Introducing CA4

1. Introducing CA4 Presented by: Matt McCabe & Tim Dunning, The Common Application Monday, April 15, 2013 10:45 a.m. Session ID 1378

2. Please turn off your cell phone/pager • If you must leave the session early, please do so as discreetly as possible • Please avoid side conversation during the session • Please complete the session evaluation Session Rules of Etiquette Thank you for your cooperation!

3. Association Overview • 2012-13 Review • Past, Present, and Future • Membership Information • CA4: The Next-Generation Common Application Introduction

4. Not-for-profit membership association founded in 1975 • Mission: to promote holistic admission as a path to college access • Free services for applicants and secondary schools • Volunteer Board of Directors • 9 chief enrollment officers • 4 school counselors • Two Advisory Committees • Applications: primarily admission operations professionals • Outreach: school and CBO counselors The Association

5. Applications • 730,000 unique applicants (+10%) • 3.1 million applications (+10%) School Forms • 20,500 high schools represented (+10%) • 350,000 school officials will submit an online form (+15%) • 9.5 million school forms (+22%) 2012-13 Statistics (Projected)

6. Sex • 56% Female, 44% Male Ethnicity • 58% White, 29% Students of Color, 13% No Response Country of Home Address • 91% Domestic, 9% International Parental Education • 69% At least one parent with a Bachelor’s, 31% First Generation School Affiliation • 74% Public, 14% Independent, 12% Religious, <1%Homeschool 2012-13 Demographics

7. 4.4 online applications per applicant • Without transfers and singleton ED apps: 4.6 2012-13 Averages

8. 4.4 online applications per applicant • Without transfers and singleton ED apps: 4.6 2012-13 Averages RED: Above average BLACK: Below average

9. 4.4 online applications per applicant • Without transfers and singleton ED apps: 4.6 2012-13 Averages Public schools account for 74% of applicants

10. 39 new members (527 total) • 47 states plus DC (1 new: Hawaii) • 16 international members (5 new) • 7 countries outside the US (1 new: Austria) • 17 public flagships (3 new: Purdue U, CU Boulder, U. Oklahoma) • 81 public institutions (15 new) • 7 HBCUs 2012-13 Members

11. The Early Years (1975-1994) • 15 private colleges in original “Common Application Experiment” • 200 member colleges by 1994 • Paper application • Volunteer steering committee assisted by 1 part-time clerical assistant • Budget of $200,000 by 1994 Past, Present, and Future

12. Past, Present, and Future • The Early Years (1975-1994) • 15 private colleges in original “Common Application Experiment” • 200 member colleges by 1994 • Paper application • Volunteer steering committee assisted by 1 part-time clerical assistant • Budget of $200,000 by 1994 • The Transformative Years (1995-1999) • Incorporation as 501(c)3 not-for-profit membership association governed by Board of Directors • Holistic review established as primary membership requirement • Public institutions invited to join • Online submission introduced • Preparation to hire first Executive Director

13. The Modern Era (2000-2013) • Rapid growth: 527 members in 2013-14 • Tremendous volume: applicants, applications, school officials • 8 full time association staff, 40 full time Hobsons employees • $15M budget funded by member fees Past, Present, and Future

14. The Modern Era (2000-2013) • Rapid growth: 527 members in 2013-14 • Tremendous volume: applicants, applications, school officials • 8 full time association staff, 40 full time Hobsons employees • $15M budget funded by member fees • Going Forward • CA4: New system to accommodate anticipated volume • Independence: Bring outsourced technology in-house • 50-60 full-time staff in new physical office space • Fee reductions for members • Reaffirmation of historic values Past, Present, and Future

15. Online only, paper discontinued • Smart, dynamic questions presented one at a time • Address verification • Arts supplement replaced by Slideroom.com • Athletic supplement discontinued The Application

16. Payment and application submitted together • Online payment for international students without a US credit card or US-based checking account • No “mail check” option • Simplified fee waiver process Payments

17. Paper still available, but applicants must obtain forms from within their accounts • New demographic info on School Report • No current-year courses on School Report • International and Homeschool Supplements discontinued as a standalone forms • Transfer school forms • Online: Revised College Report and Instructor Evaluation • Offline: Mid-term and Final Report/High School transcript School Forms

18. Standalone forms replaced by two new sections • Member Page • Expanded, customized version of Future Plans • Members select questions and permitted responses • Submitted with Common Application • Writing Supplement • Short-answer or essay-length responses to member questions • Uploads permitted for members willing to receive resumes, research papers, and graded assignments • Smart essay prompts • Submitted after Common Application • August 1st launch for all information for every member college Member Supplements

19. Essay, Additional Information, Required Explanations • Five new essay prompts, reviewed annually • Short answer moved to Writing Supplement if member wants to ask • Enforced 650 word limit for all sections • Enforced 250 minimum for essay only • Uploaded documents replaced by text-entry • Basic formatting available (bold, italics, underline and accented characters); cut and paste retains formatting Writing Sections

20. Baccalaureate degree granting institution • Regional accreditation or CIS Membership • NACAC member in good standing • Commitment to association’s non-discrimination statement • Holistic admission process • One academic recommendation • Untimed writing sample Membership Requirements

21. New Member Orientation • Support available 8am to 8pm: Control Center, email, phone • Regular training webinars, training library, Knowledgebase FAQ • Annual member conference • Designated support analyst during the Annual Update season • Nightly batch printing and Scheduled Delivery Service • Search, printing, data export, email, year-over-year statistics • Online team manages performance, reliability, and security of the online system so members and their IT departments do not have to Services To Members

22. September: Online Membership Application available • November 15: Application Deadline • February: Board notifies institutions of decisions • March: New Member Orientation • July 1: Membership year begins • August 1: Common App Online launches New members have about six months to prepare for receiving Common Apps Membership Timeline

23. www.commonapp.org

25. Matt McCabe & Tim Dunning Please complete the session evaluation form using the AACRAO Mobile App or the paper form provided in your conference bag. Session ID 1378 Thank You!