So you hurried an application to meet an early deadline. Now you see a couple of mistakes you’d like corrected or several “enhancements” you’d like to add.
Or maybe you want to customize your application to conform to different Score Choice requirements. Or perhaps you really wanted to “tailor” an essay to one specific college, and you don’t want to send that same essay to other schools on your list.
While you can’t retrieve an electronic application that’s already been submitted, you can make content changes for future submissions. Both basic data (test scores, extracurricular activities/work experience, honors, etc.) and essays may be edited or changed on both the Common Application and the Universal College Application forms. And it’s really not too hard.
Common Application (CA)
Although the CA is philosophically opposed to the creation of multiple forms, there is a process by which you may create an alternative version of your application. Step-by-step directions are provided in the “Instructions” section under “Application Versions.”
Essentially, you must submit the CA to at least one institution first. You cannot create an alternate version before this has been done. Next, you log out of the original application and go to a special URL where you will login using your existing user name and password. After login, you will go to the “Common Application” page, which will contain information you’ve already submitted. The ability to create an alternative version is now “activated,” and you should click on the “Replicate” link to make an alternate version of your submitted application. All data from your original version of the Common Application will be transferred to the alternate version with the exception of any documents you uploaded. You may edit information beyond the basics provided in registration, but don’t forget to upload documents dropped from the earlier version.
After you have created your first alternate application, additional versions can be made by going to the “Common Application” section of your original application and using the “Replicate” link. You may make up to 10 versions, including the original.
Note that you will have a separate “My Colleges” page for each application version, and institutions may only appear on one version. They may be moved from one version to a different version at any time prior to submitting by selecting the college on the page and clicking on the “Move College” button.
Universal College Application (UCA)
The UCA has no particular objections to the creation of alternative versions of their application. In fact, the makers of the UCA subscribe to the Burger King philosophy and want you to “Have It Your Way®.” As a result, the process is relatively easy and straightforward. And the UCA does not restrict the number of versions an applicant can make.
Once again, you have to submit at least one application to one college to get the process rolling. After the initial submission is complete, log into your account and go to the “Application” tab (no need to go to a separate URL). There you will have the opportunity to copy one of your applications into a new, editable application by simply clicking on the “Copy” button. All the data from the original version will be copied onto a new application form that appears in a new window. Except for name and gender, the new version is completely editable, and there is no need to reload documents unless you want to make changes in those documents.
Similar to the CA, a college may not appear in multiple versions of the UCA “My Colleges.” If you add a school to one application and want to move it to another, you must remove it from the first version.
Although the two application providers differ in philosophy, both recognize that there are times when a revision may be necessary. The UCA, however, believes in “customization” and encourages users to take advantage of the ability to make separate forms for this purpose. The Common Application does not.
If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free contact the respective support teams for either the Common Application or the Universal College Application.
Or maybe you want to customize your application to conform to different Score Choice requirements. Or perhaps you really wanted to “tailor” an essay to one specific college, and you don’t want to send that same essay to other schools on your list.
While you can’t retrieve an electronic application that’s already been submitted, you can make content changes for future submissions. Both basic data (test scores, extracurricular activities/work experience, honors, etc.) and essays may be edited or changed on both the Common Application and the Universal College Application forms. And it’s really not too hard.
Common Application (CA)
Although the CA is philosophically opposed to the creation of multiple forms, there is a process by which you may create an alternative version of your application. Step-by-step directions are provided in the “Instructions” section under “Application Versions.”
Essentially, you must submit the CA to at least one institution first. You cannot create an alternate version before this has been done. Next, you log out of the original application and go to a special URL where you will login using your existing user name and password. After login, you will go to the “Common Application” page, which will contain information you’ve already submitted. The ability to create an alternative version is now “activated,” and you should click on the “Replicate” link to make an alternate version of your submitted application. All data from your original version of the Common Application will be transferred to the alternate version with the exception of any documents you uploaded. You may edit information beyond the basics provided in registration, but don’t forget to upload documents dropped from the earlier version.
After you have created your first alternate application, additional versions can be made by going to the “Common Application” section of your original application and using the “Replicate” link. You may make up to 10 versions, including the original.
Note that you will have a separate “My Colleges” page for each application version, and institutions may only appear on one version. They may be moved from one version to a different version at any time prior to submitting by selecting the college on the page and clicking on the “Move College” button.
Universal College Application (UCA)
The UCA has no particular objections to the creation of alternative versions of their application. In fact, the makers of the UCA subscribe to the Burger King philosophy and want you to “Have It Your Way®.” As a result, the process is relatively easy and straightforward. And the UCA does not restrict the number of versions an applicant can make.
Once again, you have to submit at least one application to one college to get the process rolling. After the initial submission is complete, log into your account and go to the “Application” tab (no need to go to a separate URL). There you will have the opportunity to copy one of your applications into a new, editable application by simply clicking on the “Copy” button. All the data from the original version will be copied onto a new application form that appears in a new window. Except for name and gender, the new version is completely editable, and there is no need to reload documents unless you want to make changes in those documents.
Similar to the CA, a college may not appear in multiple versions of the UCA “My Colleges.” If you add a school to one application and want to move it to another, you must remove it from the first version.
Although the two application providers differ in philosophy, both recognize that there are times when a revision may be necessary. The UCA, however, believes in “customization” and encourages users to take advantage of the ability to make separate forms for this purpose. The Common Application does not.
If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free contact the respective support teams for either the Common Application or the Universal College Application.
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Hi Nancy. Thank you so much for this great article! I wanted to let you know that I made a link to it on our Facebook account. Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteFrom a fellow HECA member, Jimmy Kim, More Than Scores And Tests, LTD.