First-year toolkitx
First-year toolkitx
A complete toolkit of tips and best practices designed to help you complete your applications successfully and on time.
Getting started
Use these resources to help you get acquainted with what the Common App is and how it works. They'll learn about unfamiliar terms, what international students need to know, and more.
After viewing this document, you will be able to help students:
- Select the correct registration type for their Common App
- Understand the Common App layout
- Search for colleges and add them to the My Colleges list
Resources
Resources
DETERMINING COLLEGE FIT FROM YOUR DIRECT ADMISSIONS OFFER
DETERMINING COLLEGE FIT FROM YOUR DIRECT ADMISSIONS OFFER
Last revised 08/18/25
Preparing your application
There is a lot of information your students are asked to understand and complete in the Common App. This set of resources will help your students get organized and start the application process.
These resources will help students:
- Understand what materials to gather in order to complete their application
- Know how to check the specific application requirements for each college or university
- Learn how to report standardized test scores in the application
- Understand FERPA and how it impacts the application process
Resources
Telling your story
Whether your student is working on their essays or sharing their life and work experiences, these resources are here to help.
This resource will help students:
- Understand how to help students tell colleges and universities more about who they are
- Get tips for completing the college essays
- Learn how to organize and brainstorm essay ideas and best practices for reducing stress ahead of application deadlines
Resources
Working with recommenders and advisors
Students don't go through the application process alone. There are counselors, teachers, and advisors that provide guidance and support along the way. These resources teach students about the support network they have and how to interact with their recommenders.
This resource will help students:
- Understand the recommendation process
- Learn how to find the strongest advocates and understand how they can provide support for their applications
- Find out how to invite and assign teachers and recommenders within the Common App
- Get tips and best practices for managing the recommendation process
Resources
Paying for college
The cost of college can be daunting. These resources will help teach students about fee waivers and the different scholarship options they have.
This resource will:
- Help students understand how to apply for financial aid and scholarships
- Understand the difference between different types of financial assistance
- Learn about application fees and fee waivers
- Provide tips for finding scholarship opportunities
