One of the biggest mistakes I see on the Common App activities list is surprisingly simple: students undersell themselves.

They list the club, job, sport, or volunteer role—but leave out the responsibilities, leadership, commitment, and impact that show an admissions officer what they actually contributed.

A strong activities list isn't about exaggerating your accomplishments or trying to sound more impressive. It's about recognizing the value of what you've already done and communicating it clearly.

In this post, I share the questions I ask students to uncover details they often overlook—and how to make those limited Common App characters count.

The Common App Activities section is about more than clubs, sports, and leadership titles. New Common App data shows just how many students are balancing jobs, family responsibilities, caregiving, transportation, and other meaningful commitments. Learn what really counts as an activity, how to present it effectively, and how to build a stronger Activities List that gives colleges a clearer picture of who you are.

Students often nail the hook and know how they want to end their college essay—but the middle is where things get tricky. Too often, the personal statement shifts from personal to explanatory, telling us what happened without revealing much about the student. In this post, I share the advice our Admissions by Design essay specialist and I give students multiple times a week: stop focusing only on what happened next, and start showing us what was happening inside you.

What does it actually mean when someone tells a student to make their college essay “more reflective”? A strong Common App personal statement does more than describe what happened. It helps admissions officers understand how a student thinks, what they noticed, what changed, and why the experience mattered. Here’s how to tell the difference between descriptive and reflective writing—and how to add meaningful reflection without forcing a profound life lesson.

As families prepare for another college application season, one question comes up again and again: Should my student submit their application as soon as the Common App opens?

My answer is usually no. A thoughtful application is always better than a rushed one.

However, there is one important exception that many families don't know about. At some colleges—particularly large public universities in the South and Southeast—applying or completing post-admission steps earlier can influence housing opportunities, even if it doesn't affect admission decisions.

In this week's blog, I explain why understanding each college's individual timeline matters, how Northeast families can avoid delays caused by school offices being closed during the summer, and why building a strategy is far more important than simply racing to submit an application.

The Common App is officially open Friday—but don't let that make you feel like you're already behind.

Every year, I see students and parents assume that August 1 is the day they need to have everything figured out. In reality, the strongest college applications aren't built in a weekend. They're built thoughtfully over time.

In this week's blog, I share where I recommend students focus during the first week after the Common App opens, why the Activities List deserves more attention than most families realize, and how taking a calm, strategic approach now can reduce stress and lead to stronger applications later.

or years, students have celebrated the moment they click "Submit" on the Common Application. It feels like the finish line.

This application cycle, however, many students are discovering that submitting the Common App doesn't necessarily mean they've finished applying.

More colleges are using their individual applicant portals as an extension of the application process—not just a place to check application status. Depending on the college, students may be asked to complete additional essays, answer institution-specific questions, submit a video introduction, apply for honors programs or scholarships, or upload additional materials after they've already submitted the Common App.

That's why one of the most important pieces of college admissions advice I can give this year is simple:

Read every instruction. Read every email. Log into every applicant portal.

The Common App May Be Just the First Step

After submitting the Common App, colleges typically send students an email with instructions for activating their applicant portal.

Many families assume this portal is simply where they'll watch checklist items turn green.

Increasingly, that's no longer the case.

For many colleges, the applicant portal has become an active part of the admissions process, where students may find additional requirements that must be completed before their application is considered complete.

These requirements might include:

• Additional supplemental essays

• Short-answer questions

• Honors college applications

• Merit scholarship applications

• Program-specific requirements

• Self-reported academic records

• Financial aid forms

• Optional video introductions

• Requests for additional documents

If students don't activate their portal or carefully review the instructions, they could unknowingly leave their application incomplete.

Every College Has Its Own Process

One of the biggest misconceptions about college admissions is that every school follows the same application process.

They don't.

Some colleges require nothing beyond the Common App.

Others use their applicant portals to gather additional information that helps them evaluate applicants or determine eligibility for scholarships, honors programs, or specialized academic opportunities.

