Common App case studies
Common App case studies
Help students better understand the holistic college application review process with Common App case studies. Download the case study materials.
What is an admissions case study?
Admissions case studies are exercises that simulate one type of college application review. Using fictional college and student profiles, counselors and advisors can demonstrate how colleges review applications holistically.
What is the purpose of a case study?
Admissions case studies use an interactive, immersive experience to show students and families how a college might evaluate applications in a holistic way. Participants act as admissions committee members, reviewing fictional student applications. This hands-on exercise shows how academic, extracurricular, and personal factors may be evaluated in admissions reviews.
WHAT IS HOLISTIC REVIEW?
WHAT IS HOLISTIC REVIEW?
Colleges that use holistic application review consider many things when making admissions decisions. They often look at academic, extracurricular, and personal sections of a student’s application to better understand the student as a whole person.
WHAT IS HOLISTIC REVIEW?
WHAT IS HOLISTIC REVIEW?
Colleges that use holistic application review consider many things when making admissions decisions. They often look at academic, extracurricular, and personal sections of a student’s application to better understand the student as a whole person.
Tips for conducting a case study
Getting started
Getting started
- Decide whether you’ll host case studies in-person or virtually
- Choose volunteers, ask for help with logistics, and plan for at least 2 hours to complete the exercise
- Make materials available both in print and online, and share in advance (use Common App’s pre-made materials or create your own)
- Reserve a meeting space and print your materials if you host an in-person event
- Decide which students you’ll invite and whether you’ll include their families or other supporters. High school juniors may benefit the most from the exercise
- Send invitations early to help ensure attendance
- Partner with college representatives whenever possible
- Include families or plan a separate case study exercise for them
Gather your materials
Gather your materials
The Common App case study materials might not reflect all students and situations. You can create your own materials to better reflect your students.
Your fictional materials list:
- College profile
- Student applications
- Rubric for review
- Guide sheet
Things to consider if you create your own materials:
- It takes time, and a lot of it! Work with others to create materials and complete tasks
- Successful case studies should authentically reflect your students
- Ask your students if they can share their applications from previous years (be sure to remove all identifying information)
- You can use Common App’s practice student account to create sample applications
- Edit your materials and generate content using free online resources
Lead your case study
Lead your case study
Every event is different. You decide how you’ll lead the exercise, your method for dividing students into groups, and how to encourage conversation. We suggest that you:
- Start by defining “holistic review” and the purpose of the case study
- Review the fictional college profile and rubric
- Divide participants into groups and assign a conversation leader
- Allow time for participants to read the application materials and take notes
- Review the first application as a group to build confidence
- Discuss what you notice about the fictional student’s academics, writing, extracurricular activities, and personal stories
- Ask groups to vote on an admission decision for each fictional application (admit, waitlist, or deny)
- Discuss the differences and similarities in how participants voted
NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWERS
This exercise highlights the many factors colleges may consider when making admission decisions, so differing opinions are expected. Personal experiences and biases may shape the discussion. There are no right or wrong answers. That’s the point!
NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWERS
NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWERS
This exercise highlights the many factors colleges may consider when making admission decisions, so differing opinions are expected. Personal experiences and biases may shape the discussion. There are no right or wrong answers. That’s the point!
Materials
Materials
Our printable PDFs have everything you need to host case studies, including a college profile, student application materials, and tools for review and voting.
Note: These Common App materials are fictional and created with support from AI tools. Full details can be found in the disclaimer below.
Resources
Legal disclaimer
These case studies and related materials, including student profiles, applications, and college profiles (the “Materials”), are fictional and created for educational and illustrative purposes only. The Materials were developed with the aid of Artificial Intelligence. They do not represent real individuals, applications, or admissions decisions. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No association with any real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, places, or events is intended or should be inferred. The Materials are not intended as admissions advice, do not guarantee outcomes, and may not reflect current institutional policies or practices. Any personal characteristics or application elements described are included solely to demonstrate hypothetical considerations and should not be interpreted as preferred or required factors in admissions decisions.
Help students succeed with Common App
Help students succeed with Common App
Find everything you need to guide applications, submit recommendations, and support students.
