College Admission Information
What is Common App?
More than 40 years ago, a small group of colleges and universities got together to reimagine the college application process. One application, 15 forward-thinking institutions. What began as an experiment to simplify the admissions process has evolved into a global college access movement.
Today, The Common Application (Common App) is a non-profit membership organization representing nearly 900 diverse institutions of higher education. The Common App connects applicants and those who support them to a wide array of public and private colleges and universities across all 50 U.S. states, and 20 countries.
Each year, more than one million students - a third of whom are first generation - apply to college, research financial aid and scholarships, and connect to college counseling resources through Common App. But the path to higher education has changed. While everyone can go to college, not everyone does. In order to help all students reach their goals, we’re dedicated to:
Common App makes the application simple, the process logical, and the experience joyful. Together, we’re forging a direct path to higher education for all students.
More than 40 years ago, a small group of colleges and universities got together to reimagine the college application process. One application, 15 forward-thinking institutions. What began as an experiment to simplify the admissions process has evolved into a global college access movement.
Today, The Common Application (Common App) is a non-profit membership organization representing nearly 900 diverse institutions of higher education. The Common App connects applicants and those who support them to a wide array of public and private colleges and universities across all 50 U.S. states, and 20 countries.
Each year, more than one million students - a third of whom are first generation - apply to college, research financial aid and scholarships, and connect to college counseling resources through Common App. But the path to higher education has changed. While everyone can go to college, not everyone does. In order to help all students reach their goals, we’re dedicated to:
- Lowering the logistical and systemic barriers to college access
- Supporting those who support students
- Serving a diverse group of students and institutions
- Leveraging data and insight to inform our member institutions
Common App makes the application simple, the process logical, and the experience joyful. Together, we’re forging a direct path to higher education for all students.
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Applying to College
Early Action
The top five reasons why you should apply Early Action.
1) Applying EA shows initiative. Your early application signifies to our admission committee that you are truly interested in the school. University and College Admissions love proactive students who show they’re serious about College! Applying early is a great way to indicate your enthusiasm.
2) EA is NOT a binding decision. If you apply EA you can still apply to other institutions and have no binding agreement on file.
3) When you complete your EA application before December 1, you will receive both your admission notification and merit-based scholarship info before the end of January! This is over a month before you would receive notification if you wait to apply under Regular Decision. Remember: just because you find out early, doesn’t mean you’re tied to anything!
4) Time is working in your favor. Not only will you be relieved to know your admission notification early, but you also have until May 1st to make your final decision. That’s plenty of time to visit campus or attend an admitted student open house and weigh your options.
5) Be considered for the full range of scholarships. Deadlines for certain scholarships fall on dates before regular admission notification.
1) Applying EA shows initiative. Your early application signifies to our admission committee that you are truly interested in the school. University and College Admissions love proactive students who show they’re serious about College! Applying early is a great way to indicate your enthusiasm.
2) EA is NOT a binding decision. If you apply EA you can still apply to other institutions and have no binding agreement on file.
3) When you complete your EA application before December 1, you will receive both your admission notification and merit-based scholarship info before the end of January! This is over a month before you would receive notification if you wait to apply under Regular Decision. Remember: just because you find out early, doesn’t mean you’re tied to anything!
4) Time is working in your favor. Not only will you be relieved to know your admission notification early, but you also have until May 1st to make your final decision. That’s plenty of time to visit campus or attend an admitted student open house and weigh your options.
5) Be considered for the full range of scholarships. Deadlines for certain scholarships fall on dates before regular admission notification.
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FAQ for Denied Student
It is extremely disappointing to be turned down by anyone, including the university you wanted to attend. Colleges and Universities received many applications in 2021 for the seats available in the freshman class. Admissions teams spend thousands of hours thoroughly reviewing applications from many academically exceptional candidates. The number of applicants far exceeded housing and classroom spaces. The CDM College and Career Program hopes that students who have been denied will embrace other options to find one that is a good fit. We wish all of our applicants the best in their academic journeys.
How competitive was the applicant pool?
