When is the Common App deadline for 2027 entry?

Early deadlines are mostly 1 November 2026, with some universities using 2 November. Regular deadlines fall between 1 and 5 January 2027. Each university sets its own, and Draimo can check any of the top 100.

How long is the Common App essay?

Between 250 and 650 words, on one of seven prompts. The same essay goes to every university you apply to through the Common App.

Can international students get full financial aid in the US?

Yes, at a small number of universities that are need-blind for international students and meet full need, including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth and Amherst.

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Study abroad9 min read

How to apply to US universities as an international student

The Draimo team30 September 2026

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Short answer

Most US universities take applications through the Common App. For entry in autumn 2027, early deadlines are mostly 1 or 2 November 2026 and regular deadlines fall between 1 and 5 January 2027. You write one main essay of up to 650 words, add each university's own questions, send school records and recommendations, and apply for financial aid at the same time. After you accept an offer, the university issues the form you need for an F-1 student visa.

Try it in Draimo

Check each university's rules in Draimo

University lookup: For more than a hundred top universities, Draimo reads the official website of the one you are aiming for and shows you the page.; Every plan
Agent Mode: Searches the live web, reads the pages, and cites every one. Use it to compare universities or read a government page.; Monthly and yearly plans
Documents: Turns your plan, notes or checklist into a Word, PowerPoint or PDF file.; Paid plans

1. Choose where to apply

Apply to a spread: a few reach universities, several where your results sit in the middle of their admitted students, and a couple you are confident about. Draimo can read each university's profile of admitted students and its expectations for international applicants, so you can compare them side by side.

Harvard Yard. Harvard admits international students need-blind and meets full demonstrated need. Photo: Marco Almbauer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

2. Know the deadlines

Early Decision and Early Action deadlines for autumn 2027 are mostly 1 November 2026. Because that is a Sunday, some universities, including Duke and the University of Chicago, use 2 November. Regular Decision deadlines cluster between 1 and 5 January 2027. Early Decision is binding, so read how Early Decision and Early Action differ before you choose.

3. Write the essay

The Common App essay is 250 to 650 words, answering one of seven prompts, and the same essay goes to every university on your list. The prompts for 2026 to 2027 are unchanged from last year. Most selective universities add their own short questions, which matter as much as the main essay.

Write about something only you could write. Draimo can interview you to help you find that story, and give feedback on your draft; here is how to use it without sounding like AI.

4. Tests and English

Some universities require the SAT or ACT again, some are test-optional, and a few do not consider scores at all. The rule varies by university and changes, so ask Draimo for each university's current policy; it answers from the university's admissions pages. If your schooling was not in English, most will ask for an English test such as the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test.

5. Money: need-blind and need-aware

A small group of US universities admit international students without looking at whether they can pay, and then meet their full demonstrated need. For 2026 to 2027 this group includes Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth and Amherst, among a few others. Most other universities are need-aware for international students.

Read which universities fund international students. US citizens and eligible non-citizens also file the FAFSA.

6. After the offer: the F-1 visa

Once you accept an offer and show you can pay, the university issues a Form I-20. You pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 visa application, and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate; in Kenya that is the US Embassy in Nairobi. Fees and wait times change, so ask Agent Mode to read the State Department's current page before you apply.

Questions people ask

When is the Common App deadline for 2027 entry?: Early deadlines are mostly 1 November 2026, with some universities using 2 November. Regular deadlines fall between 1 and 5 January 2027. Each university sets its own, and Draimo can check any of the top 100.
How long is the Common App essay?: Between 250 and 650 words, on one of seven prompts. The same essay goes to every university you apply to through the Common App.
Can international students get full financial aid in the US?: Yes, at a small number of universities that are need-blind for international students and meet full need, including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth and Amherst.

Sources we checked

Checked 30 September 2026. Dates and amounts change every year. Draimo reads the current pages when you ask.

Ask about the university you want, and see the answer on its own page.

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