Common App New Changes 2023-2024 Cycle

The 2023-2024 Common App is now open! The Common App is an online application platform that houses applications for over 1,000 colleges and universities. Much like the Coalition App and the UC App, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the platform to maximize your chances of success. Read on to see some tips. 

New Changes 2023-2024 Cycle 

Since the affirmative action ruling many students have been wondering how the Common App is going to address equity and access in the college admissions process. Here is what we know so far:

• Race and Ethnicity Data: The optional questions about race and ethnicity will remain in first-year and transfer applications. Colleges on the Common App will be able to hide the following information when they receive the application PDF files: race and ethnicity data, any or all test information, social security number, date of birth, and gender. This means colleges can configure their data to recognize or exclude race and ethnicity in their admissions process. Colleges typically use this information for state and federal reporting, as well as business tactics. 
• More Colleges: Up 29 colleges from last year’s application, the Common App welcomes colleges including Rutgers University (NJ), Dublin City University (Ireland), and Esade Barcelona (Spain). 
• More Interactive: Students can now create a personalized avatar, peruse the image galleries, particulate in virtual campus tours, and view the college logo in the application portal with an added refined search option. There are also video tutorials that show you how to navigate the Common App. 
• More Inclusive: The “Sex” choice group now includes “X or another legal sex” in addition to “Male” and “Female.”

2023-2024 Supplemental Essays 

Most colleges on the Common App have additional supplemental essays that are specific to the university and many have been updating their questions this year to directly address the diversity you bring to the school (this is in response to the affirmative action ruling). The supplemental essays can range from short answer questions to longer 650 word essays so we recommend you create a spreadsheet to keep track of all your progress. 

Key Takeaways

• The Common App can be quite stressful to navigate so please feel free to reach out and we can offer you some assistance and much needed relief!