I don't think Common App was a great invention

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a big three in the nineties and they discouraged us from using the common app. Said it didn’t show enough interest in the school and would hurt our application chances.

I spent so much time perfectly typing each application. I practiced on xerox copies first for each one and then retyped on the original app.

I had to hand write my application to Brown.

Hah yes I remember doing that on December 31 hurriedly after I’d gotten very little sleep staying up to finish my typewritten ivies!

Why did I leave so much to the last minute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS filled it out over the summer. I was surprised that you had to fill out essentially the same questions over and over again. There should be check boxes for duplicate questions like "Which application plan do you intend to use? Early decision, early action, regular decision, etc"

But that's the exact sort of information that would be different from school to school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS filled it out over the summer. I was surprised that you had to fill out essentially the same questions over and over again. There should be check boxes for duplicate questions like "Which application plan do you intend to use? Early decision, early action, regular decision, etc"

But that's the exact sort of information that would be different from school to school!

Use check boxes or something more streamlined. Now you have to go into each college and answer the same questions over and over again. It's a very ineffective way of gathering information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS filled it out over the summer. I was surprised that you had to fill out essentially the same questions over and over again. There should be check boxes for duplicate questions like "Which application plan do you intend to use? Early decision, early action, regular decision, etc"

But that's the exact sort of information that would be different from school to school!

Use check boxes or something more streamlined. Now you have to go into each college and answer the same questions over and over again. It's a very ineffective way of gathering information.

Some of the school by school questions that are the same I think are legally required. (Like signing the HIPPA form every year for every office.) Plus it’s not really that hard or time consuming to click the boxes and hit continue.

Also, it sounds like OP’s DC is applying to a lot of reach schools. These schools are trying to distinguish themselves and also gather information specific to their school to see if you fit. That is the same idea as filling out separate applications 30 or 40 years ago. You don’t have to fill out 20 now just because everyone else is. My DC1 and DC2 were top stat kids in competitive magnets and only applied to 7 schools each, including several T20 schools. DC1 accepted at all 7, DC2 accepted at 5/7 including 2 Ivies. DC3 is only applying to 5. Take the time to really figure out your best fit schools.

And if you are applying further down the college rankings list, the common app for many public universities is the same except for a few questions designed to be school specific. (E.g. why our school?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol students benefit

It’s a plot by colleges and universities to game the system and drive their acceptance rates down.

‼️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Older parent here -- How long has the Common Application been used?

I don't think it has been all that great a blessing for students. The old way (they way I had to do it) you had to apply separately to each school, true. You had to fill in all their requests for information (activities, transcript) and you had to write an essay.

It was HARD to submit more than a few applications so it kept our submissions reasonable.

I *thought* the point of the Common App was that you just had to fill out stuff once. But I'm watching my kid fill it out, and she has to fill out different information for each school, and separate essays for each school IN ADDITION to the general one? So what the heck is the flipping point?

All for the "convenience" of now HAVING to apply to way more schools that she really cares to (and pay more in application fees) just because the whole application process is a gigantic crap shoot/lottery and we have no freaking clue where she will be accepted.

I don't see how students really benefited from this invention.

Thank you for sharing. I suppose we should change everything because you the great ruler doesn't like it.

[Anonymous]

CommonApp mostly benefits high school counselors (who don't seem to do much counseling these days) by streamlining the process for submitting standardized paperwork and ensuring they meet deadlines. The student questions and supplemental writing vary by college. The counselor data is pretty much the same across colleges- transcripts, generic "recommendations" (you should see it, lol), GPAs yadda yadda.

Some colleges welcome the inflated applicant rates. Looking at you U of Miami and Tulane. But it's a double-edged sword for the single-digit acceptance rate schools and Ivies. There's no way to know how many students who would be a great fit don't even bother to apply because a counselor told them they won't get in and shouldn't even try (because rejection makes counselors look bad -- not kids). This is partly why Georgetown doesn't use the Common App. Not to exclude students, but to make sure students do at least some research so that they're actually choosing to apply for their own benefit and not simply playing the lottery because of rankings. (Personally, I think it's a more honest and transparent approach.)

The online CommonApp process definitely benefits First Generation, Low/Middle Income, undocumented, underrepresented, and non-traditional students.

It reduces the significant hurdles:

expands search capabilities for those with little/no advising
calculates costs and connects to aid at identified schools
easily waives application fees

In short, CommonApp -- and to a greater extent IMO -- Coalition for College Access, UC System, Texas, New York, and HBCU Common App, empower students with potential who lack support and opportunities.

But if you're only applying to 5 or 6 schools or if your family and school have the resources to navigate the admissions process (like legacy), the CommonApp is pretty much online paper.

[Anonymous]

Agree with you, OP. Colleges that accept the Common App should agree to not require additional essays. The Common App should place a limit on the number of times a student can use it. This should drive down the number of colleges students apply to, and raise acceptance rates.

[Anonymous]

I am ok with Common App. I hate schools that are not on common app. Why?

Essays are so stupid. No one is taking the kid based on essays. It is the SAT,GPA, ECs, Leadership, Awards and the demographic the school wants.

Teacher recommendations are also stupid because they are subjective and racist. Bring SAT back.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a fallacy to think that common app increases the number of applications. For most of us, applying meant nearly a $100 per application. It is stupid for my donut hole family kid to waste money on schools that he won't go to. Be strategic about the schools.

Unless, your application fee has been waived by colleges, it will hurt your wallet to apply to a bazillion school.

[Anonymous]

Since the low income kids have application fee waiver while applying to colleges, I think Common App actually helps them to get the best aid package.

Teacher recommendations should be banned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you, OP. Colleges that accept the Common App should agree to not require additional essays. The Common App should place a limit on the number of times a student can use it. This should drive down the number of colleges students apply to, and raise acceptance rates.

I think the Common App is limited to 20 schools. When school counselors try to limit # of schools students can apply to, parents complain about their children who are trying to get into 15 lottery schools. Our private school said they recommend 5-8 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am ok with Common App. I hate schools that are not on common app. Why?

Essays are so stupid. No one is taking the kid based on essays. It is the SAT,GPA, ECs, Leadership, Awards and the demographic the school wants.

Teacher recommendations are also stupid because they are subjective and racist. Bring SAT back.

I think some smaller schools DO look at essays/rec letters. Especially if it is a niche type of school.

For example, we toured a women's college last week. The whole tour was personalized, even down to having a spot with my daughter's name on it and having her name, school and hometown on a powerpoint in the main hall/welcome area. The admissions chat mentioned using the common app, but said there would be a supplemental essay asking why the applicant thought the school was a good fit for them. I also think that in my daughter's case, the teacher recs might help a little as she had a terrible end to last year (she is a junior now) and we are hoping for a turnaround in grades this year. Her teachers all like her and want to see her succeed, even though she struggles due to her ADHD. Schools need to see her as someone with potential.

Currently, my daughter has this school at the top of her list and may apply ED (as long as she does better with her grades this year and we don't have to scrap 4 years entirely) I believe she has the potential to thrive there in the programs she is interested in.

Anyway, just my .02.