Explore the finalized college application format—and upgraded guidance to streamline your success.

Common Application.
The upgraded way.

The Common Application
— The Class of 2026 Guide —

  • — The Common Application —

    Preview this guide’s 10 sections below
    to continue your application success.
    Explore our essential insider insights—
    and all the steps to building a successful
    Submission-Ready College Application!

    — The Class of 2026 Guide —



  • — The Common Application —

    Preview This Guide’s
    Ten Upgraded Sections

    — The Class of 2026 Guide —



  • — Profile —

    In this guide section, explore the informational First Section displayed in a finalized college application created through The Common App: The Profile Section

    — 1 of 10 —



  • — Family —

    In this guide section, explore the informational Second Section displayed in a finalized application created through The Common App: The Family Section

    — 2 of 10 —



  • — Education —

    In this guide section, explore the informational Third Section displayed in a finalized college application created through The Common App: The Education Section

    — 3 of 10 —



  • — Testing —

    In this guide section, explore the informational Fourth Section displayed in a finalized college application created through The Common App: The Testing Section

    — 4 of 10 —



  • — Activities —

    Here, explore the extracurricular-focused Fifth Section displayed in a finalized college application created through The Common App: The Activities Section

    — 5 of 10 —



  • — Writing —

    In this guide section, explore the creative Sixth Section displayed in a finalized college application created through The Common App: The Writing Section

    — 6 of 10 —



  • — Supplemental Questions —

    Explore the Supplemental Section displaying responses to a specific college’s questions—the First College-Specific Section following the Six Core Sections of the Common Application

    — 7 of 10 —



  • — Supplemental Essays —

    Then, see the Supplemental Section following the College-Specific Supplemental Questions—sharing the student’s Essay Responses to that specific college’s Supplemental Essay Prompts

    — 8 of 10 —



  • — College Resume —

    In this guide section, see the layout of a
    College Resume that’s been attached via a College-Specific Supplemental Section—and learn how to include your own resume!

    — 9 of 10 —



  • — Previewing & Reviewing —

    There, see the exciting final product created by uniting all of the above Application Sections—and see how to preview and review your own Submission-Ready College Application!

    — 10 of 10 —



  • — The Upgraded Approach —

    At the very end of this Upgraded Guide,
    access our essential insider insights—and all of the steps to build your own successful Submission-Ready College Application!

    — Class of 2026 Essentials —



  • — The Class of 2026 Guide —

    Scroll down to continue creating your success story, or review all college application components below!

    Explore Application Components: The Upgraded Application Process

  • Preview The Common App Profile Section
    with the Accepted Alumni Example below!
    Explore the redacted PDF, your personal
    Common App Account, and the following
    Upgraded Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the first section a college
    admissions officer sees when they review a
    student’s submitted college application:
    The Common Application Profile Section

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section appears as a question-based form
    with check boxes, drop-downs, and text boxes
    to share/edit your responses when signed in to
    Your Personal Common Application Account

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    A student edits the Profile Section via their
    Common Application Account. This fairly
    straightforward section is the first of the
    Six Core Common Application Sections

Common App student profile summary showing personal information, contact details, demographics, language, geography and nationality, and fee waiver status.

  • Preview The Common App Family Section
    with the Accepted Alumni Example below!
    Explore the redacted PDF, your personal
    Common App Account, and the following
    Upgraded Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the second section a college
    admissions officer sees when they review a
    student’s submitted college application:
    The Common Application Family Section

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section appears as a question-based form
    with check boxes, drop-downs, and text boxes
    to share/edit your responses when signed in to
    Your Personal Common Application Account

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    A student edits the Family Section via their
    Common Application Account. This slightly
    more detailed section is the second of the
    Six Core Common Application Sections

Family household information form template with sections for parents, occupations, education, and siblings

  • Preview The Common App Education Section with the Accepted Alumni Example below! Explore The Education Section page 1 of 2 below, your personal Common App Account, and the following Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the third section a college admissions officer sees when they review a student’s submitted college application: The Common Application Education Section

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section appears as a question-based form with check boxes, drop-downs, and text boxes. The Education Section is the third of the Six Core Common Application Sections

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    Ensure that you complete the section in the manner your high school Guidance Department recommends, and ask your Guidance Counselor if you have any questions about this section or how to best share your responses!

