Common App Opening Checklist: Key Reminders for a Smooth Start | Common App 申请系统开放注意事项

📚 Common App Opening Checklist: Key Reminders for a Smooth Start | Common App 申请系统开放注意事项

Each year on August 1, the Common Application refreshes for a new admissions cycle. Whether you are a first-time user or a returning applicant, understanding exactly what rolls over, what you must re-enter, and which steps often cause delays can save you hours of frustration. This checklist walks you through every section you need to review before hitting submit, from account setup to final proofreading.

每年 8 月 1 日，通用申请系统（Common App）都会为新一年的申请季刷新。无论你是第一次使用还是再次申请，弄清楚哪些信息会自动保留、哪些必须重新填写、哪些步骤常见延迟陷阱，都能帮你省去大量烦恼。这份清单将带你逐一梳理从账号注册到最终校对需要留意的每一个环节。

1. Rollover Account vs Fresh Start | 账号迁移与新建账号

If you created a Common App account before August 1, your basic profile – name, address, demographics – will roll over automatically when you log in after the refresh. However, any responses you wrote inside the individual college supplements, as well as your main essay, will be cleared unless you saved them externally. It is wise to copy your essay and activity list into a separate document before the platform updates.

如果你在 8 月 1 日之前已创建过 Common App 账号，刷新后登录时，你的基本信息（姓名、地址、背景信息）会自动保留。但各个大学补充文书中的回答以及主文书都会被清空，除非你事先另存了备份。建议在平台更新前，将主文书和活动列表复制到独立文档中保存。

2. Create Your Account the Right Way | 正确创建账号

Use a personal email address that you check regularly – not your school-issued email, which may expire or block external messages. Avoid using a parent’s email unless absolutely necessary, because colleges expect the applicant to manage their own communication. When registering, double-check that your legal name matches exactly what appears on your passport or official ID; even a missing hyphen can cause matching problems with test scores and transcripts.

请使用你经常查看的个人邮箱，不要用学校邮箱，因为后者可能过期或屏蔽外部邮件。除非万不得已，也不要使用家长的邮箱，因为大学默认由申请人本人管理沟通。注册时务必确保法定姓名与护照或官方身份证件上的拼写完全一致，哪怕少了一个连字符也可能导致标化成绩和成绩单匹配出错。

3. Profile Section: Every Tiny Field Matters | 个人资料：每个小栏都很重要

The Profile section asks for citizenship, language proficiency, and family background. If you hold dual citizenship, list all nationalities accurately. For language proficiency, be honest about your skill level; overstating can be easily exposed in an interview. The family section requires details about parents' occupations and education – this information is used for context, so do not leave it blank even if you feel it is less impressive.

个人资料部分会问及国籍、语言能力和家庭背景。如果你拥有双重国籍，请如实列出所有国籍。语言能力方面要如实填写水平，夸大在面试中很容易被识破。家庭成员部分需要填写父母职业和学历细节——这些信息用于了解你的成长背景，即使你觉得不够“亮眼”也不应留空。

4. Education History: Accuracy Over Speed | 教育经历：宁慢勿错

List every secondary school you have attended, including summer programs that granted official credit. When entering your GPA and class rank, follow exactly what appears on your transcript. If your school does not rank, choose the appropriate option instead of guessing. The ‘Courses & Grades’ section is required by some colleges; you must transcribe your full secondary school courses and grades exactly as they appear on your official transcript, so have a copy of your transcript at hand.

列出你上过的每一所中学，包括授予正式学分的暑期课程。填写 GPA 和班级排名时，要严格遵循成绩单上的显示方式。如果你所在学校不排名，请选择相应选项而不要自行估算。部分大学要求填写“课程与成绩”部分，你必须按照官方成绩单原样逐门转录全部中学课程及分数，因此手边一定要备好成绩单副本。

5. Activities List: Quality and Order | 活动列表：质量与排序

You can list up to 10 activities, but you do not have to fill every slot. List activities in order of importance to you, not chronologically. Each entry gives you only 150 characters to describe your role and accomplishments – use strong action verbs and quantify impact where possible. For example, “Organised bake sale raising $1,200 for local shelter in 3 days” is far stronger than “Did fundraising.”

你最多可以列出 10 项活动，但不必填满所有空位。活动要按照对你而言重要程度排序，而非时间顺序。每条活动仅给你 150 个字符来描述你的角色与成就——请使用有力的动作动词，并尽可能量化影响。例如，“组织义卖，3 天内为本地收容所筹得 $1,200”远比“参与筹款”更有说服力。

6. The Personal Essay: Prompt Matters More Than You Think | 主文书：题目选择比你想象的更重要

The Common App releases its essay prompts well in advance, and they rarely change dramatically. Pick the prompt that allows you to tell a story only you can tell – not the one that sounds most impressive. Remember that the essay has a strict 650-word limit, and the application portal will cut off anything beyond that. Before August 1, work on your essay in a separate word processor so you can edit freely without worrying about the platform refreshing.

