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Why can't my students link their Common App accounts
Why can't my students link their Common App accounts

Common App account linking for student

Central Support avatar
Written by Central Support
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Some students may have trouble finding the "Link Account" button when they are trying to link Cialfo with their Common App account.

Here are a few reasons why and how you can check to help the student:

1) Student Graduation Year should be 2025 (for the 2024-2025 application cycle)


Check this in the Personal Information section of the student's Profile page. The counselor may update this section on behalf of the student by clicking on Update now button.


2) Student Application Year should be 2024 only


Check this in the Application Details section of the student's Profile page. The application year should only be 2024 (for 2024-2025 app cycle) so that it reflects that student is in the current application cycle.

3) Student needs to have 'Enable Sending' clicked for their account


If a student has linked a Common App account before August 2024, the counselor will need to click 'Enable Sending' for them on their cDocs page to confirm that they are rolling over to the current application cycle. However, do take note that once "Enable Sending" is clicked, the following will happen:

  1. Previously created Common App forms will remain.

  2. Previously sent document statuses will be reset.

  3. New Common App forms can be prepared for the student

  4. The student will have to re-link his or her Cialfo and Common App account

  5. Document sending ability will now be enabled.

  6. Previously uploaded documents will remain.

Note: All the above actions are to ensure that the student is treated as one from the current application cycle. If you need to keep track of previously created documents, download the documents and record the status internally by clicking on "Bundle" button on cDocs Documents page.

Sending Status: Enabled/Restricted

One quick way for counselors to see whether students have their Sending status enabled or restricted is to go to cDocs > All Documents page, and toggle on the column for "Sending". You'll be able to view the Sending status at a glance for the needed students.

If all of the above has been checked and updated, students should be able to find the "Link Account" button on their Recommendation page. For more information on the process of linking Common App accounts, please refer to this article.

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