Question 1

I am homeschooled - how would I go about filling in the 'Counselor' information?

Accepted Answer

In case of home schooled candidate, the counselor is one of the parent or whomever home schooled the candidate. So I think the information should be filled accordingly.

Question 2

If my parents went to college, but then dropped out and never gotten a degree? What should I put onto "parent level of education?" and also, do I count as a first generation college student?

Accepted Answer

If your parents never received a complete degree, but completed high school, I think that the best course of action would be to put down High School as their level of education, or you could make a note on the space and specify that they had _some_ college education, though not enough to obtain a degree.

A first generation college student refers to a person whose parents never received a degree. If your parents did not earn a degree, as in the case above, then it would be correct to say that your are a first generation college student.

Question 3

I've an older brother that is only son of my father, not of my mom. He is 18 years older than me, so I had no contact with him during my childhood and still have almost no contact with him. He won't contribute financially for my education. Should I put him in the siblings tab at family?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since he is related to you, as a sibling (through your father), he should certainly be represented as your brother on your application.

Question 4

Also, my school doesn't have a counselor. I may put in the name of my principal, but she doesn't know me or any student in particular. I could put in the name of my class coordinator, who knows me well, but she doesn't speak English very well. What should i do?

Accepted Answer

I think that your principal knows who you are. I mean, my principal knows almost every kid in the school. I thought she didn´t know me, but she actually did! I think she knows you.

Question 5

Do you know anything about where I might be able to find a walkthrough of how to fill out the counselor section of the Common App? I go to a small international school that has never sent any students to universities in the US, so I need information about this section in order to guide my counselor, especially since I live in a non-english speaking country and has a counselor that is not very proficient in the language.

Accepted Answer

For counselors and teachers, you can reference the recommender support portal: https://recsupport.commonapp.org 
The "Training Resources Library" has video tutorials.

You may also find it useful to download the "Common App Ready" slide deck; it's an introduction to completing the application.

Question 6

If i dont have any counsellor then who's letter should i have for counsellor s reccommendation?

Accepted Answer

If you don't have a counselor, then you can ask your school's principal or vice principal, or some other administrator, to write you the recommendation letter in the counselor's place. If you don't have any of those, then you might be able to ask an adult that you consider a mentor for a recommendation letter.

Question 7

My school counselor left before I finished my high school and new counselor was not appointed until I passed out so can I ask for recommendation with the previous one?

Accepted Answer

I think that's what you should do. If you still has his/her contact information, at least talk to your previous counselor. Worst case scenario, she/he is unable to write you a letter of recommendation, but you have other ways out. You can get a recommendation through your teachers and if you have a part time job somewhere, do talk to your boss.

Question 8

There is a part which says "Educational Interruption" in the common app process, I moved to a new country after freshman year (9th grade) and have no other "interruption", Will I need to check both boxes that I have had no interruption and that i "did or will change secondary schools" ?

Accepted Answer

Check that you have changed secondary schools and, odds are, it will ask you for details. Then just tell them the specifics.

Question 9

Hi , My parents have been divorced on paper but live together now . Would it be weird if i said "divorced" on parents marital status and say "live with both parents" on the same address?
thank you :)

Accepted Answer

Nope, that wouldn't be weird at all. The address is largely for determining whether you're in-state, so it doesn't matter if you repeat the same address.

Course: College admissions > Unit 4

Filling out the college application: Common application walkthrough

Part 1: Setup and college selection

Part 2: Profile

Part 3: Family

Part 4: Education

Part 5: Testing

Part 6: Activities

Part 7: College-specific supplements

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