Students must be careful and follow directions closely when linking Cialfo and Common App. Linking the wrong/second account happens when a student already has a Common App account and does not enter that email address into the Recommendations section of Cialfo.
It is possible that student overlooked in completing the FERPA in Common App too. Search for these scenarios in your account by going to cDocs > Documents and using the CA & FERPA filter to sort for Unanswered items.
This can also be verified in the student's cDocs Profile under Common App Account > FERPA status.
Step #1 - Ask the student to check the Education section of their Common App, and make sure the correct school name and CEEB code are listed.
Step #2 - Ask the student to check their Common App, and make sure they completed the FERPA.
If the student has completed the FERPA but Cialfo still shows it as unanswered, verify that the student's Common App email and CAID match what is listed in the Recommendations section of the student's Cialfo account.
The solution: Students will need to use the Common App account linked in Cialfo to apply to Common App colleges. If the account can be Unlinked, the counselor only needs to click on the Unlink Account button. Once unlinked, the student can link to the right account again.
Student starting a new application cycle: new Common App account
If a student who applied in a previous cycle has created a new Common App account, the counselor can unlink the old one using the Unlink Account button. If documents were already sent through the old account, contact support before unlinking.
Common Issue and Fixes
Unlink CA Account Option Not Visible for Counselors
Some counselors may not see the Unlink Account button in the student management view when attempting to unlink a student’s Common App account. This may prevent counselors from unlinking and relinking the correct CA account.
If you encounter this issue, please follow the steps below:
Confirm the student’s Common App account is linked in cDocs
Verify you are logged in with Counselor Admin permissions
Navigate to the student’s cDocs Profile
Refresh the page and check whether the Unlink Account button appears
If the button is still not visible, contact Chat with Cialfo for further assistance.
💡 Need more help?
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If you're unable to find a solution in our help articles or need further assistance, you can contact the Cialfo Support team via Live Chat or email us at [email protected]