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Common App for
internaonal students
Did you know?
Students from over 200 countries use the Common App to apply to college each year.
490+
colleges have no applicaon fee
for internaonal students.
If you are an internaonal student applying to a university in the U.S., you are not alone! In fact, 1 in 10
students using Common App are just like you.
This resource will review some common quesons internaonal students have when preparing to apply to a
U.S. college or university.
Common quesons
How do applicaon fees work with Common App?
Each college decides the fee that they will charge
to process your applicaon. Not all colleges require
applicants to pay a fee. In fact, you can search
specically for colleges that don’t charge a fee.
You can nd informaon about applicaon fees in the
College Search tab, college’s College Informaon secon, and the Requirements grid.
Tip: On commonapp.org, you’ll nd helpful resources like an Applicaon Guide and Applicaon Diconary.
The Applicaon Requirements grid also lists deadlines, fees, and other requirements for Common App
member colleges.
What are applicaon fee waivers?
Internaonal students may be eligible for a need-based Common App fee waiver. You can nd the
Common App fee waiver in the Prole secon. Some colleges may also oer their own applicaon fee
waiver. It’s important to check each university’s fee waiver policy for internaonal students.
Property of Common App, Inc. | © 2021 Common App, Inc. | commonapp.org
To learn more, check out our resource on applicaon fees and fee waivers at commonapp.org/ready.
What is the deadline to apply to a college or university?
Each college can choose their own admission plans and deadlines. Admission plans include: early acon,
early decision, regular decision, and rolling admission. For informaon about the dierences in these plans,
check out the Applicaon Diconary.
The Requirements grid lists each college’s deadlines. You can see your college’s specic deadlines on the
Dashboard.
Keep in mind that to meet an applicaon deadline, you must submit your applicaon materials by 11:59 pm
in your local me zone, not the college’s me zone or any other me zone.
How do I send my transcripts to Common App colleges?
Your counselor will submit transcripts and other school forms on your behalf. If you don’t have a counselor,
you can invite any school ocial who has access to your academic records. We recommend you invite a
school ocial who can speak to your academic performance.
You will invite your counselor on the My Colleges tab in the Recommenders and FERPA secon.
If you have taken any university-level courses, you will note that in the Educaon secon of your
Common App. You will need to request the university to send your transcripts directly to the colleges you
are applying to.
Are there any addional forms I need to submit?
Some colleges will ask for leers of recommendaon to be submied on your behalf. You can learn about
each college’s recommendaon requirements on the College Informaon page.
You’ll need to invite and assign your recommenders to the colleges where you want their leer to go.
Recommender forms can be completed in Common App’s Recommender System, or through one of
Common App’s partners.
What should I do if I need help with my applicaon?
Common App support is available 24/7. Visit the Applicant Soluons Center to view frequently asked
quesons, or contact a support team member.
What should I do if I have a queson specic to a college I am applying to?
While Common App can assist with applicaon-related quesons, somemes you may need to reach out
to a college directly. You can nd contact informaon and links to the college’s admissions website on
their College Informaon page.
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Some quesons that vary by college include:
“Do I need to take any English prociency tests?”
“Is it okay if my transcript is not in English?”
“Does this college oer nancial aid for internaonal students?”
Is there support for my recommenders?
Whether it’s a counselor, teacher, or other recommender providing a leer of recommendaon on your
behalf, we are ready to assist when quesons arise. Recommenders can visit the Recommender Soluons
Center to nd answers to frequently asked quesons, access live chat, or to schedule a call with our
support team.
