The Common App is a widely used platform that enables students to apply to up to 20 colleges and universities from a choice of 900+ institutions. The Common App streamlines the application process, making it easier for students to track their application status across institutions. However, if you are nearing the end of your undergraduate degree or have completed it, you may be wondering if the Common App platform can also be used for graduate school applications. This post is here to provide some information regarding whether you can use the Common App to apply to grad school.
The Common App cannot be used for graduate school applications and is primarily intended to help high school students or transfer students apply to undergraduate programs. The requirements for graduate admissions are often quite different from undergraduate admissions. Graduate programs might also require specific academic or professional documentation such as a student's resume, a program-specific personal statement, research interests, and recommendation letters from academic or professional references.
The Common App is not designed to support these requirements and hence is not used by schools when considering graduate applications. Alternatively, if you are a prospective graduate student, you can check out platforms such as GradCAS, EngineeringCAS, and BusinessCAS which work in a similar manner to the Common App but are specifically designed for graduate school applications. Most graduate applications can also be submitted directly to an institution using their respective online application portals.
We hope this guide has helped you identify what you can use for graduate school applications. Good luck!