The Common Application platform retains entered information, allowing applicants to cease work on their application and return at a later time without losing previously inputted data. This functionality ensures that students are not required to complete the entire application in a single session. For example, if an applicant fills out the personal information section and then closes the browser, that information will be available upon their next login.
The ability to preserve entered data offers significant advantages. It allows applicants to work on their applications incrementally, reducing the pressure of completing everything at once. It also enables individuals to meticulously review their responses before submission, ensuring accuracy and minimizing errors. Historically, paper applications lacked this feature, requiring complete re-entry of information if an application was interrupted or lost.