Common Application Questions and Answers

The following questions were submitted to me by a number of parents, so I want to share my responses (in bold) with you. These questions and answers refer to specific schools but can be applied generally.

1. The college application that I downloaded said that my daughter could attach a personal statement. What is a personal statement, and does she really need to write one?

A personal statement is the same as the main essay a student uses for the Common Application. While the application indicates that sending an essay is optional, I firmly believe that optional means required when it comes to the application process.

2. Is there any advantage to selecting a major versus selecting exploratory? Is it better to apply to the School of Arts and Sciences or to another program?

A student should indicate a specific major, preferably one that can be supported by academics or extracurricular activities, as it makes him or her seem focused. The student is not bound to that particular major—unless he or she attends a specialized school, such as Business or Engineering. Arts & Sciences programs—which most students choose—are easier to get into than Business programs.

3. What is a block schedule?

Some schools use semesters. Some use trimesters. Still others, such as Cornell, use block scheduling—in which students focus intensely to complete one course in four weeks—and then move on to the next one.

4. The SAT section (#19) on the paper application asks for the dates that a student took the college admission tests. Brett took the SAT twice but wants to submit only his January scores since those are his best. Does he need to mention both test dates, or can he cite only the date for which he is submitting his scores?

Indiana University does not require all SAT scores, so Brett can cite only the date of his best score set.

5. When my older daughter applied to college, she submitted a paper application—not an electronic one—so this process is a bit new to me. Are paper applications even used anymore?

No one uses paper applications nowadays! Colleges far prefer electronically submitted applications as they process everything on computer!

6. As long as we keep saving the applications we fill in, it’s okay to return to them later. Right?

YES! Most applications do not have to be completed in one sitting. A student can work on an application, save it, and return to it later, just as he or she can when writing a paper using MS Word. Nothing goes to the college until your child pushes the submit button!