How students link Common App with Xello
userEducator Xello productXello 6-12 Time6 minutes

Students use both Common App and Xello to track their college applications. For colleges that use Common App, students request application forms, transcripts, and teacher evaluations from educators directly within Xello.

When starting a new Common App account, students can send their saved profile details and college lists from Xello directly into Common App to auto-populate their account setup.

Once accounts are connected, colleges saved in Common App automatically sync to Xello. Common App member schools are identified in Xello by the Common App logo, where students can select a school to begin requesting application materials.

In this article

Connect Common App with Xello

Connecting Common App to Xello allows students to request transcripts, counselor forms, and teacher evaluations directly within Xello. To save time during setup, students can send their saved details from Xello straight into a new Common App account, or quickly link an existing account.

How students integrate their Common App account with Xello:

  1. They open Plans and click College Planning.
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  2. They click View my applications to see their full list of colleges they’re tracking.
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  3. At the top of the page, in the banner with the Common App logo, the student clicks Connect.
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  4. A pop-up modal offers options for connecting:
    • Creating a new Common App account: Click Use Xello info to pre-fill basic information and saved colleges into Common App.
    • Connecting an existing Common App account: Click Go to Common App to log in directly.
    A popup modal called Fill out Common App form encouraging students to pre-fill the Common App form with their Xello information
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    A popup modal called Fill out Common App form encouraging students to pre-fill the Common App form with their Xello information
  5. If the student clicked Use Xello info, the Common App form page opens. Students review and complete the fields, including:
    • Intended start year
    • Email address (defaults to personal email if available)
    • First name, last name, date of birth, and contact details
    • High school graduation date and GPA scale
    • Saved colleges (up to a maximum of 20 schools)
  6. Once fields are verified, they select the confirmation checkbox to authorize sharing data with Common App, then click Send to Common App.
    The Common App form is open. The confirmation that the information is accurate and can be shared with Common App is checked.
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    The Common App form is open. The confirmation that the information is accurate and can be shared with Common App is checked.
  7. A modal will open letting them know their information was sent to Common App and to review details and finish the connection. When they click Go to Common App, they'll be redirected to the Common App sign in page.
    A pop-up saying the student's information was sent to Common App. They have the option to go to Common App to finish the connection or continue later.
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    A pop-up saying the student's information was sent to Common App. They have the option to go to Common App to finish the connection or continue later.
    • If they choose to finish later, the banner at the top of the College Applications page will have a button to Connect or they can Edit form.
  8. On the Common App account creation screen, they'll be given the option to import their basic information from Xello. They click Import.
    A pop-up on the Common App sign in page asking if the student would like to import thier basic information from Xello.
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    A pop-up on the Common App sign in page asking if the student would like to import thier basic information from Xello.
  9. After reviewing populated fields and finishing remaining account questions, students click Create account to finalize the connection.

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FERPA Release Authorization

Before students can begin working with Common App in Xello, they'll need to sign the FERPA release authorization. If they've connected their accounts without signing the release, the Common App banner at the top of their College applications page in Xello will remind them.

How students complete the FERPA release authorization:

  1. From the Common App banner at the top of their College applications page, students click Sign in to be redirected to the Common App sign in page.
    The College applications page in Xello. There's a banner with a reminder for the student to complete their FERPA Waiver in Common App before they can request documents.
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    The College applications page in Xello. There's a banner with a reminder for the student to complete their FERPA Waiver in Common App before they can request documents.
  2. Under My Common Application, they click Profile to start filling out their application profile. They'll need to have the required fields in the Profile and Education sections complete before they're able to sign their FERPA release authorization.
    A student account in Common App, on the dashboard. The cursor is clicking Profile to begin filling out the application profile
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    A student account in Common App, on the dashboard. The cursor is clicking Profile to begin filling out the application profile
  3. In the left menu, they click College search and add at least one college they plan to apply to.
  4. After adding a college, they'll click My colleges and select a college name.
  5. This opens a menu where students click Recommenders and FERPA. They read and complete the FERPA Release Authorization form.
    A student account in Common App. The My colleges tab is open with Aberystwyth University's application menu open. The cursor is clicking Recommenders and FERPA
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    A student account in Common App. The My colleges tab is open with Aberystwyth University's application menu open. The cursor is clicking Recommenders and FERPA

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Additional resources

  • pdfPDF
    PDFCommon App guide

    Use this guide to learn how students use Common App in Xello, and how you set up a Common App profile, complete student requests, track their progress, and more.

  • pdfPDF
    PDFCommon App and Xello - student guide

    Share this guide with your students to help them link their Xello and Common App accounts, prefill profile data, and request recommendations.

    English
    Spanish
  • pdfPDF
    PDFCommon App teacher recommender guide

    This guide will help recommenders set up a Common App profile, review and action student requests, submit and unsubmit teacher evaluations.

  • live webinarWalkthrough
    WalkthroughCommon App integration walkthrough

    This walkthrough covers how students link their Common App account to Xello to request documents, how educators create a Common App profile, and manage and track student requests.

  • pdfPDF
    PDFCommon App annual tasks - admin and counselor guide

    A guide to help admin and counselors with wind-down tasks before the end of the Common App school year and start-up tasks before the next.

  • pdfXello Academy
    Xello AcademyXello + Common App for Counselors

    If you're a counselor at a school that uses Common App, then you'd benefit from this course. You'll understand your role in the process, as well as steps for teacher recommenders and students.

  • live webinarRecorded webinar
    Recorded WebinarXello and Common App 101

    Xello and Common App have partnered to deliver an integrated college application management experience. In this session, learn how you and your students will manage Common App applications through Xello.

  • pdfShort video
    Short videoPaying for college - student-facing video

    Help students learn how to navigate their financial aid options. From applying for FAFSA to learning about scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans.

    English
    Spanish
  • short videoShort Video
    Short VideoRequesting your documents for Common App - video for students

    A student-facing short video that walks through how to request documents for Common App in Xello.

    English
    Spanish
  • pdfShort Video
    Short VideoXello's Common App integration for counselors

    A short video to walk counselors through how to integrate and begin completing tasks for Common App in Xello.

  • pdfShort Video
    Short VideoCommon App teacher recommender through Xello

    A quick overview of how teachers complete teacher evaluations for students applying to Common App colleges.

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