2025-26
COMMON APP GUIDE
Application Guide for First-Year Students
commonapp.org/explore/university-florida
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Choose your app deadline. The University of Florida provides two application options, or timelines, for students to choose: Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD). Each of these paths provide different decision notifications, listed in our Dates & Deadlines chart. University of Florida does not have rolling admissions nor binding decision commitment. Select the application option that works best for you.
2. Complete each section of the Common App. Create a Common App account and apply as a First-Year Student even if you have college credit or will graduate high school with your AA degree. See the next pages for more details on each piece of the Common App.
3. Submit Your Common App. Review your Common App, pay any application fees, and submit.
4. Create your Gator Portal. 24-48 hours after submitting your Common App, you will receive an email with instructions to create your Gator Portal credentials. Once completed, you can log in to the Gator Portal to keep track of your application status, create your STARS and submit test scores.
5. Submit your app materials. Login to your Gator Portal to submit your STARS (high school courses and grades) and upload your test scores.
6. Check your status.
On the listed decision release date, you will be notified of your admissions status through your Gator Portal.
Congrats! You’ve applied to UF!
Consider these options for UF on the Common App
Honors Program
Students interested in applying for the Honors Program should indicate this on the application and answer the additional essay via the Common App. honors.ufl.edu
Innovation Academy
Four-year, undergraduate, spring/summer-only pathway that teaches innovation through a dedicated innovation minor embedded in several majors. This program begins in the spring term and follows a spring/summer schedule with the fall term open for internships and other study enhancements. innovationacademy.ufl.edu
Setting Up the Common App
Once you create your Common App account and sign in, you will see a screen like the one to the right, which is your Dashboard. Apply as a first-year student even if you have college credit or will graduate high school with your AA degree. Choose your preferred term. The term requested DOES NOT affect the consideration of your application. Space limitations may mean you could receive an offer for a different term.
You can then go to the My Colleges tab and use the College Search to begin adding the colleges that you wish to apply to. Add UF to your colleges to begin your UF Common App.
Once you add your colleges, you will find them listed under the My Colleges tab like the image to the right.
You will be able to see the college’s contact information, deadlines and other information when you click on the school. You will also be able to go through and answer the application questions for that specific college.
Review the UF application deadlines and choose the best option for you. You will need to gather your transcripts, a list of your high school activities and your parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ educational background and occupation information.
For the University of Florida, you will find the questions regarding the Honors Program Consideration and Innovation Academy if you are interested in applying for either.
If you are interested, you should indicate this on your Common App and answer the additional questions within the section.
The next tab is the “Common App”. This is where you will answer questions regarding your profile, family, education, testing, and activities. UF requires the following sections: information about yourself, contact, address, citizenship, high school, family, currentyear coursework, honors, distinctions, activities and experiences.
This is also where you will write your Personal Essay (under the Writing Section). The Personal Essay is a requirement for applying to UF. Use this space to tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn elsewhere in your application.
Once you have completed this section, you can go back to the My Colleges tab and invite your counselor as a recommender for the schools that ask for a letter of recommendation.
UF, however, does not accept any letters of recommendation.
Finally, you can review your application, pay any application fees and submit.
When you submit your UF application, pay the $30 nonrefundable fee by credit card unless you qualify for a fee waiver. If you don’t see an option to pay the application fee, you may have qualified for a Fee Waiver and can skip the payment process.
You did it! Celebrate for completing your Common Application!
Ready to start the application process?
We encourage you to begin your application early.
commonapp.org/explore/ university-florida
