Tips to Start Your Application

The earlier you start thinking about and familiarizing yourself with the application, the smoother the process will be. At RWU, we accept the Common App.

Here are some tips to get you started: 

Approach the application in small steps. It is broken up into individual sections, so you can complete one at a time without feeling overwhelmed by the whole process. 

Use the help features (help icons for each question, tips in the side margin, and virtual counselor tool) to understand how to answer each question. Review each section before you begin and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Create your account with your home/personal email address: As you create your account and start to add schools to your My Colleges List, you’ll begin to receive communications from many different schools. To keep yourself organized and to make sure you receive every message intended for you, use your home/personal email address so you don't fill up your high school email inbox.

Every college on the Common Application has their own Questions Screen with college-specific questions. Add your schools to your My Colleges list by searching for the college name and selecting it, and you will have access to review the college-specific questions.

Be thoughtful about completing your activities section. Information about your involvement and leadership is very important to us. It is a key part of the experience at RWU, so we love seeing how you are already balancing your time between studies and being involved. Therefore, keep in mind:

• Be as detailed as possible and avoid using acronyms with which we may not be familiar.
• This is the time to brag a little bit – if you achieved accomplishments and earned awards, don’t be shy about including that information.
• If you work or have significant responsibilities at home, such as providing care for younger siblings or elderly grandparents, include those in this section. That tells us a lot about you as well!

​​​​Consider the decision plans (Early Action, Regular Decision, Early Decision, etc.). RWU offers non-binding Early Action (November 15 deadline) or Regular Decision (February 1 deadline). Students interested in the Honors Program are strongly recommended to apply Early Action for best consideration for the limited spaces available.

The Common Application has a helpful guide for first-year students. Have questions? Connect with us - we're happy to provide guidance for the overall process, or RWU's process.