How do guidance counselors complete Common App forms and Recommendation Letters for students?
As students use Common App to apply to colleges, their counselor will be requested to complete multiple Common App forms. This may also include writing an evaluation and/or letter of recommendation for students.
Written By John Lohr
Last updated 4 months ago
1. Click on Colleges
2. Click on Common App Forms
3. Select a student
4. Click on Counselor Profile
This form will only need to be completed once by each counselor.
5. Enter Personal Details
6. Enter School Details
7. Complete the School Profile section
8. Check both options under the Certifications section
9. Click on Submit
10. Click on OK
11. Click on School Report
12. Complete the Class Rank section
13. Complete the GPA section
14. Complete the Curriculum section
15. Complete the Ratings section
16. Complete the Transcripts section
17. Click on Submit
18. Click on OK
19. Click on Counselor Recommendation
20. Answer the Written Evaluation questions
21. Click on Build Recommendation
22. Click on AI Generate
Since we have a lot of quality information stored about the student, we can use AI to generate a draft letter of recommendation. This can be a great starting point and time saver.
23. Optionally add Additional Counselor Information
If you'd like to improve the AI suggestion, you can add additional input using this field.
24. Click on Generate
25. Modify what was suggested
AI is a great starting point but you should always read what was suggested and make corrections if anything is not accurate or appropriate.
26. Optionally, click on I will not write a recommendation for this student
If you do not wish to provide a recommendation, choose this option.
27. Click on Save
28. Click on the ×
29. Click on Submit
Note that you do have the option of not sending an evaluation for the student, but only select this option if you are sure that you will not be including one.
30. Click on OK
31. Click on Final Report or Mid-Year Report as appropriate
Both the Mid-Year and Final Reports have the same content but are just submitted at different times of the year.
32. Complete the Class Rank section
33. Complete the GPA section
34. Complete the Transcripts section
35. Complete the Summary section
36. Choose all of the schools you'd like to submit the final report to
37. Click on Submit
38. Click on Optional Report
39. Use this to optionally update previously submitted forms
