The Common Application (Common App) is a nonprofit platform that helps students apply to colleges and universities across the United States. Over 1 million students create a Common App account each year. More than 900 schools accept the Common App, including Ivy League universities, large state colleges, and small liberal arts schools. Students fill out one set of materials and submit to all schools from a single dashboard.
The teacher evaluation form is a standard part of the Common App process. High school students typically ask two teachers to complete this form on their behalf. Each teacher receives the form and submits it directly to the colleges on the student's list.
Teachers rate the student on academic achievement, quality of writing, intellectual promise, and creative thought. The evaluation also includes a rating on work habits and overall character. In the final section, teachers write a full evaluation in their own words. Most admissions offices at colleges and universities treat teacher evaluations as a key part of their review process.
The Common App opens for new applicants each year on August 1. Students who want to apply through early decision or early action must submit by early November at most schools. Regular decision deadlines fall between January and February.
Deadlines vary by school, so students should check the dashboard for each application. The dashboard tracks which schools have confirmed receipt of all materials, including teacher evaluations. Students applying to many schools should ask teachers early, since submitting evaluation forms can take several weeks.
The schools that accept the Common App include hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Students can search the full list on the official Common App website. FormsPal also offers a large library of college application forms for schools outside the Common App network. Teachers and counselors who need related documents, such as a high school transcript form, can also find them here.
The Common App does not process financial aid directly. Students should plan to submit the FAFSA alongside their Common App materials to meet each school's financial aid deadlines. Some colleges also require a separate school-specific financial aid form in addition to the Common App package.
Recommendation letters from teachers help admissions officers understand a student's potential beyond test scores like the SAT and ACT. Students applying to competitive colleges and universities should give teachers at least four to six weeks to write detailed, specific evaluations. A well-written teacher evaluation can strengthen a college application at schools that review applicants holistically.
Students should give the teacher a summary of their activities, a personal statement draft, and notes about shared academic experiences before submitting the evaluation form request. This context helps teachers write evaluations that highlight the student's specific strengths.
Teachers filling out this form should focus on concrete examples from class rather than general praise. Colleges and universities look for evaluations that describe a student's unique qualities, learning approach, and growth over time. For a standalone personal recommendation letter template, FormsPal offers several versions suitable for different situations.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Common Application Form |
| Form Length | 2 pages |
| Fillable? | Yes |
| Fillable fields | 61 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 12 min 46 sec |
| Other names | common application pdf, common application form, common application teacher form |