While application statistics do not paint a full picture of the review process, Colleges and Universities received many applications and simply do not have the room to accept all of the highly qualified students who seek admission, which means that there are many bright and talented students who were denied admission.
Can you tell me why I was not admitted to a College or University?
Decisions are based upon a selective holistic evaluation. During the review process, Colleges and Universities look at a combination of GPA, academic rigor of course schedule, test scores, activities and personal statements. It is impossible to pinpoint one specific reason a student is denied because there are many factors that comprise the admissions process.
Can my application be reviewed again?
Each application is reviewed at least twice and more often three or four times by the admissions committee using a holistic review process. Due to the thoroughness of the application review process, it is unusual for Colleges and Universities to reverse an admission decision. Most will consider an appeal only if it provides new and compelling information.
Possible reasons for an appeal and the required supporting documentation:
Information Not Considered:
How to appeal:
Can I attend the University or College in the future?
If your admission and/or appeal is denied, please consider applying to the Online Program, joining the campus as an upper-division transfer student, or applying to one of our excellent graduate or professional programs in the future.
How competitive was the applicant pool?
While application statistics do not paint a full picture of the review process, Colleges and Universities received many applications and simply do not have the room to accept all of the highly qualified students who seek admission, which means that there are many bright and talented students who were denied admission.
Can you tell me why I was not admitted to a College or University?
Decisions are based upon a selective holistic evaluation. During the review process, Colleges and Universities look at a combination of GPA, academic rigor of course schedule, test scores, activities and personal statements. It is impossible to pinpoint one specific reason a student is denied because there are many factors that comprise the admissions process.
Can my application be reviewed again?
Each application is reviewed at least twice and more often three or four times by the admissions committee using a holistic review process. Due to the thoroughness of the application review process, it is unusual for Colleges and Universities to reverse an admission decision. Most will consider an appeal only if it provides new and compelling information.
Possible reasons for an appeal and the required supporting documentation:
- Grade Change — one or more of your grades from grades 9 through 11 has changed resulting in a higher core GPA
- Supporting documentation:
- Appeal letter written by the student
- Official high school and/or dual enrollment transcript(s)
- Medical — a medical condition, illness or surgery that negatively impacted your academic performance
- Supporting documentation:
- Appeal letter written by the student
- Documentation or letter from health care provider outlining the severity and duration of the medical condition and how that impacted the student. Detailed medical
- Life Circumstance — a life event or situation that negatively impacted your academic performance
- Supporting documentation:
- Appeal letter written by the student
- Optional: letter of explanation corroborating circumstances from school counselor (not a general recommendation letter)
- Documented Disability — A documented disability (physical, sensory, psychological, developmental, learning, neurological or other impairments) which impacts your opportunities to equitably engage in the learning environment and/or limits your participation in extracurricular activities.
- Supporting documentation:
- Appeal letter written by the student
- Disability documentation, which may include psychoeducational evaluations, educational or medical records, reports and assessments created by health care providers, school psychologists, or teachers. The documentation should be inclusive of information from a licensed professional outlining the disability's impact on learning.
- Omitted Information — critical information not included in your original application
- Supporting documentation:
- Appeal letter written by the student
Information Not Considered:
- Appeals written by someone other than the applicant
- Test scores received after the decision was released
- Mid-year senior grades
- Additional activities, honors, or awards earned after applying
- Interviews or meeting with admissions staff in person
- A strong desire to attend the University or College
How to appeal:
- If you have new and compelling information that was not included in your original application, please contact the Office of Admissions at the University or College to discuss the appeals process and request an appeal form.
- Appeal forms are available at the College or University applied. Appeals must be received on certain dates posted by the College or University applied.
- It generally takes two to four weeks for an appeal to be reviewed by the Undergraduate Appeals Committee, although the time frame can vary depending on the volume of appeals. The committee's decision is final.
Can I attend the University or College in the future?
If your admission and/or appeal is denied, please consider applying to the Online Program, joining the campus as an upper-division transfer student, or applying to one of our excellent graduate or professional programs in the future.
