Family

In the Family Section of Common App, you will be asked questions about your family that will be shared with all colleges and universities where you apply. The Family section should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Items in Common App marked with a red asterisk * are required. You are not required to complete items that do not have the red asterisk.

Introduction

Colleges are interested in understanding your background, family circumstances, and the context in which you have grown up. In the Family section, you will complete the Family section, you will provide the following information:

• Your parents’ marital status
• Which parent(s) you live with
• Your parents’ contact information, occupations, and educational information
• If you have siblings, information about them

Tips & Reminders

• Parents’ marital status is required information. If you do not live with either of your parents, you should select “Other,” and you will be given a space to explain your situation.
• Before sharing parents’ email addresses, you should first get permission from your parents.
• Questions include listing parents’ occupation and education level. Questions ask about the degree type, such as BA/BS, MD, MBA, JD, PhD, or other degrees earned in college or graduate school,  the name of the institution, and the year the degree or degrees were granted.
• If you are unable to obtain this information, you may select the “I have limited information about this parent” option.
• Your family background provides admissions officers with more context about you and your background. They want to understand your family circumstances to gain more insight into who you are. There is no specific answer that universities are looking for. It is just another part of the application. Try to be as accurate as possible when completing this section.