Last updated 1 May 2026
The Common Application (commonapp.org) is the centralised platform used by over 1,000 US and international universities to receive undergraduate applications. You complete one set of core information — personal details, academic history, activities, and your main essay — and then add it to as many universities as you choose, with university-specific supplements added for each.
For Pakistani students applying to US universities, Common App is almost always the starting platform. MIT, University of California schools, and a handful of others use their own portals, but the majority of selective US universities use Common App.
Create your account at commonapp.org. Use your legal name as it appears on your passport. Under "Country of Citizenship," select Pakistan. Under "High School," search for your school — if it does not appear, contact Common App support to have it added, or enter it manually.
Your school counselor must also create a NAVIANCE or Common App counselor account to submit your school report and counselor recommendation. In Pakistan, school counselors often do not know this system — you may need to brief your school principal or a trusted teacher about the requirements. Daakhla mentors have helped students navigate this with schools that have no experience with US applications.
The Common App essay is 250–650 words and addresses one of seven prompts. You choose which prompt to answer. The prompts change slightly each year, but they all invite you to share something meaningful about yourself.
The most important thing to understand: the prompt is almost irrelevant. Admissions readers care about how you write and what you reveal about yourself — not whether you precisely answered the question. Most strong essays could technically answer any of the seven prompts.
Write about something specific, true, and personal. The most common mistake Pakistani students make is writing an essay that could have been submitted by any applicant — about wanting to help their country, or about a generic challenge they overcame. Write something that could only have been written by you.
Most selective US universities require supplemental essays in addition to the Common App essay. These are university-specific and include prompts like "Why do you want to attend [University]?" or "Describe a community you belong to" or "What is your intellectual passion?"
The "Why [University]" essay is the most common supplement and the most important. A generic answer ("LUMS is a prestigious university with excellent faculty") will not work. Research specific programmes, professors, courses, opportunities, and aspects of the university's culture that genuinely interest you — and explain why they connect to what you want to do.
Some universities have 5–7 supplemental essays. Building your university list early gives you time to write each supplement thoughtfully rather than rushing.
For international students applying for need-based financial aid at US universities, the CSS Profile (College Board) is required alongside the university's own aid application. The CSS Profile collects detailed financial information about your family.
Complete the CSS Profile carefully and accurately. The CSS Profile costs approximately USD 25 for the first university and USD 16 for each additional university.
Completing the CSS Profile sends your financial information to every university you select. This triggers the financial aid review process — universities assess your need and determine what aid, if any, they can offer alongside an admission decision.
Our mentors apply what this guide covers to your specific situation — your universities, your timeline, your financial aid. Free for students from underserved districts.
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