Common App 会提前公布文书题目，且很少大幅变动。请选择那个能让你讲出独一无二故事的题目，而不是听上去最“高大上”的题目。记住主文书有严格的 650 词限制，申请系统会直接截断超出部分。8 月 1 日前，请用独立的文字处理软件打磨文书，这样你可以自由编辑而不用担心平台刷新丢失内容。

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7. Recommenders and FERPA Waiver | 推荐人与 FERPA 授权

You must invite your counselor, teachers, and any other recommenders through the Common App portal. Before sending invitations, talk to each recommender in person to confirm they are willing and have enough time. The FERPA waiver is a crucial step: you will be asked whether you waive your right to view recommendation letters. Almost all applicants should waive this right, because it signals to colleges that the letters are candid, and many recommenders will only write for students who have waived.

你必须通过 Common App 平台邀请你的升学指导、老师和其他推荐人。发出邀请前，请亲自与每位推荐人沟通，确认他们愿意并有足够时间完成。FERPA 授权是关键一步：系统会问你是否放弃查看推荐信的权利。几乎所有申请人都应该放弃这一权利，因为这向大学表明推荐信是坦诚的，而且许多推荐人只愿意为放弃查看权的学生写推荐信。

8. College-Specific Supplements: Hidden Deadlines and Quirks | 大学补充材料：隐藏截止日和特殊要求

Once you add a college to your My Colleges list, the supplemental questions appear. Some colleges have additional writing supplements, portfolios, or arts submissions that are not due on the same date as the main application. Read every supplement page carefully before you begin writing; note word limits, video response requirements, or specific file formats. If a college asks “Why us?” do your research – mentioning specific professors, labs, or programs shows genuine interest.

当你将一所大学添加到“我的大学”列表后，补充问题就会显示。有些大学还有额外的写作补充、作品集或艺术提交，这些截止日期可能与主申请不同。在动笔前请仔细阅读每一页补充说明；记下字数限制、视频回答要求或特定的文件格式。如果某个学校问“为什么选择我们”，请务必做足研究——提及具体的教授、实验室或课程项目才能体现真正的兴趣。

9. Testing and Score Reporting Strategy | 标化成绩与送分策略

The Common App asks you to self-report test scores for colleges that accept them. You can indicate whether you want your scores considered if the college is test-optional. Be strategic: if your score is at or above the college’s published middle 50% range, reporting it usually strengthens your application. Order official score reports early from College Board or ACT, because processing can take two weeks or longer during peak season.

Common App 允许你为接受标化成绩的大学自行填报分数。如果某所大学是“标化可选”，你可以表明是否希望自己的成绩被考虑。要有策略：如果你的成绩达到或高于该大学公布的中段 50% 范围，提交成绩通常能增强申请竞争力。尽早通过 College Board 或 ACT 订购官方送分，因为在高峰时段处理时间可能长达两周或更久。

10. Financial Aid and Fee Waivers: Do Not Miss Hidden Steps | 助学金与费用减免：别漏掉隐藏步骤

The Common App itself does not process financial aid, but it links to the CSS Profile and FAFSA for many colleges. Check each college’s financial aid deadline, which is often earlier than the admission deadline. If you qualify for a Common App fee waiver, your counselor must verify your eligibility online; do not wait until the last day because the verification step requires counselor action.

Common App 本身不处理助学金申请，但它会链接到许多大学要求的 CSS Profile 和 FAFSA。请逐一核查每所大学的助学金截止日期，这些日期往往早于录取截止日期。如果你符合 Common App 费用减免条件，你的升学指导须在线核实你的资格；不要拖到最后一天，因为核实步骤需要指导老师操作。

11. Preview, Pay, and Submit – The Final Check | 预览、缴费与提交——最后检查

Before paying, use the ‘Review and Submit’ preview to see exactly how your application will appear to admissions readers. Check for any red error flags on incomplete fields. Print a PDF of your completed application for your records. After payment, the submission is not cancelable, and you cannot edit the application sent to that college, so verify everything three times. Confirm you receive an acknowledgement email within 24 hours; if not, contact the Common App support team immediately.

缴费前，请使用“预览并提交”功能，查看招生官实际看到的申请样貌。检查是否有红色警示标志提示未完成字段。将完整申请打印成 PDF 留底。缴费后，提交不可撤回，且你无法再编辑发给该大学的申请，因此务必再三核对所有内容。确认 24 小时内收到确认邮件；若未收到，立即联系 Common App 客服。

12. Staying Organised Through the Season | 在整个申请季保持条理

Create a spreadsheet tracking each college’s deadline, supplement status, recommendation status, and test score delivery. Use a dedicated folder for all application-related emails. Remember that the Common App mobile app can help you check application statuses quickly, but always complete the actual applications on a laptop or desktop to avoid formatting glitches. Finally, breathe and celebrate small milestones – finishing each supplement is an achievement in itself.

创建一个表格，跟踪每所大学的截止日期、补充材料状态、推荐信状态和标化送分情况。用一个专用文件夹存放所有与申请相关的邮件。记住 Common App 手机应用可以帮助你快速查看申请状态，但完成实际申请时务必使用笔记本电脑或台式机，以免出现格式错误。最后，深呼吸，并为每一个小里程碑庆祝——每完成一篇补充文书本身就是一项成就。

Published by TutorHao | College Application Revision Series | aleveler.com

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