With technology evolving and shifting how people approach different aspects of life, the school system has also fluctuated to adapt to the reliance on technology. College applications have become a mostly online process with websites such as Naviance and Common App offering the easiest way to apply to colleges all over the country.
Common App, while being easily accessible, can pose many problems with confusing layouts and some colleges not being available on Common App.
Naviance is often considered a more difficult website to navigate as opposed to Common App. One of the features offered on Naviance is a questionnaire that gives results for possible jobs that match up with answers. Although it can be viewed as a helpful tool to invoke reflections on possible jobs, some students explain that the occupation test can be quite questionable.
“Specifically when you have to do the career test and one of my options was a florist. When you try to look up careers it gives you the same 5 over and over again. I feel like it’s a very convoluted website,” said Chloe Gisetto ‘25.
Another Hollis Brookline senior, Kathleen Wilkish ’25, had a different experience. She found “most results [in the career quiz] to be accurate. However, some went astray from my interests,” said Wilkish.
One of the first steps to starting college applications is linking both Common App and Naviance together for the purpose of transferring recommendation letters, transcripts and records. However, this can not always be a simple process. “It’s not very intuitive how to link your Naviance account to your common app account,” said Gisetto.
An important aspect of college applications is standing out as an individual, rather than just appearing as grades on a transcript. While Common App does walk through different parts of an application one at a time, it is not as flexible as it should be to assist in expressing other parts of a student’s life outside of the classroom. “The only options you have are grades, clubs you’ve done and your essay. Not everyone’s a great writer so it puts you in a box,” said Giesstto.
On the other hand, Wilkish compliments the Common App on its feature allowing for additional information essays. “I find those help to ensure one can showcase everything about themselves,” said Wilkish.
Some colleges do not offer any opportunities to express personality and values. “The colleges that don’t ask any questions don’t get to know their applicants,” said Anya Pendergast ‘25.
Conflicting viewpoints of the application process are understandable because each student application is different and highlights a variety of aspects depending on what type of student the applicant is.
The entire process of filling out Common App, Naviance and finalizing college applications can often be intimidating and overwhelming, so what’s the easiest way to manage the stress? “For me, what was easiest was that I did my essay over the summer. It was way easier and less stressful to fill out Common App knowing my essay was written,” said Giestto.
The summer going into senior year is the most encouraged time to begin the college application process. “The best time is the summer before senior year. When classes start, it’s hard to balance the workload,” said Wilkish.
Colleges that are not accessible through Common App require applicants to fill out very similar questions on its college website.
Early action/decision deadlines have already passed, with most regular action being due on or around January 1.
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