Waitlisted vs. Deferred Scott Weingold Co-Founder, College Planning Network, LLC
Waitlisted vs. Deferred in the College Admissions Process: What It Means
No matter your child’s academic credentials, you should always prepare to face any of the possible outcomes of the college admissions process. The system is no longer as simple as “Accepted” or “Rejected.” Every year it seems more and more prospective collegians get stuck in one of the admissions grey areas. Words like “deferred” and “waitlisted” can be confusing and frustrating, but understanding what they mean and how they work is the best way to contend with and conquer these necessary evils.
Waitlisted vs. Deferred
The most obvious thing that being waitlisted and being deferred have in common is that neither was the answer you were hoping for. At the same time, neither is a death sentence for your college aspirations. Remind yourself that this is not a rejection. Your best bet is to arm yourself with knowledge and make the best out of a difficult situation. While both of these results leave your child in a form of limbo, they are actually different outcomes used for different reasons. A deferral can be used in a wide variety of scenarios. It is most commonly utilized during the early admissions process, but it is also used for regular decision candidates and rolling admissions. Whenever you receive a deferral, however, it simply means that the final decision on the application is being pushed back for one reason or another. If your child’s Early Action (non-binding) or Early Decision (binding) application was deferred, than it means they have been pushed into the regular decision pool of candidates. This usually occurs because the applicant was a quality candidate on the bubble who just didn’t quite make the cut (if your application wasn’t good enough they would simply reject it). Regular Decision or rolling admission deferrals usually mean that the institution wants to see more information on a prospective student before they make a final decision (i.e. new test scores or senior year grades).
Since either way your application will be reviewed again, this leaves you some control over your fate. You can take the opportunity to wow the admissions committee with some new achievements or experience like an internship or volunteer work. Just be sure you avoid trying to hype yourself up with exaggerated references and don’t bombard or badger the committee; that’s a fast track to rejection. The waitlist is an even less appealing prospect. Essentially, the goal of most collegiate institutions is to fill every available spot with the best possible candidates to create a well-rounded freshman class each year. Many schools are also looking to fill certain quotas based on factors ranging from race and gender to extracurricular activities and choice of majors. But, as more high-quality students begin to shop around and send in applications to a greater number of schools, colleges are increasingly unable to predict how their incoming classes will turn out. In effect, the waitlist is a university’s “Plan B.” If a college accepts a top-prospect but they enroll at another school, than the admissions committee would like to have another excellent candidate waiting in the wings to fill that empty spot. This is when they turn to their waitlist. If your child has been waitlisted it means that the school is most likely done reviewing their application… and they’ve been placed on a list of applicants that can number in the thousands depending on how big the school is. They haven’t been rejected and the college can choose to accept them at any time, but you have little or no control over the decision since the admissions committee usually won’t review the application again. Nonetheless, it won’t hurt to do what deferred candidates do: reaffirm your interest in the college, submit concrete resume boosters like higher test scores, and don’t become a pest. Usually, the college will tell you your position on the list, with number 1 being the first waitlisted student accepted and so on. They also include how many waitlist acceptances they’ve made in the past so you can weigh your chances. Students who are accepted off the waitlist are generally a low percentage, especially at high demand top ranked universities.
We’re not saying it can’t happen, but you should definitely prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And always keep in mind, whether you are deferred or waitlisted; it will do you no good to get discouraged. Be proactive and don’t give up!
To Your Family’s Successful College Search, Scott Weingold Co-Founder, College Planning Network, LLC College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of the College Planning Network, LLC
No matter your child’s academic credentials, you should always prepare to face any of the possible outcomes of the college admissions process. The system is no longer as simple as “Accepted” or “Rejected.” Every year it seems more and more prospective collegians get stuck in one of the admissions grey areas. Words like “deferred” and “waitlisted” can be confusing and frustrating, but understanding what they mean and how they work is the best way to contend with and conquer these necessary evils.
