{ "componentChunkName": "component---src-templates-text-page-js", "path": "/counselors-and-recommenders/case-studies", "result": {"data":{"nodeTextPage":{"title":"Common App case studies","field_invert_header_colors":true,"field_summary":"Help students understand holistic admissions through Common App’s case study exercise. Review fictional applications and discuss admissions factors.","relationships":{"field_components":[{"__typename":"paragraph__hero_illustrated","field_hero_title":"Common App case studies","field_hero_text":null,"field_illustration":"clocktower_building","field_narrow_hero":false,"field_is_this_the_mid_page_hero":false,"field_remove_gradient":false,"field_remove_horizontal_line":false,"links":[]},{"__typename":"paragraph__breadcrumbs"},{"__typename":"paragraph__fixed_content","field_enable_wide_view_mode":false,"relationships":{"field_items":[{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":null,"field_text":{"processed":"

Help students better understand the holistic college application review process with Common App case studies. Download the case study materials.

\n"}},{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":"What is an admissions case study?","field_text":{"processed":"

Admissions case studies are exercises that simulate one type of college application review. Using fictional college and student profiles, counselors and advisors can demonstrate how colleges review applications holistically. 

\n"}},{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":"What is the purpose of a case study?","field_text":{"processed":"

Admissions case studies use an interactive, immersive experience to show students and families how a college might evaluate applications in a holistic way. Participants act as admissions committee members, reviewing fictional student applications. This hands-on exercise shows how academic, extracurricular, and personal factors may be evaluated in admissions reviews.

\n"}},{"__typename":"paragraph__tip_box","field_gradient_color":"Blue","field_title":"What is holistic review? ","field_text":{"processed":"

Colleges that use holistic application review consider many things when making admissions decisions. They often look at academic, extracurricular, and personal sections of a student’s application to better understand the student as a whole person.

\n"}}]}},{"__typename":"paragraph__component_intro","field_title":null,"field_text":{"processed":"

Tips for conducting a case study

\n"}},{"__typename":"paragraph__application_steps","field_title":null,"field_disable_counter":true,"field_show_trademark_ca_logo":false,"field_disable_navigation":true,"field_disable_sidebar":false,"field_color_scheme":null,"field_slim_steps_navigation":false,"links":[],"relationships":{"field_steps":[{"field_title":"Getting  started","field_text":null,"relationships":{"field_step_content":[{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":null,"field_text":{"processed":""}}]}},{"field_title":"Gather your materials","field_text":null,"relationships":{"field_step_content":[{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":null,"field_text":{"processed":"

The Common App case study materials might not reflect all students and situations. You can create your own materials to better reflect your students.

\n\n

Your fictional materials list:

\n\n

Things to consider if you create your own materials:

\n\n"}}]}},{"field_title":"Lead your case study","field_text":null,"relationships":{"field_step_content":[{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":null,"field_text":{"processed":"

Every event is different. You decide how you’ll lead the exercise, your method for dividing students into groups, and how to encourage conversation. We suggest that you:

\n\n"}},{"__typename":"paragraph__tip_box","field_gradient_color":"Blue","field_title":"No right or wrong answers","field_text":{"processed":"

This exercise is designed to highlight the many factors colleges may consider when making admission decisions, so differing opinions are expected. Personal experiences and biases may shape the discussion. There are no right or wrong answers. That’s the point!

\n"}}]}},{"field_title":"Materials","field_text":null,"relationships":{"field_step_content":[{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":null,"field_text":{"processed":"

Our printable PDFs have everything you need to host case studies, including a college profile, student application materials, and tools for review and voting.

\n\n

Note: These Common App materials are fictional and created with support from AI tools. Full details can be found in the disclaimer below.

\n"}},{"__typename":"paragraph__downloadable_content","field_background_color":"Green","relationships":{"cards":[{"language":"Printables","relationships":{"items":[{"filename":"Printable activity guide","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/fa9ceff3d31df9be80e036c5127173ac/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Guide.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Activity introduction and college profile","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/93b90eab2b7b4d1573347ee3448eb723/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Intro-and-College-Profile.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Sample applicant 1: Briana Riley","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/6d0e1aa2f3cc2f5c5fa3373ac32ea8b2/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Sample-Applicant-1.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Sample applicant 2: Samuel Reyes Garcia","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/1bd013e3aa4adbefdc48d7d23b03e13d/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Sample-Applicant-2.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Sample applicant 3: Nicolas McKee","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/2db48f13560765876e4944a6b3573dee/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Sample-Applicant-3.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Applicant review sheet","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/75902379e3d9603ddfa5c8fced0ad5b5/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Applicant-Review-Sheet.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Voting sheet","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/1bf26db8b58a0439529c46f410b67362/College-Admissions-Case-Study-Exercise-Voting-Sheet.pdf"}}}},{"filename":"Application dictionary","filetype":"PDF","download_text":"View PDF","relationships":{"field_image":null,"field_file":{"changed":"2026-08-13T16:19:44+00:00","localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/6ac5a0fbb2c8b4b7721999e09d38defc/Resource_FYTR_AppDictionary_ENG_2025.06.24_0.pdf"}}}}]}}]}},{"__typename":"paragraph__plain_area_text","field_title":"Legal disclaimer","field_text":{"processed":"

These case studies and related materials, including student profiles, applications, and college profiles (the “Materials”), are fictional and created for educational and illustrative purposes only. The Materials were developed with the aid of Artificial Intelligence. They do not represent real individuals, applications, or admissions decisions. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No association with any real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, places, or events is intended or should be inferred. The Materials are not intended as admissions advice, do not guarantee outcomes, and may not reflect current institutional policies or practices. Any personal characteristics or application elements described are included solely to demonstrate hypothetical considerations and should not be interpreted as preferred or required factors in admissions decisions.

"}}]}}]}},{"__typename":"paragraph__fixed_content","field_enable_wide_view_mode":false,"relationships":{"field_items":[{"__typename":"paragraph__single_card_gradient_border","field_title":"Help students succeed with Common App","field_text":{"processed":"

Find everything you need to guide applications, submit recommendations, and support students.

"},"links":[{"alias":"/counselors-and-recommenders","title":"Go to the Counselors and recommenders hub","fieldname":"field_card_links"}],"relationships":{"field_image":{"localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/7e31a86e30a228d287d74e1ff9b7b9da/teal-toolkit-1.png"}}}}]}},{"__typename":"paragraph__blue_photo_banner","field_title":"Stay informed","field_gradient_color":"Blue","field_text":{"processed":"

Sign up for our counselor newsletter.

"},"field_image":{"alt":"A woman is working at a laptop. "},"links":[{"alias":"https://commonapp.tfaforms.net/f/counselor-newsletter","title":"Subscribe now","fieldname":"field_button_link"}],"relationships":{"field_image":{"localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/ead1baceaaabe8c170b5a90092226e72/woman-laptop-sq.jpg"}}}}]}}},"pageContext":{"drupalNodeId":54651,"breadcrumbCategory":17}}, "staticQueryHashes": ["1128727056","1447239241","146375732","1691914834","1949850552","2029301279","2953445958","3136759198","3290715989","3453976641","3565674923","3833791626","3911218709","963883146"]}