Personal informationCollect your legal name, contact details, date of birth, and other personal details. Account informationHave your Common App login and account details ready. Citizenship/residencyReview citizenship, residency, and state residency details requested. Social Security numberHave it available for forms that require it; enter it only in trusted application systems. Family informationGather parent or guardian details, education history, and household information. High school informationConfirm your high school's official name, address, and contact details. Previous schoolsList other schools attended and the dates you attended. Academic records/transcriptRequest your official transcript and verify courses and grades. Senior-year coursesPrepare your current and planned senior-year course list. GPA and class rankConfirm how your school reports GPA, weighting, and class rank. STARS/academic recordsReview your STARS or other academic records and resolve discrepancies. College listOrganize your colleges and application plans in one place. Application deadlinesRecord early action, early decision, regular decision, and priority dates. College-specific requirementsCheck each college's application components and submission instructions. Net price calculatorsEstimate costs using each college's net price calculator. Financial aid deadlinesAdd FAFSA, CSS Profile, and institutional aid dates to your calendar. ActivitiesChoose activities that reflect your commitments and interests. Activity detailsGather roles, dates, hours, and concise descriptions for each activity. Honors and awardsList distinctions, award names, and dates received. Testing infoReview testing policies and prepare scores you plan to submit. Personal essayDraft, revise, and proofread your personal essay. Supplemental essaysReview prompts and draft each college's required responses. Additional informationDecide whether relevant context needs a clear, concise explanation. RecommendationsIdentify recommenders and share deadlines and submission instructions. Counselor materialsConfirm counselor forms, school reports, and transcript plans. FERPA authorizationReview and complete the authorization choice in your account. Fees or fee waiversConfirm application fees and eligibility for fee waivers. Final reviewProofread every section and confirm entries are complete and accurate. FAFSAComplete the FAFSA when available and review contributor requirements. CSS ProfileCheck which colleges require the CSS Profile and note deadlines. State grantsResearch state grant programs, eligibility, and filing dates. Scholarships to researchBuild a list of relevant scholarships and their deadlines. Scholarship requirementsTrack eligibility rules, materials, and submission steps. Scholarship essaysDraft and proofread essays tailored to each scholarship prompt. Recommendation requestsAsk recommenders early and provide clear instructions and dates. Fee waiversReview application and testing fee waiver options you may qualify for. Financial aid conversationsDiscuss costs, aid options, and questions with family or a counselor. Verification documentsKeep requested financial documents organized and submit through secure channels. Award trackingRecord award notices and compare aid packages and response dates. Submission confirmationSave each submission confirmation and note the date submitted. College applicant portalsWatch for portal access details and check for updates or missing materials.