The Common Application

Updates 2015 - 2016

Tania Rachkoskie, Director of OutreachJuly 2015

Agenda

Agenda

• History of the Common Application• CA & Naviance Working Together• Updates for 2015 – 2016• How the Common Application can be

used by Schools and College Counselors

History of Access

Forty years ago, fifteen forward-thinking colleges and universities created a shared application to promote access and to reduce friction in the college admission process.

access + equity + integrity

Diverse set of colleges & universities

90+ public universities

47 states & D.C.

10 countries

550+ colleges & universities

Fit and Match

60+ new

Members

18Domestic Publics

10 Internation

al

3 HBCU’s

New Members

New member list available: blog.commonapp.org

Common App Stats

857,000 unique applicants

857,000 unique applicants 14.3 million recs14.3 million recs

26,200 + high school CEEBS26,200 + high school CEEBS

913,000 fee waivers

913,000 fee waivers

3.7 million apps

3.7 million apps

COUNTRY OF HOME ADDRESS90.5% Domestic; 9.5% International

PARENTAL EDUCATION32% First Generation

SCHOOL AFFILIATION74% Public; 10% Independent; 13% Religious; 2% Charter; <1%Homeschool

857,000 +Unique

Applicants

857,000 +Unique

Applicants

54%

46%

First Year 769,994

Transfer 87,674

2014 – 2015 Demographics

Race & Ethnicity

Are you Hispanic or Latino?Yes 14.4%No 85.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Are you Hispanic or Latino?Yes 14.4%No 85.6%

• Suggestions from Members • Counselor Focus Groups• Surveys of applicants and

recommenders• Student Focus Groups• Outreach Advisory Committee• Applications Advisory Committee

Commitment to Access

Coordination with Naviance

Working Together

Monthly • Product & Support Teams Meet

January• Season Review Meeting

March

• Development & Quality Assurance meet to discuss changes• On-going communication

March March –August

• Marketing & Communications discuss messaging and education• Participation in conferences

May & May & June

• Integration Testing

June & June & July

• Cross-training of support teams

* must be completed before applicants are able to complete the FERPA Release Authorization or invite recommenders.

The HS entered in the Education screen determines if recommendations will be submitted via Common App or Naviance.

School Lookup

Search for HS by CEEB

The FERPA Release Authorization must be completed beforeapplicants are able to invite Recommenders.

FERPA Release Authorization

New this year, students can change their FERPA selection

New for 2015-2016

Students may adjust response to FERPA waiver until first recommender has submitted a form

Life Cycle of a Form

The life of a counselor form

A student attending a High School that uses the Common App to submit forms will invite all recommenders in his/her Common App account.

Why finding the correct HS is important

A student attending a High School that uses Naviance eDocs to submit forms will invite all recommenders in his/her Naviance account.

Applicants must request a letter of recommendation from each recommender individually.

Teachers and counselors can upload a letter of recommendation and complete the appropriate form.

Submission of the Common Application is what triggers the ‘release’ of any previously submitted recommendations.

Release of Previously Submitted recommendations

Submitted recommendations are matched to applicant’s account.

Applicants can see the status of each form in the Recommenders and FERPA screen.

Applicant Status Check

Updates for 2015-2016

Applicant Print Preview

Recommender Print Preview

Left side bar reflects new form

• Personal Essay section shows college

requirements

• Submission process includes validations

• Applicant must submit for a member that

requires it

• Applicant may opt to submit essay to any

b

Personal Essay Optional

Real time list shows if essay required or not for Colleges on Dashboard New checkbox

affirmation explains personal essay process

• Dashboard and My Colleges show info on:

• Personal Essay

• Member Questions

• Writing Supplement

More Info on Writing Requirements

2015-2016 Essay Prompts

• Small wording changes to existing prompts

• Removal of the “place” prompt

• Addition of a new prompt

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

More Space to Write

Opens full screen text entrybox for students to composeresponse, if desired

Application System Updates

• Applicants can add up to 15 AP courses/scores (an increase from 10)

• Explanations for education interruption, disciplinary situation, or criminal history will be collected as independent explanations

• Language referring to GED changed to High School Equivalency

• Counselor Recommendation and School Report will be separate submissions

• Looking forward: Reimaging the transfer application

Counselor Recommendation

Counselors can communicate they will not submit an evaluation for the student on the CR form.

“Counselor evaluations often provide invaluable context to a student's application. We recognize, however, that you may not be able to provide one. If you will not be providing a personal written evaluation, please check the box below to inform our member institutions that you will not supply a written evaluation. Note you may substitute another school official's evaluation in place of one from you personally.

_____ I will not be sending an evaluation for this student.”

Counselor Recommendation Form

Support & Enhancements

• 2014 – 2015 Piloted Counselor Phone Support

• 2014 – 2015 Piloted Recommender Chat

• 2015 – 2016 Introduction of the Solutions Center

• Applicant Chat• 24/7/365• Refreshed Help Portal

HOW CAN COUNSELORS USETHE COMMON APPLICATION ?

The Common Application is one of the best ways to teach students about the college application process.

Advising

Course Selection

Activities & Extra-curriculars

What are colleges looking for in applicant?

Questions?