your short essays to portray you from different angles…while still connecting to the big picture we made of you from your activities list.
6) If you made any major edits on this final revisit, read the entire PDF a second time!
If you’ve done anything to meaningfully change your application, repeat this entire list! I know, rereading isn’t the most fun, but you don’t want to roll the dice when it comes to your college applications.
After you’ve completed this list, you’re ready to go.
Just make sure to do this whole process again for each new application, as the different supplemental essays will change the overall picture of you that application paints! Good luck, and if you need any help, I’m here for you.