College application education page showing high school, college enrollment, grades, and current-year courses.

  • Preview The Common App Testing Section
    with the Accepted Alumni Example below!
    Explore the redacted PDF, your personal
    Common App Account, and the following
    Upgraded Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the fourth section a college
    admissions officer sees when they review a
    student’s submitted college application:
    The Common Application Testing Section

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section has check boxes, drop-downs, and
    text boxes to share SAT, ACT, and AP Scores.
    Aim to ask your Guidance Counselor if you
    have any questions about score reporting, and
    be sure to check a college’s policies on score
    reporting when completing the section.

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    The Testing Section is the fourth of the
    Six Core Common Application Sections.
    For some colleges, the section and scores may
    be redacted from your Final Application PDF.
    The section may be left blank for Test-Optional
    Colleges if you prefer not to report test scores.
    Report your strongest scores when possible!

AP subject test score page listing Economics, Human Geography, Psychology, and Statistics, with blank score and year fields.

  • Preview The Common App Activities Section with an Accepted Alumni Example! Explore the redacted Activities Section below, your personal Common App Account, and the following Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the fifth section a college admissions officer sees when they review a student’s submitted college application: The Common Application Activities List

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section appears as a question-based form with character-counted text boxes, check boxes, and a drop-downs. The Activities Section is the fifth of the Six Core Common Application Sections

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    Follow our Upgraded Class of 2026 Guide to The Activities List, and learn how to share your experiences in the best manner possible. Access the guide via the link below, and continue your success story!

Program activities chart listing Social Justice, Academic, Career Oriented, and paid work categories with grade levels and time commitments.
Resume page listing paid work, volunteer community service, research, and JV/varsity athletic activities with grades, schedules, and durations.
The Activities List Guide

  • Preview The Common App Writing Section with an Accepted Alumni Example! Explore The Writing Section Page 1 of 2 below, your personal Common App Account, and the following Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the sixth section a college admissions officer sees when they review a student’s submitted college application: The Common Application Writing Section

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section appears as a form with a large word-counted text box for your main college essay, which limits your response to a 650-word maximum, and a menu to select your chosen prompt. The Writing Section is the sixth of the Six Core Common Application Sections

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    Follow our Upgraded Class of 2026 Guide to The Personal Statement, and learn success-proven ways to showcase your story. Access the guide via the link below, and discover innovative personal statement inspiration!

Writing personal essay prompt page with a large blank turquoise writing area
Blank cyan rectangular panel with black border, gray diagonal “PREVIEW” watermark, and small cyan bars near the bottom.
The Personal Statement Guide

  • Explore the Supplemental Section displaying
    responses to a specific college’s questions—
    the First College-Specific Section following the
    Six Core Sections of the Common Application

Redacted University of Michigan application form page showing General, Academics, and Contacts sections with turquoise-covered fields.
Redacted application form page showing mobile phone, family, residency, and writing sections with turquoise fields and a large diagonal “REVIEW” watermark

  • Below, see the Supplemental Section following
    the College-Specific Supplemental Questions—
    sharing the student’s Essay Responses to that
    specific college’s Supplemental Essay Prompts

Blank worksheet page with the heading “Why that College or School?” and large turquoise redacted text fields.
Application form page titled “Affirmations,” with a statement and link to commonapp.org/affirmations, page 16.

  • Preview The Common App College Resume with an Accepted Alumni Example! Explore the redacted resume’s first pages below, your personal Common App Account, and the following Class of 2026 Essentials:

    — Admissions Perspective —

    Here, explore the final section a college admissions officer sees when they review a student’s submitted application for many colleges: The Full College Resume

    — Applicant Perspective —

    This section appears within the Questions Section under the College Name via the Common Application My Colleges Tab. Within the Questions Section for many colleges, you will find a Resume Upload Button!

