It is crucial that applications be carefully completed and fully documented. Incomplete applications will jeopardize the applicant's admission.
Please read all instructions carefully before completing the application.
Instructions for completing the Common Application for IIE:
Please have these instructions available during registration and submission of the Common Application for the Institute of International Education (IIE).
STEP 1:
1. If you have not previously registered with Common Application, you need to register and create your account by visiting: https://www.commonapp.org/Application/RegisterApplicant.aspx.
2. In creating your account, please remember the following:
- I am applying as: You should select the 'First-Year' option. If you are currently in a college or university in your home country, and would like to apply as a Transfer, please select the 'Transfer' option.
- Personal Information: Complete the remaining section with your personal information.
- How did you hear about the Common App Online: Select 'Other' in response to this question. In the box that appears below, indicate Institute of International Education.
- Email Address: Type your personal e-mail address in this section.
- The colleges to which I am applying may communicate with me...: Select 'No' in response to this question.
- I am an applicant planning to enroll in college in 2013: Select ‘Yes’ in response to this question.
- The most important section of your registration is creating your login information.
- Your username should be: your last name your first name (no gap between the two names) For example, morelixarnobio
- Your password should be: undergrad2013
- Check the box at the bottom of the page.
You are now registered on Common Application.
STEP 2:
After you have completed the registration, please copy the link below and paste it on your browser. https://www.commonapp.org/application/MyColleges.aspx?clientlist=504
Institute of International Education is automatically added, and will appear in your “My Colleges” list.
Your name and Common App ID number will appear on the left top corner of the page. Please make sure that you record your common app ID, username and password in a secure place.
STEP 3:
Proceed to complete the Supplement Application for IIE.
1. Select ‘Supplements’ from the grey navigation tab on the left of the screen.
2. Click on Start to complete the supplement.
3. Please indicate the Program you are applying for: Select Study America Program.
4. Last Name: Enter your Surname exactly as it appears on your passport.
5. First Name: Enter your Given Name exactly as it appears on your passport.
6. Middle Name: If you have no middle name listed on your passport, please leave this field blank.
7. Sex: Select F for Female or M for Male.
8. CPF: Please skip this question.
9. Date of Birth: Enter your Date of Birth in the format indicated – Month/Day/Year.
10. City of Birth: Enter your Place of Birth exactly as it appears on your passport.
11. Country of Birth: Enter the name of the country where you were born.
12. Country of Citizenship: Enter your home country (and another country if you have dual citizenship).
13. Country of Permanent Residence: Enter your country of permanent residence.
14. Mailing Address: Enter the address where you live.
15. Telephone Number: Enter the number where you may be reached.
16. A. Academic Interest or Major: Select Bachelor's Degree.
17. B. Please upload a color copy of the photo page of your passport (vertically aligned) in PDF format.
18. C. Writing Samples: Copy and paste each essay prompt in a new page and upload each essay individually in PDF format. If you would like time to work on your essay, please log out of the site and return once you have completed your essays.
19. D. Resume: Upload a ONE PAGE resume or CV in English, in PDF format. Please do not include your email on your Resume or CV.
20. E1. Institutional Preferences: Please skip this section.
21. E2. (Optional): Please check below if you are interested in being placed at 1) All women’s college/university; 2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU); 3) Religious Affiliated Institutions.
22. F. Courses: Please skip this section.
23. G. Required Safety and Security Information: An affirmative response to any of these questions will not automatically prevent admission, but you will be required to provide additional information.
If you have completed steps 1 through 23 as listed above, you are ready to submit your supplementary application.
Please click on Check Errors & Save. If you have no errors, then you can click on Print Preview. This will allow you to view your supplementary application and save it as a PDF. Please SAVE the supplementary application for your records.
If there are no errors on the supplement, please proceed to submit. Once you submit the supplementary application to IIE, no changes can be made.
You are done with the Supplement! We recommend that you take a break then return to complete the Common Application.
STEP 4:
If you logged out after completing the Supplement, please log back in using your username and password.
We estimate that it will take you approximately two hours to complete the Common Application. Please follow the guidelines listed below.
Please DO NOT SUBMIT the Common Application. Once submitted, no changes can be made.
1. Click on My Colleges from the navigation on the left tab. You should be able to see Institute of International Education listed under My Colleges in the center of this screen.
2. Click on Future Plans on the left navigation tab.
- Term and Decision Plan: Select Fall 2013 This term begins in August/September of 2013.
- Do you intend to apply for need-based financial aid: Select ‘Yes’.*
- Do you intend to apply for merit-based scholarships: Select ‘Yes’. *
- Do you intend to be a full-time student: Select ‘Yes’.
- Do you intend to live in college housing: Select ‘Yes, on-campus’.
- What is the highest degree you intend to earn: Select Bachelors.
- Interest 1: Select the area of study that interests you the most. This should be the area of study that you hope to focus on during your one year exchange program in the U.S
Interest 2 and 3: If you have more than one area of interest you can indicate them in this section.
- Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
* This indicates that you are requesting financial assistance from the institutions that your application will be submitted to.
