A A C R A O
D e nve r, C O
A p r i l 0 2 , 2 0 1 4
1
Andy Hahn, Member Support SpecialistChad Massie, Director of Technology
OVERVIEW
Common Application Mission
Reflection on 2013-14
Review of Online Process
Expectations for 2014-15
Your Questions
2
INSTANT POLL
Who do we have in the audience?
1) Admissions – Member College
2) Admissions – Non-Member College
3) Registrar
4) Other
3
COMMON APPLICATION
MISSION
4
WHO WE ARE
Not-for-profit
Membership association
Founded in 1975
Free to applicants, secondary schools,
teachers, counselors, faculty, and registrars
5
MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT
Membership is open to
colleges and universities
that promote access by
evaluating students
using a holistic
selection process.
6
40 YEARS OF SERVICE
7
1975 1980 1995 2000 2008 2013
4th gen online school forms
system - transfer517 members
pilot year15
members
first 100 members
Common App floppy disk
156 members
2nd genholistic commitment
200 members
3rd genonline school forms system – first year
315 members
DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP
560 member colleges
– 47 states plus DC
– 95 public institutions
– 7 HBCUs
– 25 international colleges in 11 countries outside the US
8
MEMBER GOVERNED
9
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
{ 9 chief enrollment officers
4 school counselors }
APPLICATIONS ADVISORY
{ primarily admission operations
professionals }
OUTREACH ADVISORY
{ school counselors
CBO counselors }
PROMOTING ACCESS Funding professional development for counselors serving
low-income students– College Board National Forum
– NACAC Critical Components Workshop
– National College Access Network Annual Conference
– National College Advising Corps Summit
– National Partnership for Educational Access Annual Conference
Sponsor for Events and Organizations– NACAC Access College Fair
– NACAC Student Essay Scholarship Contest
– AACRAO
– PESC
10
REFLECTION ON 2013-14
11
INSTANT POLL
How familiar are you with the common app online?
1) I’ve never used it before
2) This is my first year using the system
3) I’ve been using the system for years
12
YEAR 1 IN BRIEF
13
Many Many Users
New System
14
35million
2013-14 APPLICATION STATS
15
1.5 million accounts created
3.4 million applications submitted
2.0 million e-payments
765,000 total fee waivers
780,000 unique applicants
72,000 of whom are transfer applicants
2013-14 RECOMMENDER STATS
16
20,500 secondary schools represented (+10%)
13 million online school forms (+39%)
325,000 unique online counselors, teachers,
academic evaluators, and registrars (+10%)
APPLICANTS BY STATE
17
1. New York (14.08%)
2. California (11.74%)
3. New Jersey (7.39%)
4. Massachusetts (6.62%)
5. Illinois (5.58%)
6. Ohio (4.91%)
7. Pennsylvania (4.53%)
8. Virginia (4.00%)
9. Connecticut (3.98%)
10.Maryland (3.92%)
“No state“ /
International would
have been 3rd if
included
18
• 203 countries represented (including the US)
• Top 10 Countries
1. China (36.12%)
2. India (6.03%)
3. Canada (4.51%)
4. Korea, Republic Of (4.33%)
5. Singapore (2.66%)
6. United Kingdom (2.42%)
7. Brazil (2.02%)
8. Hong Kong (1.88%)
9. United Arab Emirates (1.73%)
10. Pakistan (1.70%)
APPLICANTS BY COUNTRY
DEMOGRAPHICS
19
COUNTRY OF HOME ADDRESS
91% Domestic; 9% International
PARENTAL EDUCATION
71% At least one parent with a Bachelor’s; 29% First Generation
SCHOOL AFFILIATION
73% Public; 11% Independent; 14% Religious; 2% Charter; <1%Homeschool
Students of Color 20%
780,000
Unique
Applicants
55%
45%
White 67%
No Response 13%
CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
20
Expecting changes in general statistics and demographics of future applicants.