    — Upgraded Perspective —

    Follow our Upgraded Class of 2026 Guide to The College Resume, and learn success-proven strategies to share your experiences. Access the guide via the link below, and discover success-building resume approaches!

Redacted resume page showing Education and Leadership, Student Organizations, & Mission-Based Outreach sections.
Minimalist resume page with a large cyan rectangle, cyan footer bars, and page number 14.
The College Resume Guide

  • Learn how to preview and review your own
    Submission-Ready College Application:

    ▸ Ensure you have completed and reviewed
    The Six Core Common Application Sections:
    Profile, Family, Education
    Testing, Activities, Writing

    ▸ When signed in to your Common Application
    Account, click the navigation tab toward the
    top of the screen titled My Colleges

    ▸ Toward the left of the screen, find the name
    of the college you are currently focused on,
    and click on that College Name

    ▸ Under the College Name, ensure you have
    completed all Supplemental Questions and
    College-Specific Supplemental Essays

    ▸ Ensure that you have uploaded your College
    Resume if there is a Resume Upload Button
    within that college’s Questions section

    ▸ There will be a Green Checkmark once you
    have completed all material in the Questions
    tab, including all questions and essays

    ▸ Confirm you also have a Green Checkmark
    next to the label Recommenders & FERPA
    below the College Name and its Questions tab

    ▸ Below the College Name, Questions, and
    then Recommenders & FERPA, click the tab
    Review & Submit to access your PDF Preview

    ▸ Generate your full PDF Preview of your
    Submission-Ready Common Application.
    Review the PDF and a printed copy if possible!

    At the link below, see the final product
    created by uniting all Application Sections!

Common App logo and blue horizontal line on a white background
See Submission-Ready Application

  • Below, access our Class of 2026 Essentials for the Common Application Process—with all of the steps to create your own Submission-Ready College Application!

  • — Submission-Ready Success —

    Learn how to preview and review your own Submission-Ready College Application created with The Common Application!

    The Common Application

  • — Getting Started —

    These sections are the Six Core Common Application Sections:
    Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing

    Building Your Content

  • — Step 1 —

    Start by ensuring that you have completed, reviewed, and finalized what we categorize as The Six Core Common Application Sections

    Streamline Your Success

  • — Step 2 —

    When signed in to your Common Application Account, click the navigation tab toward the
    top of the screen titled My Colleges

    Explore Alumni Colleges

  • — Step 3 —

    Toward the left of the screen, find the name of the college you are currently focused on, and click on that College Name

    Discover Success Stories

  • — Step 4 —

    Under the College Name, ensure you have completed all Supplemental Questions and College Supplemental Essays

    Spark Supplemental Success

  • — Step 5 —

    Ensure that you have uploaded your College Resume if there is a Resume Upload Button within that college’s Questions section

    Refine Your Resume

  • — Step 6 —

    There will be a Green Checkmark once you have completed all material in the Questions tab, including all questions and essays

    Explore Supplemental Questions

  • — Step 7 —

    Confirm you also have a Green Checkmark next to the label Recommenders & FERPA below the College Name and its Questions tab

    Request Recommenders Early

  • — Step 8 —

    Below the College Name, Questions, and then Recommenders & FERPA, click the tab Review & Submit to access your PDF Preview

    Inform With Intention

  • — Step 9 —

    Generate your full PDF Preview of your Submission-Ready Common Application. Review the PDF and a printed copy if possible!

    Understand The Process

  • — Step 10 —

    Below, see an example of the submission-ready preview created by uniting all sections of The Common Application!

    Preview The Product

  • — The Upgraded Way —

    We are passionate about guiding students from start to submission—because success stories take more than just one essay.

    Upgrade Your Success

Common Application.
The upgraded way.

Get Personalized Application Guidance