3. The next section is Applicant. Some of these fields will be pre-filled with the information that you entered during registration.
- Personal Data: Check to make sure that your name and date of birth match the exact information as it appears on your passport.
- Permanent/Home Address: Check to make sure that your address appears correctly.
- Current/Mailing Address: Check the box that appears in this section. Checking the small box will prompt for new fields to appear.
It is crucial that you enter the information in this section EXACTLY as indicated below.
- Include name of College or University: Institute of international Education
Dates at this address: 10/01/2012-07/01/2013
Country: United States of America
Street Address: Line 1 – C/O Shahreen Rahman Line 2 – 809 United Nations Plaza
City/Town: New York
State: NY
Zip Code: 10017
County or Parish: New York
Telephone and Email: Select Home.
Home Telephone Number: 212-984-5335
Leave the Cell Telephone Number blank
E-mail: This will have your e-mail address that you used during registration. YOU MUST DELETE THIS E-MAIL and replace it with studyamerica@iie.org.
IM Address / IM Type: Leave this section blank.
Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
4. Demographic Information: Only complete the sections that have a yellow button next to it. The remaining questions are optional and you can leave them blank.
- Citizenship Status: Select Other
- List your citizenship: Select your country of citizenship.
- Currently held Visa Type: If you hold a valid U.S. visa please indicate. If you do not hold a visa, please select 'I do not hold a U.S. non-immigrant Visa'.
- Years lived in the United States: Indicate the number of years you have lived in the U.S. For example, if you lived for a few months, select <1.
- Years lived outside the United States: Indicate the number of years as appropriate.
- City of Birth: This should be the city of birth that appears on your passport.
- State/Province of Birth: Leave this section blank.
- Country of Birth: This should be the same as it appears on your passport.
- Language 1: Select Portuguese if that is your first language. Check the box for speak, read, write, first language, spoken at home as appropriate.
- Language 2: Select English if that is your second language. Check the appropriate boxes to indicate your fluency in the language.
- Language 3: Select a third language that you have knowledge of and check the appropriate boxes to indicate your fluency in the chosen language.
You can leave the remainder of the section blank since they are optional.
- Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
5. Family: Only complete the sections that have a yellow button next to it.
- Parent’s marital status: Select the appropriate option from the dropdown.
- With whom do you make your permanent home: Select the appropriate option to indicate with whom you currently reside.
- Parent 1: Only complete the name of your parent and indicate whether they are currently living.
- Parent 2: Only complete the name of your parent and indicate whether they are currently living.
- Complete the remainder of the sections to the best of your knowledge.
- CEEB Code: Click on the lookup tab listed below. This will take you to a new window. Type 0000 in the field titled CEEB Code. Click on Search. It will give you the options. Click on the first option. This will return you to your previous screen. After you have selected the CEEB Code, you can type in the name of the institutions your parents have attended.
- Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
6. Education: Please complete only the sections listed below:
- CEEP/ACT Code: Click on the ‘look up’ tab under ‘CEEB Code’. This will take you to a separate screen. Type 000000 for the CEEB Code section. Select the first option that appears in the dropdown. This will return you to your previous screen.
- Current or Most Recent Secondary School Attended: Delete ‘Not Found’ and type the name of the institution you are currently attending in your home country.
- Date of Entry: Should be the date you began your high school.
- Exit Date: Should be your expected graduation date from your high school.
- Address: Type in the address of the high school you are currently attending.
- Counselor: Since IIE will be providing you with guidance during your application process, we will be your primary Counselor. However please complete the counselor section with the name of a teacher or officer at your school. You should not include their e-mail address in this section. If you include an e-mail address, they will receive an e-mail from you asking them to recommend you. If you have questions abot this section, please write to IIE.
- Education Interruption: Leave this section blank if you are completing your high school on time.
7. Academics: If you are not sure how to complete this page, please leave all sections blank except for TOEFL/IELTS and SAT Reasoning Tests. If you choose to complete all sections, please see instructions below.
- Secondary School Grades: If you have received a GPA (Grade Point Average) and know the information of your class size and rank, complete the section as appropriate. If not, leave the section blank.
- ACT Tests: If you have taken an ACT exam, you can complete the section as appropriate. If not, leave this section blank.
- SAT Reasoning Tests: Complete this section indicating your date and score for SAT exam. IIE's institutional code is 2326.
- TOEFL/IELTS: Indicate the date and score of you received if you have taken a TOEFL exam. If you have not taken the exam yet, only indicate the date. IIE's institutional code is 2326. Select undergraduate as the department group. If you can, include the department name D614 EPD as part of your address.
- AP/IB/SAT Subject Tests: If you have taken any of these tests, you can complete the section as appropriate. If not, leave this section blank.
- Current Year Courses: In this section you should list all the courses that you have taken at your current high school. Please list them according to the semester when you took the courses. You can keep adding courses by clicking on ‘Add Course’. Please translate the course names in English.
- Honors: If you have received an honorary certificate or award during your high school and undergraduate study, please indicate the name of the award and year it was received.