Waitlisted vs. Deferred
The most obvious thing that being waitlisted and being deferred have in common is that neither was the answer you were hoping for. At the same time, neither is a death sentence for your college aspirations. Remind yourself that this is not a rejection. Your best bet is to arm yourself with knowledge and make the best out of a difficult situation. While both of these results leave your child in a form of limbo, they are actually different outcomes used for different reasons. A deferral can be used in a wide variety of scenarios. It is most commonly utilized during the early admissions process, but it is also used for regular decision candidates and rolling admissions. Whenever you receive a deferral, however, it simply means that the final decision on the application is being pushed back for one reason or another. If your child’s Early Action (non-binding) or Early Decision (binding) application was deferred, than it means they have been pushed into the regular decision pool of candidates. This usually occurs because the applicant was a quality candidate on the bubble who just didn’t quite make the cut (if your application wasn’t good enough they would simply reject it). Regular Decision or rolling admission deferrals usually mean that the institution wants to see more information on a prospective student before they make a final decision (i.e. new test scores or senior year grades).
Since either way your application will be reviewed again, this leaves you some control over your fate. You can take the opportunity to wow the admissions committee with some new achievements or experience like an internship or volunteer work. Just be sure you avoid trying to hype yourself up with exaggerated references and don’t bombard or badger the committee; that’s a fast track to rejection. The waitlist is an even less appealing prospect. Essentially, the goal of most collegiate institutions is to fill every available spot with the best possible candidates to create a well-rounded freshman class each year. Many schools are also looking to fill certain quotas based on factors ranging from race and gender to extracurricular activities and choice of majors. But, as more high-quality students begin to shop around and send in applications to a greater number of schools, colleges are increasingly unable to predict how their incoming classes will turn out. In effect, the waitlist is a university’s “Plan B.” If a college accepts a top-prospect but they enroll at another school, than the admissions committee would like to have another excellent candidate waiting in the wings to fill that empty spot. This is when they turn to their waitlist. If your child has been waitlisted it means that the school is most likely done reviewing their application… and they’ve been placed on a list of applicants that can number in the thousands depending on how big the school is. They haven’t been rejected and the college can choose to accept them at any time, but you have little or no control over the decision since the admissions committee usually won’t review the application again. Nonetheless, it won’t hurt to do what deferred candidates do: reaffirm your interest in the college, submit concrete resume boosters like higher test scores, and don’t become a pest. Usually, the college will tell you your position on the list, with number 1 being the first waitlisted student accepted and so on. They also include how many waitlist acceptances they’ve made in the past so you can weigh your chances. Students who are accepted off the waitlist are generally a low percentage, especially at high demand top ranked universities.
We’re not saying it can’t happen, but you should definitely prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And always keep in mind, whether you are deferred or waitlisted; it will do you no good to get discouraged. Be proactive and don’t give up!
To Your Family’s Successful College Search, Scott Weingold Co-Founder, College Planning Network, LLC College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of the College Planning Network, LLC
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
Each year AICCU publishes a College Guide and a Transfer Guide to California's independent, nonprofit colleges and universities. The guides help counselors, students, and families learn about higher education options offered by the ICCU sector.
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A Complete Guide to the College Application Process
Find answers to common questions prospective college students have about deadlines, essays and more. The Complete Guide to the College Application Process collects all the information you need in one helpful spot. Be sure to bookmark this helpful guide so that you stay on top of the college search.
Though there is often prep work that happens beforehand, students generally begin filling out college applications the summer between their junior and senior year of high school. Here's what prospective undergraduates need to know about completing a college application.
Find answers to common questions prospective college students have about deadlines, essays and more. The Complete Guide to the College Application Process collects all the information you need in one helpful spot. Be sure to bookmark this helpful guide so that you stay on top of the college search.
Though there is often prep work that happens beforehand, students generally begin filling out college applications the summer between their junior and senior year of high school. Here's what prospective undergraduates need to know about completing a college application.
CDM Juniors here is the U.S. News & World Report's list of free resources to use as you prep for your last year of high school and that final push through the college admission and acceptance process.