common app for counselors and teachers€¦ · •university of southern california •university...

Common App for counselors and teachers

Amanda Gearhart, University of Richmond (VA)Meredith Lombardi, Common App (VA)

August 18, 2020

© 2020 The Common Application, Inc.

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About us

Amanda Gearhart● Senior Assistant Director of Admission● University of Richmond● University of Delaware (BS)

Meredith Lombardi● Common App Access & Equity team● Former school counselor in Washington, DC and Georgia● Emory University (BBA), University of Maryland, College Park (M.Ed)







Agenda

● University of Richmond overview● Common App community● The student experience● The recommender experience● How recommendations support your students● School profile, test reports & other supplemental documents● Tools you can use● Your questions

University of Richmond

Class of 2023 Overview

Spider Spotlight

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Common App community


Common App is a non-profit membership organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process.

Num

ber o

f Mem

bers

Today: 922

629

276

156

116

15

Growth in membership 1975 – 2020

Who we are

Members922

US States, DC, & PR 50

International Members 62

Countries outside the US

18

New members and counting 40

2020-2021 New members

Public Institutions• Auburn University (AL)

• Augusta University (GA)

• Clemson University (SC)

• Coastal Carolina University (SC)

• Lake Superior State University (MI)

• Norfolk State University (VA)

• Northern Illinois University (IL)

• Richard Bland College of William and Mary (VA)

• Texas Tech University (TX)

• The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)

• The University of Texas at San Antonio (TX)

• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)

• University of Georgia (GA)

• University of Louisville (KY)

• University of Maryland (MD)

• University of South Florida (FL)

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)

• Virginia Tech (VA)

• Winthrop University (SC)

US states 20Public institutions 19

commonapp.org/blog © 2020 The Common Application, Inc.

The applicants213

countries and

territories1Mapplicants

9% int’l

Top 10 countries

• China (30%)• India (7.9%)• Canada (3.9%)• Korea (3.0%)• Pakistan (2.7%)• United Arab Emirates (2.2%)• Nigeria (2.0%)• United Kingdom (1.9%)• Vietnam (1.9%)• Ghana (1.8%)…• Japan (#22)


Common App in JapanTop 15 receiving institutions• New York University• Boston University• Northeastern University• University of Southern California• University of Michigan• Stanford University• Brown University• Yale University• Fordham University• Cornell University• Harvard University• University of Pennsylvania• Tufts University• Columbia University• Purdue University

576 applicants

3,500 applications

399Colleges and universities



Common App stands by every international student seeking post-secondary educationin the United States.








The student experience

commonapp.org






• Expanded filter options- Public / private- Enrollment size- Campus setting- Merit / need-based aid- Test-optional- Accepts self-reported test scores- Offers aid for international

students

• Map and list views of colleges

• PDF export of college lists

commonapp.org/explore

Explore colleges

Visit fairtest.org for full list of test-optional schools






• Details on application requirements• Virtual tours and image galleries• Ability for colleges to showcase

specialized programs

commonapp.org/explore

College details

commonapp.org


To start an application

● Visit commonapp.org● Click Create an Account● Choose your path

Create a practice accountSelecting education professional or parent or other adult allows you to explore the student experience


Account rollover

Username & password

remain the same.

What rolls over?

A student’s college list and answers to questions on the Common App tab.

● Profile● Family● Education● Testing● Activites● Writing● Courses & Grades

What does NOT roll over? Anything on the My Colleges tab, including the FERPA release authorization, recommender invitations, or answers to college-specific questions.

The Common App launches on August 1 each year, but students don’t have to wait until then.

Navigating the application


The Requirements Grid provides deadlines, fees, and application requirements for all Common App member colleges

Navigating the application


The Common App tab is where students go to complete the main sections of the application.

• Embedded videos, FAQs, and links to Common App support provide assistance throughout the application


COVID-19 question

New question for 2020-2021 application

Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. For more information, check out our COVID-19 FAQ.

● Optional● 250 word limit● Located in the Additional Information section● Separate from the existing Additional Information

question, which remains (650 word limit)

commonapp.org/blog

My Colleges


• Students manage their recommender invitations in the Recommenders and FERPA section for each college

• Students must invite and assign teachers to the colleges where they want letters of recommendation sent


Counselor

● Completes school forms and sends transcript

● Writes letter of recommendation (40% require)

● Can view student’s completion progress and a PDF copy of their application (with student permission)

Recommender types

Teacher Other recommender

Advisor

● No school requires more than 2

● Completes teacher evaluation and writes letter of recommendation (42% require)

● Optional

● Examples include- Arts teacher

outside of school- Clergy- Coach- College access

counselor- Employer- Family member- Peer- Other

● Optional

● Students can invite up to 3 advisors

● Advisors do not submit any forms

● Can view student’s completion progress and a PDF copy of their application (with student permission)








The recommender experience







Accepting a recommender invitation

• Once a student invites and assigns you as a recommender, you will receive an email invitation, with a link to activate your account in the Common App Recommender System

• Email invitation includes a link to a Recommender Guide

Recommenders have 3 options:

1. Accept the invitation and use Common App’s online recommender system

2. Accept the invitation and opt out of using the online recommender system (use paper forms)

3. Decline the request

recommend.commonapp.org


The first-year recommender system has gotten a refresh

Project drivers

● Modernization

● Accessibility● Responsiveness● Branding

commonapp.org/blogrecsupport.commonapp.org


● System walkthrough

● Student filters


● System walkthrough

● Student filters

● To-do lists

● Requirements clarity


● Notifications

● ( ? ) icons

● Application preview

Key enhancements

● Birthday and CAID


COVID-19 question

Counselor forms

Your school may have made adjustments due to community disruptions such as COVID–19 or natural disasters. If you have not already addressed those changes in your uploaded school profile or elsewhere, you can elaborate here. Colleges are especially interested in understanding changes to:● Grading scales and policies● Graduation requirements● Instructional methods● Schedules and course offerings● Testing requirements● Your academic calendar● Other extenuating circumstances

Your students will have a similar space in their application to share how these events have affected them personally.

