New Competition for the Common Application

Many college applicants use the Common Application, which is accepted at more than 300 colleges. The Common Application allows students to apply to a number of colleges without repeatedly filling out very similar applications or writing dozens of essays.

A company that previously supplied the technology for the Common Application is now launching a new application service, called the Universal College Application, that is designed to compete with the Common Application. The service has already signed up a handful of top colleges, including Harvard and Duke, which will continue to accept the Common Application.

The UCA hopes that its more flexible approach - most notably, schools that don't require an essay or recommendation will be allowed to use the service - will create a broader reach and allow the UCA to target a more diverse mix of students. Apparently, this opportunity to attract different types of students is what interests the colleges that have already signed on with the service.

Thursday June 28, 2007