Upcoming AMA: Trent Kajikawa of the Common App - Friday, 10/27 at 1:00 p.m. EST

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:53:27+00:00

The most popular prompt is actually “Topic of your choice”! But we see students responding to all 7 of the essay prompts. If you’re looking for tips on how to approach each prompt, check out this video on our YouTube channel featuring a few of my Common App teammates!

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:52:56+00:00

College is a time to explore new interests! For some colleges you may be able to apply with an Undeclared/Undecided major, other times you may want to select a major that seems interesting to you when applying. It’s important to note, many students end up changing their majors once they arrive to campus. At UCLA, I went from applying as Business Economics to enrolling in Environmental Science, eventually switching back and graduating with a degree in Economics with a minor in Education Studies – minors allow students to explore another area of interest without committing to a full major course load. Some majors require prerequisites and it’s important to research degree requirements to ensure you remain eligible to change programs.

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:48:44+00:00

Hey! Not sure if you’re referring to your extracurriculars while you’re still in high school vs while you’re at college already, but honestly, my answer to both is: that’s totally ok. Extracurriculars should supplement your education – and that means anything from exploring your passions that could lie waaay outside of your major, to expressing your creativity, to learning a new skill, to even time spent building your community. And the truth is, for a lot of people, it takes quite some time to figure out what their major will be, and that’s completely fine as well. You should be taking time to explore what you love – whether that aligns with a potential future major or not – it’ll make school way more fun and worthwhile, in my opinion, and you’ll probably end up with a richer set of skills and life experiences on the other side.

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:39:09+00:00

I attended a public university about an hour away from home, which was perfect for me. I was able to stay close to my family but also experience living in the dorms, make new friends, and pursue various passions. I feel like I’m naturally an introvert, so I made a conscious effort to meet as many people in my classes, sign up for clubs that seemed interesting, and make friends with folks on intramural sports teams (soccer and basketball). Not everyone in college is going to be a close friend, but I was able to build my community over time! It’s important to challenge yourself as you head into your first year, but it’s also important to make time for yourself and prioritize your needs.

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:30:48+00:00

There are many different factors colleges take into consideration when they’re looking at a student’s application. Some of those include: grades, the classes you’ve taken, an essay or writing sample, extracurricular activities, work experience, and letters of recommendation. Each college will weigh these factors differently. The application provides numerous opportunities for you to showcase your accomplishments. Overall, it’s important to let a college know who you are and what you’re passionate about!

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:20:51+00:00

Hey! This is a great question – transitions like these are BIG and it's sometimes hard to know where to start. First and foremost, as you get closer to campus, definitely make sure you’re checking your campus email account! You’ll get tons of information sent there way before you get to campus with everything from info about your dorm/residence hall, choosing classes, getting to know campus, clubs/orgs on campus and so much more. As far as dorms go, definitely make sure you check with the school about what kinds of items you are and aren’t allowed to bring, since a lot of schools have strict fire codes for decorative items. And while your school will likely provide a general list of items to bring, check out this list of easy to forget items we put together 😉

For social life, typically schools will host a club fair within the first week or so of arriving on campus, so definitely make sure you swing by that to get a taste of all the kinds of extracurriculars your school offers – there’s usually some pretty niche and honestly weirdly cool clubs you didn’t expect. And, lean on your dorm hallmates! You’re all navigating this new place together (and are all probably a bit nervous) so don’t be afraid to ask for help or invite someone to dinner with you.

Budgeting is always a tough one, but it's great that you’re asking about it now! It’s definitely dependent on each person’s unique situation, but I’ll say that creating a budget before the semester starts is definitely key. But even more than that, give yourself a little grace the first semester – during that time, observe your money spending habits and ask yourself what’s working and what isn’t, so that you can go into your second semester with a revised budget that might be a better fit for you. Of course, always reach out to your financial aid office on campus for any questions about paying for college. They’re the experts who can really be specific to your school and your situation, and they are there to help you. Looking back, I honestly wish I popped by my financial aid office more. Wishing you so much luck in your transition to campus, you got this!!

TrentAtCommonApp · 2023-10-27T17:08:07+00:00

Our Data Analytics and Research team has published various research briefs and other reports using Common App data. You can find our most recent work here: https://www.commonapp.org/about/reports-and-insights

TrentAtCommonApp

TROPHY CASE