11 and 12 refer to the last two years of high school.
FY- First Year in College
SO – Second Year in College
JR – Third Year in College
Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
8. Activities: Please complete this section as appropriate.
Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience: Select the appropriate sport you were involved in. If you were not involved in any of the sports listed in the dropdown, but received academic award, select ‘Academic’ as the option.
- Grade level or post-graduate: Select the high school when you were engaged in the activity you selected above.
- Approximate Time Spent: Indicate the hours/week or Weeks/year when you participated in the activity you selected above.
- When did you participate in the activity: Select appropriate box.
- Details and Accomplishments: List any awards or certificate/diploma you received.
- Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
You are almost done. Now would be a good time to take a break before you proceed to the next section.
9. Writing: Please make sure that you read and review all information entered in this section. This section will be shared with schools that will review your application. We ask that you write and proof-read your writing sections carefully.
- Short Answer: You can write about an activity that you are passionate about or a hobby that you enjoy. For example, it can be sports, art, music, acting, writing, voluntary or part-time work that you have been engaged in etc. You can also write about an experience that you gained if you were involved in any community work.
- Personal Essay: For this section, select 'Topic of your Choice'. You will need to upload the second essay that you completed on IIE’s Supplement:
"In an essay of no more than 500 words explain the unique perspectives you hope to gain in the U.S. and how you intend to use these skills, knowledge and experience upon your return to your home country." Please come up with a title for the essay. The title of the essay should be 'catchy' and should draw the attention of the Admission Officers who will review your application.
- Additional Information: If you have any additional documents that you would like to share with IIE as well as ALL U.S. institutions that will receive your application, please upload them here. If you upload your CV or resume, please make sure it does not include your e-mail address.
- Disciplinary History: Please select the option that is most applicable to you.
- Click on Save & Check for Errors. If no errors are found, click on Save & Next.
Please DO NOT SUBMIT the Common Application. Once submitted, no changes can be made.
STEP 5:
CONGRATULATIONS! You have now completed the Common Application for IIE.
10. Signature: Click on the Signature tab on the left navigation bar.
If you have not completed the required sections on the individual tabs, they will appear as error on this page. Please click on the error and correct the missing/incorrect information entered in previous sections.
If there are no errors on this page, please proceed to Step 6. DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR COMMON APPLICATION. Once submitted, no changes can be made to your application. IIE will review your application and contact you for any necessary changes on the application.
STEP 6:
Once you have completed the Common Application and Supplement to Common Application, please send an e-mail confirmation to IIE at Study America. Please make sure to include the following information in your e-mail:
- Your Family/Last Name
- Your First Name
- Country: This should be the same as your country of citizenship
- Username: This should be the username you use to log into your Common Application account
- Common App ID: This is a seven digit number that appears on the top of the application page under your name
- Major: This is the major that you intend to pursue for your Bachelor's degree
- Your E-mail
- Program Name: Study America Undergraduate Program
The e-mail should state that you have completed the Common Application and submitted the Supplementary Application. IIE will review your application and contact you with a submission plan.
Password: Your password should be undergrad2013. If you have used a different password, please change it to undergrad2013 or include it in your confirmation e-mail.
STEP 7:
This is the last step of the Application process.
Please log back into your Common Application account using your username and password. At this time you are probably familiar with the process.
- Select School Forms from the navigation tab on the left.
- Check the boxes as appropriate and click on Save.
- This will take you to a screen. Click on the grey button, 'Invite Official'.
You should have already identified teachers who will provide you with recommendation letters. In this section, please indicate those professor(s)/teacher(s) or counselor(s) who have agreed to be your reference for college admissions.
- School Official Type: Select Counselor
- Title /First name/ Last Name: List your counselor name. If you do not have a counselor, then please complete the section with a teacher's information. However on the top section, you HAVE to select 'Counselor'.
- Email: If your counselor or teacher has indicated that they will complete an electronic recommendation, you can list their e-mail address. If they prefer to not complete an electronic recommendation, then leave this section blank. Please note that entering an e-mail address will send an automated e-mail to your teacher/counselor asking them to recommend you.
- Check on the box at the bottom, "I understand that.... release authorization."
- Click on 'Send Invitation'.
- This will bring you to a new screen. If you have not listed your school official's e-mail, then it will indicate that this counselor/teacher is an 'Offline Provider'. In this case, please see the forms listed below.
- Counselor School Forms - Print this form. The top section will be pre-filled with your personal data.
Important Privacy Note: Please read this section carefully and select the appropriate box and sign the grey section.
Submit the form to your counselor/teacher/professor. They will complete the section and return the form. You will notice that it prints three counselor forms. You can give these forms to three teachers and request them to complete letters of recommendation for you. IIE REQUIRES that you submit at least three letters of recommendation.
- International Supplement to the School Report - Print this form and give it to the School Official who will attest your information.
Please submit the forms signed and stamped by your instructor to IIE.
You must submit these forms and your certified transcripts with translations to IIE. If you have questions about how to submit these forms, please contact IIE at Study America.
IIE will review your application and provide you with feedback as necessary.