The Common Application: Updates 2015-2016 Presented by Tania Rachkoskie Naviance Summer Institute July 2015

2. The Common Application
Updates 2015 - 2016
Tania Rachkoskie, Director of
Outreach
July 2015

3. Agenda

4. 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

5. 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

6. Diverse set
of colleges &
universities
90+ public
universities
47 states &
D.C.
10 countries
550+
colleges &
universities
Fit and Match

7. 60+
new
Members
18
Domestic
Publics
10
Internation
al
3
HBCU’s
New Members
New member list available:
blog.commonapp.org

8. Common App Stats
857,000 unique
applicants
857,000 unique
applicants
14.3 million recs14.3 million recs
26,200 + high
school CEEBS
26,200 + high
school CEEBS
913,000 fee
waivers
913,000 fee
waivers
3.7 million
apps
3.7 million
apps

9. COUNTRY OF HOME ADDRESS
90.5% Domestic; 9.5% International
PARENTAL EDUCATION
32% First Generation
SCHOOL AFFILIATION
74% 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

10. Race & Ethnicity
Are you Hispanic or Latino?
Yes 14.4%
No 85.6%

11. Race & Ethnicity
Are you Hispanic or Latino?
Yes 14.4%
No 85.6%

12. • Suggestions from Members
• Counselor Focus Groups
• Surveys of applicants and
recommenders
• Student Focus Groups
• Outreach Advisory Committee
• Applications Advisory Committee
Commitment to Access

13. Coordination with Naviance

14. Working Together
Monthly
• Product & Support Teams Meet
January
• Season Review Meeting
March
• Development & Quality Assurance meet to discuss changes
• On-going communication
MarchMarch –
August
• Marketing & Communications discuss messaging and education
• Participation in conferences
May &May &
June
• Integration Testing
June &June &
July
• Cross-training of support teams

15. * 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

16. Search for HS by CEEB

17. The FERPA Release Authorization must be completed before
applicants are able to invite Recommenders.
FERPA Release Authorization
New this year,
students can
change their
FERPA selection

18. New for 2015-2016
Students may adjust response to FERPA
waiver until first recommender has
submitted a form

19. Life Cycle of a Form

20. The life of a counselor form

21. 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

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

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

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

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

26. 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

27. Updates for 2015-2016

28. Applicant Print Preview

29. Recommender Print Preview
Left side bar reflects
new form

30. • 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
Personal Essay Optional

31. Real time list shows
if essay required or
not for Colleges on
Dashboard New checkbox
affirmation explains
personal essay
process

33. • Dashboard and My Colleges show info on:
• Personal Essay
• Member Questions
• Writing Supplement
More Info on Writing Requirements

35. 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.

36. More Space to Write
Opens full screen text entry
box for students to compose
response, if desired

37. 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

38. 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.”

39. Counselor Recommendation Form

40. 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

41. HOW CAN COUNSELORS USE
THE COMMON APPLICATION ?

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

43. Advising
Course Selection
Activities & Extra-curriculars
What are colleges looking for
in applicant?

44. Questions?