Recommender system overview | Common App

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to the Common App Recommender System, designed for counselors, teachers, and other recommenders. It explains the different roles in the system, including counselors, teachers, other recommenders, and advisors, outlining their specific responsibilities such as submitting letters of recommendation, completing school forms, and tracking students' application progress. The walkthrough also highlights key features, such as the profile tab, student tracking, and the one-and-done submission process for forms. Additionally, viewers are directed to helpful resources, offering support for every step of the application process to ensure successful college applications.

Takeaways

• 😀 Recommenders (counselors, teachers, and others) must first be invited by students to use the Common App recommender system.
• 😀 Counselors submit school forms, transcripts, and letters of recommendation that address a student's academic achievements and personal growth.
• 😀 Teachers write recommendation letters highlighting a student's intellectual curiosity, work habits, and creativity.
• 😀 Other recommenders (e.g., coaches, clergy, employers) provide insights into a student's extracurricular pursuits, teamwork, and community contributions.
• 😀 Advisors track students' application progress without uploading forms but can support students by using the recommender system.
• 😀 Recommenders only need to create an account once; they can sign in any time using commonapp.org, but must wait for a student's invitation each year.
• 😀 The profile tab is where recommenders fill out personal and school-wide information, including details on class rank and GPA for counselors.
• 😀 The students tab allows recommenders to track application progress, submit recommendations, and view information such as deadlines and required forms.
• 😀 Counselors can view the full list of colleges a student is applying to, whereas other recommenders can only see colleges assigned to them by the student.
• 😀 Once a form is submitted in the recommender system, it is sent to all assigned colleges, and cannot be customized for a specific college.
• 😀 The Common App provides resources for recommenders, including a recommender guide, tips for writing letters, and worksheets for students to share insights about themselves.

Q & A

What is the purpose of this walkthrough?

The walkthrough is designed to guide counselors, teachers, and other recommenders through the Common App recommender system to submit letters of recommendation and school forms, as well as to assist those in the advisor role with supporting students during their application process.

Do all schools use the Common App recommender system for submitting letters of recommendation?

No, some schools might use third-party College and Career Readiness platforms for submitting letters of recommendation instead of the Common App recommender system. You can check if your school uses such tools by visiting a link in the video description.

How does a recommender access the system for the first time?

A recommender can access the system for the first time by receiving an email invitation from a student, which includes a link to create an account.

Do recommenders need to create a new account every year?

No, recommenders do not need to create a new account each year. However, if they sign in after August 1st, they will only see students who have invited them for the current application cycle.

What are the main responsibilities of counselors in the recommender system?

Counselors are responsible for completing school forms, submitting transcripts, and, if required by a college, providing letters of recommendation that address a student's academic achievements, goals, and personal growth.

What do teachers write about in their letters of recommendation?

Teachers write from the perspective of the classroom, focusing on a student's intellectual curiosity, creative thought, and work habits.

Who can serve as an 'other recommender'?

Other recommenders can include art teachers, outside of school clergy, coaches, College access counselors, employers, family members, or even peers. They provide insights into a student's pursuits and qualities outside of the classroom.

What role does the advisor play in the recommender system?

Advisors do not upload forms but can use the system to track their students' application progress.

How can recommenders fill out their profile information in the system?

Recommenders begin by filling out the 'Profile' tab, where they can enter personal information, and counselors can add school-wide information like school profile, class rank, and GPA definitions. It's recommended that counselors from the same school collaborate for consistent answers to school profile questions.

Can recommenders see all the colleges a student has applied to?

Counselors and advisors can see every college a student has listed, while teachers and other recommenders can only see the colleges that a student has assigned to them for recommendation.

What happens if a recommender makes a mistake when submitting a form?

If a recommender makes a mistake, they can unsubmit and resubmit a form as long as the college has not yet downloaded it.

Where can recommenders find additional resources and support?

Recommenders can access additional resources through the 'Resources' tab, where they can find a recommender guide, application resources to share with students, and tips for writing letters of recommendation. If they need further help, they can visit commonapp.org/help for online support.