– The number of high school graduates is shrinking, but the proportion who are ethnically diverse is growing.
– Transfer application usage is climbing.
– Between 2013 and 2020, college enrollment is projected to increase
• 5% for 18- to 24-year-olds
• 16% for 25- to 34-year-olds
• 17% for students 35 years old and older
REVIEW OF ONLINE PROCESS
21
AVAILABLE FORMS
22
First Year School Forms:
‒ Teacher Evaluation
‒ Counselor Evaluation, including High School Transcript
‒ Other Recommender Evaluation (e.g., coach, mentor,
internship sponsor, etc.)
Transfer School Forms:
‒ Academic Evaluation
‒ Registrar Report
‒ Mid-Term Report (offline only)
PROCESS WORKFLOW
23
Student (First Year or Transfer Applicant)
Selects CollegesAdds
“Recommenders”Assigns
“Recommenders”Submits
Applications
PROCESS WORKFLOW
24
Recommender (Counselor, Teacher/Faculty,
Registrar, Other)
Establish Password and
Login
Complete Profile
Enter Information for
a StudentSubmit Form
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
25
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
26
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
27
NOTIFICATION EMAIL
28
NOTIFICATION EMAIL
29
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
30
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
31
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
32
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
33
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
34
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
35
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
36
RECOMMENDER PERSPECTIVE
37
ITEMS OF NOTE
The student initiates the process.
“Recommender” username is the email address the student used in invitation.
Ensure that you are on “Recommenders” tab before trying to log in.
Submit button on a form shows only after “Profile” screen is complete.
One submission for all colleges in the student’s My Colleges list to simplify process.
Recommenders can always “opt out” of the online process and submit forms on paper via the mail.
38
EXPECTATIONS FOR 2014-15
39
HEARING YOUR VOICE
40
ADDRESSING PAIN POINTS
• What does the green check really mean?
• I need to be able to see my work before starting submission.
• Why can’t I log in?
• My essay response doesn’t look right.
• The process is confusing.
• The forms don’t meet my needs.
41
SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS
APPLICANT SYSTEM
– Essay topics retained
– Essay formatting
– Print preview
– ePayment reconciliation
– Confirmation emails
– Early Decision agreement confirmation
– General improvements to question texts, and explanations
42
SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS
RECOMMENDER SYSTEM
– First year forms – no changes
– Print preview
– Transfer form updates
– Confirmation emails
– General improvements to question texts and
explanations
43
TRANSFER FORMS
Expectations
– Seek guidance from transfer advisors and registrars
– Clarify and expand existing support resources
– Continue to seek helpful online solutions
44
2014-15 Registrar Report
– Revised content and process
– No final decisions yet
– Advisory committee has endorsed a one year return to paper to allow sufficient review
– Complex form/process; many questions and potentially multiple people involved
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Enhanced Help Center Knowledgebase Articles
Improved support response messages
Training Resources
Webinars
Videos
Chat Support
Experienced Users
45
appsupport.commonapp.org
recsupport.commonapp.org
SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK
46
recsupport.commonapp.org
– submit questions
– needed clarifications
– suggestions for future
enhancements
– general comments
– feedback
ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS
Conferences
Monthly newsletters
Surveys and focus groups
Social Media– Facebook – facebook.com/commonapp
– Twitter – @commonapp
47
SUMMARY
48
Common Application Mission
Reflection on 2013-14
Review of Online Process
Expectations for 2014-15
Your Questions
QUESTIONS
49
51
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
• The technology will be reliable.
• Service will be excellent.
• Communication will be proactive and transparent.
• The application will serve the needs of our constituents.
• Members needs will be heard and considered.
52
53
-
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
Application Submissions by Day
Application Submissions 1/1/201410/1/2013
2013-14 APPLICATION STATS
54
4.34average
submissions per applicant
4.47first year
4.56without
transfer and ED
1.61transfer