Welcome to the AXS Companion to Common App!
The AXS Companion is a free, open online resource designed by professional consultants to be used side-by-side with Common App as you work through your application. Each section includes explanatory videos, helpful tips, a glossary of application terms, and links to resources mentioned in the videos.
Our goal is to provide access and clarity to students as they apply to college using Common App. We do not require login, display advertising, or promote any products. The AXS Companion is supported by the AXS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The goal of the AXS Companion is to help you navigate and apply to a wider selection of colleges and universities.
Getting Started – Introduction
How to Use This Resource
As you fill in your Common App application, a good approach is to have the AXS Companion open on another device and move through each step of your application in a linear, step-by-step manner. For each section of Common App, there is a corresponding section with explanatory videos in the AXS Companion. If you cannot complete a section of your Common App application in one sitting, it can be saved and completed at a later time.
You can choose to navigate the AXS Companion in any order that is most helpful to you. If you have a question about a specific section, you can skip ahead within Common App and the AXS Companion. You can search for keywords by clicking on the “Search in book” link at the top right of the AXS Companion.
You may use the Contents menu to search for specific sections. The Contents menu is arranged by section of Common App, with some additional pages for supporting information. You will find the menu in the top left corner on a desktop and in the top center on mobile devices.
Once you begin using the AXS Companion, you can navigate to the next page by selecting the Previous and Next buttons on the bottom left and right of the screen.
Track Your Progress
At the top of each page of the AXS Companion, you will see a pencil graphic, which shows where you are in the process of completing your application. The sizes of each section represent the estimated time it will take you to complete each step in the application process. Each video and page have an estimated time it will take to complete that section of Common App.
Vocabulary/Key Terms
There are many key terms used throughout the AXS Companion. These terms will have inline definitions the first time they appear in this resource. You can also find a full list of definitions and explanations on the Vocabulary & Key Terms page.
Tips & Reminders
- You will need a computer or cell phone to use the AXS Companion.
- You can open both the AXS Companion to Common App and Common App side by side on your computer screen or by using multiple devices (i.e., a phone or tablet and a computer).
- The AXS Companion to Common App provides guidance on each section of Common App. It moves through these sections in a linear manner. However, if you do not have all of the information needed to complete a specific section of Common App, you can return to it at a later time. It is also possible to skip ahead to any section of Common App at any time.
Need Help?
- When completing your application, answers to frequently asked questions can be found in the “Need Help?” box on the right side of each page of Common App.
- The Common App also features a chat box where you can get answers to your questions. Find details about the chat box in the “Need Help?” box.
- Common App Solutions Center has information for applicants, counselors, and recommenders.
- Common App has partnered with UStrive to connect U.S. resident students with free virtual mentoring to provide additional support in the admission and financial aid application process. Sign up at UStrive to connect with a mentor.
- If you have questions about a specific college’s application requirements, contact that college’s admission office. They want to talk with you! Go to the college website, find “Admission” on the menu, and then look for “Contact Us” on the Admission page. You can contact an admissions office by phone or email.
If you have questions regarding the AXS Companion, email axsteam@theaxsfoundation.org
Additional Resources
The AXS Companion contains a list of Additional Resources that you might find useful in your college search and application process.