● Optional● 500 word limit● Located in the School Details section of the Profile


Student

● Illness or hardship (physical, emotional, financial)

● Changes to extracurricular commitments

● Inability to pursue a scheduled opportunity

COVID-19 question – who shares what

Counselor

● Disruption to consistent participation

● Any other personal impact

● Changes to system of grading (i.e. Pass/Fail)

● Changes to method of instruction

● Remote instruction or remote testing

● Restrictions to class selection

● Updates to school calendar








How recommendations support your students


Counselor

● A college counselor or school official who can provide information about the school as well as the student

● Will complete the School Report document

● Not required to send a recommendation

Counselor and teacher recommendations

Teacher

● Provide context on the general achievement and engagement of the student

● Use the student and other representatives of the school to inform your letter

● Instructors that have had the student in their class

● Preferably teachers that have recently taught the student

● Teachers that can speak beyond the student’s grade to their deeper level of mastery

● May or may not be necessary to be from a teacher in the student’s intended major

● May or may not be the teacher from the class the student performed the best in







Written evaluations

• Colleges that invite letters of recommendation are looking for stories that will help them better evaluate a student for academic potential and fit within their community

• Teachers write from the vantage point of the classroom, using their firsthand knowledge of a student’s intellectual curiosity, creative thought, quality of writing, class behavior, and work habits to depict the student as a scholar

More than ever, essays and recommendation letters will play an important role in telling an applicant’s story. Recommendations afford admission offices the opportunity to better understand an applicant beyond their academic profile and co-curricular activities. Recommendation letters strive to reflect the whole of the student.

-Gil Villanueva, Dean of Admission, University of Richmond







Letter writing tips

• When possible, restrict your letter to one page

• Do not name the specific college or university in your letter

• Don’t hesitate to provide us with an update if your recommendation has changed

• It’s okay to decline an invitation to write a letter

• Consider bullet points in your letters• Letters are only available to admission

representatives after the student submits their application







Letter writing tips cont.

• Anecdotes outshine lists and adjectives• Colleges value an honest assessment of

your student’s strengths as well as areas where they are working to improve

• Make the letter about your student, not yourself

• Personalizing your letter will help you best advocate for your student

• Use inspiration from a student self-appraisal or collected anecdotes from other members of the school community

• Letters should support and elaborate on the story being told in the student’s application

As you write:

Consider how your letter helps admissions committees assess some of these key student characteristics:

● Leadership● Academic achievement● Growth● Engagement● Resilience● Character






• Does it hurt my student if I don’t write a letter of recommendation (if it’s optional)?

• How important are letters of recommendation when reviewing a student’s overall application?

• Can I write my letter in a language other than English?

• Who should submit counselor forms if a school doesn’t have a counselor?

Frequently asked questions








School profile, test reports & other supplemental documents







School profile

• School motto or mission statement• Counselor names & emails• Student demographic breakdown• Matriculations by country/school







School profile

• Curricula/course information• GPA Calculation/distribution







GPA & recalculation

• Review of GPA will vary, including preference for weighted/unweighted GPA will also vary

• Evaluation of Pass/Fail grades• Recalculation using core subjects







Submitting test reports

• No preference between ACT or SAT• SAT, ACT, TOEFL, etc. can be delivered

electronically from testing agency

• Self-reporting test scores• “Superscores”







Applying test-optional

• When should a student apply test-optional?• Opting in to a test-optional review• Scholarship consideration when applying

test optional








Tools you can use

Common App Ready


A toolkit of tips and best practices to help you with each step of the application process

● Getting started● Preparing your application● Telling your story● Working with recommenders and advisors● Paying for college

commonapp.org/ready







Plan for college

• College roadmaps for middle school, high school, community college, and military students

• Application and Recommender Guides• Learn about paying for college• Parent resources

commonapp.org/plan






24/7 support

Help when you need it!

● Frequently Asked Questions

● Known issues● Contact support● Live member schools● Writing requirements resource

appsupport.commonapp.orgrecsupport.commonapp.org


Learn more

● Create a practice student account● Watch video tutorials● Explore the Common App website● Check out the blog for updates● Sign up for the monthly newsletter● Download Common App Ready resources● Access resources in the recommender system● Connect with us on social media

#commonapp, #reachhigher, and #bettermakeroom● Contact 24/7/365 support when you need it

[email protected] or [email protected]

commonapp.org/counselors-and-recommenders








Your questions

We’re committed to continuous improvement:ideas.commonapp.org

Learn more about the University of Richmond:admissions.richmond.edu








Thank you

Please visit appsupport.commonapp.org or email us at [email protected] with any questions for Common App.

Visit the University of Richmond online at admissions.richmond.edu or email me at [email protected]

common app for counselors and teachers€¦ · •university of southern california •university...

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