Changes to the Common App for 2020-2021
New Member Colleges
There were 42 additions to the ever-growing list of Common App member institutions. Among the most prominent new members are:
- Auburn University
- Clemson University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Texas Tech University
- University of Georgia
- Virginia Tech
COVID-19 Prompt Added to 2019-20 Common App
In an acknowledgement that the Class of 2021 has universally been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, the Common Application, which is used by over one million students each year to apply to one of 900+ member institutions, announced an addition to next year’s application. In fact, there are two additions:
- A 250-word optional question for applicants
- A 500-word question for guidance counselors
The new prompt, which appears in the Additional Information section of the Common App reads as follows:
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.
- Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Y/N
- Please use this space to describe how these events have impacted you.
The response length will be limited to 250 words and does not eat into the 650 words allotted for any other entry to the Additional Information section. The application with also feature an FAQ to help students consider the kinds of impacts they may wish to report, including:
- Illness and loss
- Housing and employment disruptions
- Shifting family obligations
Common App Essay Prompts Remain the Same
The essay prompts used during the previous 2019-20 admissions cycle have not changed one iota. The list of prompts themselves, advice for selecting the best prompt for you, brainstorming, and ultimately writing your masterpiece can be found here.
User Experience Upgrades in the 2020-21 Common App
Changes to application include the following:
- Hispanic or Latino will change to “Latino/a/x.”
- You will have the ability to indicate proficiency in more than one “Other” language.
- Multiple changes to the first-year recommender system including a to-do list with upcoming recommendations that are due, a guided walk-through tutorial, and the ability to upload more than one file per question.
- In the Activities Section, you can now enter the “Organization name” and “Position or Leadership description” in two separate boxes.
- Students can now search FAQs from within the application.
