Common App 2020-2021 Updates: What You Need To Know

August 02, 2020 by Veritas Essays Team | COVID, Common App, Essays

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."


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