For example, Brown University invites applicants to submit a 90-second video introduction through its applicant portal after receiving their login credentials. The video isn't intended to be polished or scripted. Instead, it's an opportunity for admissions officers to learn more about the student beyond the written application.

At Northwestern University, applicants have the opportunity to submit an optional Glimpse video after applying. Students also use the Northwestern Applicant Portal to manage additional application materials and monitor any remaining requirements.

Meanwhile, the University of Southern California (USC) uses its applicant portal to communicate program-specific requirements and collect additional materials for many majors, including portfolios, auditions, and other school-specific submissions. For students applying to certain USC programs, submitting the Common App is only one step in completing the application.

These are just a few examples.

Other colleges may use their applicant portals for scholarship applications, honors college applications, additional institutional questions, residency verification, or other requirements unique to that institution.

The important point is this: every college has its own process.

Attention to Detail Matters

College admissions isn't only about grades, test scores, and essays.

It's also about demonstrating that you can successfully navigate a complex process.

Admissions offices expect students to carefully read instructions, monitor their email, and complete every required step.

A missed supplemental essay, forgotten questionnaire, or overlooked portal request can leave an application incomplete—not because the student wasn't qualified, but because an important requirement was never submitted.

Fortunately, this is one of the easiest mistakes to avoid.

Create a Simple Checklist

I encourage every student to keep a checklist for each college that includes:

• ✓ Common App submitted

• ✓ Applicant portal activated

• ✓ Portal reviewed for additional requirements

• ✓ Supplemental essays completed

• ✓ Honors or scholarship applications submitted (if applicable)

• ✓ Additional program materials uploaded

• ✓ Financial aid requirements completed

• ✓ Application status checked regularly

Don't log into your portal just once. Continue checking it throughout application season in case new requests or updates appear.

Final Thoughts

The Common App is an incredible tool that has simplified the college application process.

But this year, it's more important than ever to remember that clicking "Submit" doesn't always mean you're finished.

The Common App gets your application to the college.

The applicant portal may be where you actually complete it.

So before celebrating, take one more step:

Read every email. Activate every portal. Review every checklist.

Those few extra minutes could make the difference between a submitted application and a complete one.

Several colleges are eliminating supplemental essays this year—but that doesn't mean the admissions process is getting easier. In this week's newsletter, we explain what this trend means for families, answer a common parent question, and share a new blog post on why ACT testing seats are becoming so difficult to find (plus a simple AI tool that can alert you when a spot opens).

Is your student taking the ACT? Before test day, make sure you've checked more than just their study schedule. Learn about one easy-to-miss mistake I almost made, plus a complete ACT test day checklist, calculator tips, and practical advice to help your student feel confident and prepared.

Does your high school student have no idea what they want to major in? You're not alone—and they're not behind. In this article, Kara McMahon explains why being undecided is more common than many parents realize, whether applying as an undeclared major affects admissions, and how families can help students explore their interests without unnecessary pressure. Learn what admissions officers are really looking for and how to choose a college that gives your student the freedom to grow and discover their path.

A new term is gaining traction in the technology world: "voice pilling." Instead of typing ideas into a screen, people are increasingly talking to AI tools and using conversation to brainstorm, organize, and create. While Silicon Valley may have just given this practice a name, college essay coaches have been using a version of it for years. The strongest college essays rarely begin with a blank document. They begin with authentic conversation—where students uncover stories, values, and insights they didn't even realize they had. Here's why talking may be the most powerful first step in writing a compelling Common App essay.

Many families assume that fewer supplemental essays mean the college admissions process is getting easier. I disagree. As colleges experiment with new initiatives like Dialogues and place greater emphasis on the Personal Statement, activities, and academic rigor, students need to understand how admissions is evolving and what matters most in today's application process.

As colleges and universities across the country face declining enrollment, budget cuts, program eliminations, and growing financial strain, families are beginning to ask an important question during the college admissions process: How financially stable is the university my student is applying to? In this article, Kara McMahon of Admissions by Design explores the growing financial challenges facing higher education, including recent headlines involving Syracuse University and Clemson University, and explains what these changes could mean for students, families, academic programs, and the future of college admissions.

May 4, 2026