Students have been using the Common Application for years.  It’s been simply an easier way to apply to colleges.

However, an issue with the Common App has emerged this year.  On August 1, as it was switching over operating systems and updating the application, an unexpected glitch plagued users.

The Common App is a college admission application that applicants can use to apply to a variety of colleges.  Currently 517 colleges use the Common Application.

A student can apply to potentially all of their colleges with just one application.  There is simply no hassle, as the Common App replaces colleges’ individual website based online applications.

The Common App blends supplemental essays, personal information, SAT scores, GPA, parent information, extracurricular activities, notable awards, and geographic location.

There was a big hype over the Common App instilling its new update, but as students were starting to navigate through the virtual application, they experienced error messages.

At BPHS, guidance facilitator and counselor of the Class of 2014, Mr. Bruce, was starting to tell people to get the application out of the way early. However, that didn’t work as planned.

Mr. Bruce said, “From the beginning, the problem was that the schools weren’t matching up with the recommenders and students were having a hard time getting the recommenders to link up with Naviance.”

After the glitches, Common App finally came out publicly and admitted there was a problem.  To rectify the issues, they are now providing daily email blasts, that provide essential information for students, parents, and guidance counselors.  Common App has even reached out to its followers on Twitter and Facebook.

Mr. Bruce said, “They [Common App] have really stepped up to the plate and realized they made some mistakes.”

Due to glitches, they were banking on Common App colleges to extended deadlines.  Most colleges extended early action deadlines past November 1st. According to a Washington Post article, “At least 42 colleges and universities have pushed back their first application deadlines for the class entering next fall — a highly unusual reprieve.”

The problems are three-sided, and have affected the students, high schools, and colleges.  Colleges are having issues downloading the students’ applications and all the needed materials.

The cleaned up version was supposed to be ready to go on October 1st.

“It leaked into mid to late October,” Mr. Bruce said.  “There aren’t too many problems as of now.  Minor ones like students not seeing check boxes appear.”

Mr. Bruce had some help during this Common App overhaul.  A deep bond and friendship was established and has grown since.

Upper St. Clair was ahead of the pack at Bethel, as they went back to school a week before September 3rd.  Throughout most of the process, Mr. Bruce communicated with the guidance office at USC.

In regards to the new version of the Common App, Mr. Bruce said, “The flow is going.  Right now, everything is all really cleaned up.”

Mr. Bruce is happy with the outcome.  The guidance offices at USC and BPHS will continue to help each other out as the Common App overhaul slows down.