understanding the common application: a toolkit for programs

UnderstandingThe Common Application:

A Toolkit for Programs

Scott Anderson, Director of Outreach

The Common Application

NPEA National Conference

Atlanta 2011

Today’s Goals

Association overview and membership update

Current year review

Support resources

Your questions

The Association

Not-for-profit membership association• Public and private colleges and universities• Four-year, accredited, not-for-profit institutions

Mission: to promote holistic admission as a path to college access

Free services for applicants and secondary schools

Volunteer Board of Directors• 9 chief enrollment officers• 4 school counselors

Two Advisory Committees• School and CBO counselors• Admission officers

2011-12 Membership

49 new members (461 total, 1/3 exclusive users)

17 new public institutions (62 total) 2 new public flagships (12 total): University of Kentucky,

UNC-Chapel Hill 1 new large national private: University of Southern

California 4 new international universities (6 total): American U of

Paris, Franklin College Switzerland, John Cabot University (Italy), University of St. Andrews (UK)

2 new states (46 total): Wheeling Jesuit University (WV), Sierra Nevada College (NV)

1 new HBCU (5 total): Howard University

Membership Growth

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

230 241 255277

298315

346

392414

461

Member Institutions

2010-11 Statistics

Applications 560,000 unique applicants (+18%) 2.34 million applications (+23%)

School Forms 17,000 high schools represented (+22%) 241,000 school officials have submitted online (+53%) 5.34 million school forms submitted (+100%)

Community Based Organizations 29,000 responded (5% of applicants)

2011-12 Applicants

White59%

Students of Color26%

No Response15%

Ethnicity

First Generation29%

At least one parent with a Bachelors

71%

Parental Education

School Affiliation

Public70%

Independent16%

Religious13%

Charter2%

<1% Homeschool

Registration

Register at www.commonapp.org

2011-12 Common App Online goes live August 1, 2011

Students can create an account now and explore the site, but…• They will need to create a new account after August 1• Any information entered now will be deleted in July

Students should learn what they can now but not put too much time into it

www.commonapp.org

www.commonapp.org

Parts of the Application

Personal, demographic, and family information School information, testing history, academic honors Extracurricular activities and work experience Writing

• Short answer about most meaningful activity• Personal essay (250-500 words), choice of six topics

Supplement• About 2/3 require a supplement• College-specific questions, different for each college• Additional writing in some cases

Application fee• Paid to the college, not to Common App• Fee waivers are available for eligible students

Website Resources

Common Questions• For Applicants: videos, technical requirements, FAQ• For School Officials: Downloadable presentations

Main Menu Bar

Website Resources

Common Questions• For Applicants: videos, technical requirements, FAQ• For School Officials: Downloadable presentations

Download Forms• Printable application, whole and in sections• Interactive deadlines and requirements grid

Main Menu Bar

Website Resources

Common Questions• For Applicants: videos, technical requirements, FAQ• For School Officials: Downloadable presentations

Download Forms• Printable application, whole and in sections• Interactive deadlines and requirements grid

Other Resources• External links regarding testing, financial aid, and fee waivers

Main Menu Bar

Website Resources

Common Questions• For Applicants: videos, technical requirements, FAQ• For School Officials: Downloadable presentations

Download Forms• Printable application, whole and in sections• Interactive deadlines and requirements grid

Other Resources• External links regarding testing, financial aid, and fee waivers

Contact Us• Clicking Support Center takes you to…

Main Menu Bar

The Support Center

24/7 Online Support Searchable Knowledge Base (92% of searches yield needed info) Ask a Question (40 minute average response time)

Questions?

What Best Practices do you follow in helping students complete The Common Application?

How can The Common Application better support you and your students?

Thank You!

Scott Anderson

Director of Outreach

sanderson@commonapp.org

www.commonapp.org