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Common App, or what was originally known as The Common Application, was founded in 1975 by 15 colleges that wanted to streamline the application process. It was a small organization, but it quickly grew to incorporate over 100 colleges and universities by 1980. Since 2001 Common App has been a non-profit organization that has made applying to colleges vastly easier for millions of students to apply to college. It is widely utilized and recognized as the dominant form of application within the United States. It serves as a centralized hub where applicants can submit their personal information, academic records, essays, and recommendations to numerous institutions simultaneously. With over a million applicants utilizing its services each year, the Common App has become a vital tool in streamlining the admissions process for both students and colleges. 

 

Harvard was the first Ivy league school to join in 1994, and by the mid-1990s, over 150 colleges, all of them private and moderately selective, utilized the Common Application, which was managed by a network of volunteers. In 1996, the National Association of Secondary School Principals designated a staff member to handle logistics and the increasing paperwork load. During that time, the application took the form of a booklet containing perforated forms with maroon text, and the list of participating colleges was printed in small font at the top. As more colleges were added each year, the font size had to shrink.

 

The Common App transitioned to an online platform in 1998 to accommodate its growth. To keep up with the increasing demand, the organization's board hired a dedicated staff and officially became a nonprofit entity. Furthermore, in 2001, the Common App took a significant step forward by welcoming public universities, with the first six institutions joining the platform.

 

Paper applications were discontinued in 2013, but Common App introduced an electronic application in 1998. However, its start was rocky. The heightened demand on the Common App website resulted in a range of problems and technical malfunctions, leading to a slowdown in the application process. Instances occurred where essays were inadvertently deleted, requiring applicants to re enter their information, and application fees were mistakenly charged multiple times. These consecutive obstacles prompted certain colleges to postpone their Early Action deadlines and explore alternative solutions.

 

After experiencing a tumultuous debut of its entirely web-based application, the Common App faced the emergence of a new contender. In 2015, the Coalition for College, commonly referred to as the Coalition App, was established and swiftly attracted a membership of more than 150 colleges. Nevertheless, the Common App managed to maintain its momentum and forge ahead, expanding its influence and user base. Presently, it is employed by over a million applicants annually and has achieved a global presence, reaching beyond national borders.

 

Continuing its trajectory of growth, the Common App has recently established a collaboration with Reach Higher, Michele Obama's program. With such notable advancements, it is evident that the Common App is poised for ongoing expansion and remains dedicated to its “pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process”.

 

Today Common App has over 1,000 member institutions and receives millions of applications each year. Its website includes resources to help students plan and apply for college as well as counselor resources and guides to financing. They offer reports and insights into their demographics and growth and post semi-frequent blogs with additional resources and updates to both the college process and application. Common App strives to create an inclusive and easy to navigate platform that not only helps students to apply to college, but find the right one for them.

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