Common App, the non-profit organization that provides the eponymous college application tool, launched its 2020-2021 application on August 1st. Below, we cover the three main changes you need to be aware of if you are applying this cycle:
1. COVID-19 Question
Due to the unprecedented global pandemic coinciding with this years college application cycle, the Common App has included a new, dedicated question allowin students to elaborate upon the impact of COVID-19 on their lives.
With any new application questions, students are often confused as to the best way to approach them. Luckily, we published a blog post with guidance on how to answer this question, which you can find here.
2. Additional Schools
In improving upon the Common App's goal to provide students with a frictionless application to a variety of colleges, 42 new colleges and universities have been added to the Common App. These include Texas Tech, Clemson, and Georgia Tech -- a full list is reproduced below.
- Bryn Athyn College (PA)
- Carlow University (PA)
- Holy Family University (PA)
- Point Park University (PA)
- Medaille College (NY)
- Baker College (MI)
- Buena Vista University (IA)
- Bethel University (MN)
- Cornerstone University (MI)
- Lake Superior State University (MI)
- Indiana Wesleyan University (IN)
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- Northern Illinois University (IL)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
- Wilmington College (OH)
- Arkansas Baptist College (AR)
- Auburn University (AL
- Augusta University (GA)
- Clemson University (SC)
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
- Lees-McRae University (NC)
- Milligan University (TN)
- Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL)
- Richard Bland College of William and Mary (VA)
- Spalding University (KY)
- Texas Tech University (TX)
- Trevecca Nazarene University (TN)
- University of Georgia (GA)
- University of Louisville (KY)
- University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
- University of Texas at San Antonio (TX)
- University of South Florida (FL)
- Virginia Tech (VA)
- Winthrop University (SC)
- Fresno Pacific University (CA)
- University of Colorado Denver (CO)
- University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (CO)
3. User Experience Updates
Common App has updated the technical side of the application, including a "new recommender system, a new mobile app coming this fall, and an update of the transfer application personal statement prompt to align with first-year application essay prompts."