The Common Application
The Common Application (Common App) is the platform most four-year colleges use to receive applications. One account lets you apply to hundreds of schools at once. It opens for new seniors on August 1 every year.
Getting started
- Create a free account at commonapp.org using your personal email (not your school email, which you will lose at graduation).
- Complete the Common App profile: personal information, family background, demographics.
- Link your Common App account to Xello. This is required: your counselor no longer uploads your School Report or recommendation letters directly to Common App. Both are sent through Xello once the two accounts are linked. See Link Common App to Xello for the full step-by-step, or Xello & Scholarships if you need help logging into Xello. (A transcript is a separate process — see below.)
- Write your personal essay (650 words max). This is one piece used for all schools.
- Build your activity list (up to 10 activities). Include clubs, sports, jobs, volunteer work, and awards.
- Add the schools you plan to apply to. Each school may have additional questions or a writing supplement.
- Request your counselor recommendation and teacher recommendations inside Xello, not Common App — you can pick any DCPS teacher there to write your recommendation. See Link Common App to Xello for how.
- Apply for a fee waiver if cost is a barrier — see Application Fee Waivers below.
Application Deadline Types
| Early Decision (ED) | Binding commitment. You agree to attend if accepted and withdraw all other applications. Deadline typically November 1. Best if you have a clear first-choice school and a strong application. |
|---|---|
| Early Action (EA) | Non-binding. You apply early and hear back early, but are not required to commit until May 1. Deadline typically November 1. Good strategy for strong applicants who want more time to decide. |
| Regular Decision (RD) | Standard deadline, typically January 1 to January 15. Notifications come March to April. You have until May 1 to decide. |
| Rolling Admissions | No fixed deadline. Schools review and decide as applications arrive. Apply early for the best chance at acceptance and merit aid. |
Many Florida public universities, including University of Florida and Florida State, use the Common App. Florida College System schools (like FSCJ) use a separate application at floridashines.org, which typically carries its own fee — Mandarin sometimes has fee-waiver codes available, so ask your counselor. Check each school's website for their exact portal and deadline.
Application Fee Waivers
A fee waiver covers the cost of a college application for students for whom the fee is a financial barrier. Eligibility is generally tied to qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch (FRL); students who qualify should talk to their counselor about requesting a fee waiver.
- If you already qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, you generally qualify for a fee waiver. If you haven't applied for FRL, you can do so through DCPS Food Service.
- Inside Common App, you can request a fee waiver directly in the platform once your counselor confirms your eligibility.
- For colleges outside Common App, ask your counselor about a NACAC fee waiver, a form your counselor signs that many colleges accept in place of an application fee.
STARS: Self-Reported Academic Record
Most Florida public universities do not want the school to send an official transcript for the admissions decision at all. Instead, they use STARS (Self-Reported Academic Record): you self-report your own courses and grades, then link it to your application after you submit.
How it works
- Create your STARS account and self-report your courses and grades at srar.selfreportedtranscript.com.
- Submit your college application first, then link your completed STARS to that application.
- UCF calls its version of this feature SPARK, inside its own applicant portal — look for it there once you've applied.
- Questions about linking STARS to your application go to the STARS Support Center, not your school counselor.
Requesting an Official Transcript
Some schools, such as private colleges, out-of-state institutions, and scholarship programs, still require an official transcript in addition to or instead of STARS. Official transcript requests are handled by Mandarin's Records Clerk and do not go through Xello or Common App.
- Complete a transcript request form, available from the Records Clerk in the records office.
- If the receiving institution accepts transcripts electronically, the Records Clerk will send it directly.
- If the institution is private, out-of-state, or unable to receive transcripts electronically, the Records Clerk will seal the transcript in an envelope for the student to mail to the admissions office.
- Submit requests at least 3 to 4 weeks before the deadline.
School Report & Counselor Recommendation (Xello)
Separately from a transcript request, your counselor submits your School Report and a counselor recommendation (if a college requires one) through Xello once your Common App account is linked. See Link Common App to Xello.
- Confirm your Common App account is linked to Xello (see Link Common App to Xello).
- List every college you are applying to inside Common App. This syncs to Xello and notifies your counselor.
- Let your counselor know you are applying, especially for Early Decision or Early Action deadlines, so they can prioritize your School Report.
- Most Florida public universities do not require a counselor recommendation letter — check each school before assuming you need one.
Asking for Recommendation Letters
Most colleges require one to two teacher recommendations. Most Florida public universities do not require a counselor recommendation letter — if your college or university does require one, request it from your counselor as soon as possible. A strong letter can meaningfully support your application.
How to do it right
- Ask by the end of junior year or the first week of senior year, not the week before a deadline.
- Ask teachers who know your work well, not just the class where you got the best grade.
- Give each recommender a "brag sheet": a short document with your activities, achievements, goals, and why you are applying to specific schools.
- Waive your right to read the letter inside Common App. Colleges take waived letters more seriously.
- Send a thank-you after they submit and update them when you get decisions.
If a college requires one, your school counselor also submits a recommendation. Talk to your counselor early in the year to make sure they know your story and goals.
Application Timeline
| August 2026 | Common App opens August 1. Create your account, start your activity list and personal essay. |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | Finalize your college list. Ask teachers for recommendations. Meet with your counselor. |
| October 2026 | Take the PSAT (juniors) or SAT/ACT (seniors). Refine your essay. Start supplemental essays for EA/ED schools. |
| November 1, 2026 | Early Decision and Early Action deadline for most schools. |
| December 2026 | ED decisions released. If not accepted, release from ED and continue RD applications. |
| January 1-15, 2027 | Regular Decision deadline for most schools. |
| March-April 2027 | RD decisions released. Compare financial aid award letters carefully. |
| May 1, 2027 | National college decision deadline. Commit to your school and withdraw all other acceptances. |
Florida School Resources
| HBCUs | Apply to dozens of HBCUs with one application and fee at commonblackcollegeapp.com |
|---|---|
| University of Florida | commonapp.org, ufl.edu |
| Florida State University | commonapp.org, fsu.edu |
| University of North Florida | commonapp.org, unf.edu |
| University of South Florida | commonapp.org, usf.edu |
| University of Central Florida | commonapp.org, ucf.edu |
| Florida College System (FSCJ, etc.) | Separate application at floridashines.org, typically with its own fee (ask your counselor about fee-waiver codes) |
Sources: Common App (commonapp.org); Xello; DCPS Student Records; Florida Shines.