Common App launches more inclusive application for 2021-2022 school year
By Emma Steele
July 30, 2021
Arlington, VA - Common App, the non-profit membership organization that serves over 1 million aspiring college students every year, will launch its 2021-2022 application on Sunday, August 1. The new application, which will enable students to apply to more than 950 colleges and universities across the globe, includes updated questions and tools designed to both expand access and facilitate a more equitable, inclusive college application process.
Used by more than three million applicants, teachers, and counselors across the United States and around the world each year, the Common App platform streamlines the college application process for students. In addition to providing a single, online application and 24/7/365 support for all students applying to member colleges and universities, the Common App connects applicants to a mobile app, financial aid and scholarship information, virtual mentors, online portfolios, and a vast library of counselor resources available in English and Spanish.
The new application will include several significant changes announced by Common App over the last year that take effect on August 1, including:
- The removal of the school discipline question
- The removal of the military discharge question
- Revisions to the citizenship, family, and geography questions
- Revisions to the sex/gender questions
- The removal of the religious preference question
“We want all students to feel supported by Common App regardless of where they are on their path to education attainment. This is about providing the tools and resources needed to meet more students where they are and help them navigate the path to and through college. Our hope is that the incremental changes we’ve made on the application this year will be a critical step in our collective effort to reduce barriers for students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.”
The 2021-2022 application will also include a new essay prompt: “Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?” The new prompt is inspired by scientific research on gratitude and kindness, specifically the benefits of writing about the positive influence of other people in our lives.
Students applying to college in 2021-2022 will also have access to more than 60 additional diverse colleges and universities through Common App’s online application.
New Members of The Common Application for 2021-2022 Application Season
Mid-Atlantic
Clarion University of Pennsylvania (PA)
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (PA)
Gordon College (MA)
Lincoln University (PA)
Manor College (PA)
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PA)
Towson University (MD)
Westfield State University (MA)
Worcester State University (MA)
Pratt Institute (NY)
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (NY)
Villa Maria College (NY)
Mid-West
Blackburn College (IL)
Cleary University (MI)
Concordia University- Ann Arbor (MI)
Eastern Illinois University (IL)
Governors State University (IL)
Grace College (IN)
Greenville University (IL)
Illinois State University (IL)
Indiana State University (IN)
Indiana Tech (IN)
Lincoln College (IL)
Madonna University (MI)
Mount Saint Joseph University (OH)
Northeastern Illinois University (IL)
Rockford University (IL)
Saginaw Valley State University (MI)
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)
Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville (IL)
University of Illinois at Springfield (IL)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL)
University of Northwestern, St. Paul (MN)
Western Illinois University (IL)
South
Austin Peay State University (TN)
Belmont Abbey College (NC)
Charleston Southern University (SC)
Chowan University (NC)
Claflin University (SC)
Evangel University (MO)
James Madison University (VA)
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FL)
Florida Memorial University (FL)
Mississippi College (MS)
Oral Roberts University (OK)
Saint Augustine’s University (NC)
St. Mary’s University (TX)
South Carolina State University (SC)
Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX)
Texas Wesleyan University (TX)
University of Alabama (AL)
University of North Georgia (GA)
Western Carolina University (NC)
Wingate University (NC)
West
Colorado Mesa University (CO)
Fort Lewis College (CO)
Colorado School of Mines (CO)
Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)
Portland State University (OR)
University of Saint Katherine (CA)
Washington State University (International students)
International
Bangor University
Lebanese American University
Tecnológico de Monterrey
University of the Commonwealth Caribbean