Uncommon Application at Chicago ... Say Bu-Bye!

<p>As comical footnote to the heated debate on College Confidential, (see <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=222115%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=222115&lt;/a&gt;) the University of Chicago may switch to the Common Application for undergraduate admissions in an effort to increase and diversify the College applicant pool.</p>

<p>The move to the Common Application would constitute a significant shift in admissions strategy for a university that prides itself on eccentricity. The Admissions Office currently uses the “Uncommon Application,” which defines itself by its opposition to the popular Common Application.</p>

<p>U of C President Robert Zimmer and other administrators argue the switch to the Common Application would make the University more accessible to more students, increasing and expanding the applicant pool. Such improvements might also help with College rankings, which take admissions statistics into account.</p>

<p><a href="http://maroon.uchicago.edu/online_edition/news/2006/11/14/u-of-c-courts-common-app/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://maroon.uchicago.edu/online_edition/news/2006/11/14/u-of-c-courts-common-app/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>What a surprise! If you can't beat them, join them.</p>

<p>The article makes it sound like U of C is the only university around who has their own idiosyncratic application and doesn't accept the Common App. Is that true?</p>

<p>I remember that 3 years ago Stanford (and maybe MIT) used their own apps exclusively.</p>

<p>MIT does not accept the Common App and shows no signs of changing that practice. A quick website check shows that Stanford does not accept the Common App either.</p>

<p>that would be really sad if Chicago accepted the common app</p>

<p>I'd be sad too. And while my son would probably have been fine with Common App. everywhere I personally think that colleges should have applications that reflect what they want to know about students.</p>

<p>if more schools had apps like Chicago, people wouldnt apply to 20 schools...and ill be filling out the uncommon app for the second time this year haha</p>

<p>I betcha that the Chicago supplement to the Common App will be a humdinger!</p>

<p>Starting an admissions blog? Sending decisions via email? Switching to the Common App? Changing policies to attract applicants? </p>

<p>Alas, I fear Chicago's unprecedented rise in the rankings has gone to its head. :(</p>

<p>Though they may use the common application to gather common information, I would agree with LurkNessMonster, if there is such a switch, there will be an uncommon supplement preserving the most important aspect of the application, the essays. </p>

<p>From what I understand about 1000 UChicago students have signed a petition opposing the plan and the number is growing.</p>

<p>Chicago:</p>

<p>Forget the common app!</p>

<p>Make a visit a requirement! Complete with an interview! </p>

<p>Remove all parents from the waiting room.</p>

<p>This is worth far more than all those sheets of paper.</p>

<p>Columbia and Michigan also do not accept the common app.</p>

<p>Caltech began accepting common ap this year, but still has supplemental essays. Its famous one is the empty box. Personally, I see no reason why an applicant should have to type all their courses, ECs, etc on a separate form.</p>

<p>Georgetown does not accept the CA, but all 10 schools on my son's list do. It's made applying a lot easier, especially with the on-line option. Would he have applied to fewer without the CA option? I really have no idea. BTW, a lot of parents aroung here think 10 apps is crazy-excessive. Maybe, but I'm pretty sure my son will have some great options in April.</p>

<p>"Caltech began accepting common ap this year, but still has supplemental essays. Its famous one is the empty box. Personally, I see no reason why an applicant should have to type all their courses, ECs, etc on a separate form."</p>

<p>You're right. I knew that. It was just such an extensive supplement that I forgot it wasn't a separate application. What really, really bugs me is that some of the supplements ask for the same info that's on the common app.</p>

<p>"Caltech began accepting common ap this year, but still has supplemental essays. Its famous one is the empty box. Personally, I see no reason why an applicant should have to type all their courses, ECs, etc on a separate form."</p>

<p>You're right. I knew that. It was just such an extensive supplement that I forgot it wasn't a separate application. What really, really bugs me is that some of the supplements ask for the same info that's on the common app. </p>

<p>And actually I do agree that putting the basic info on a common app. is fine.</p>

<p>U Chi has a new prez, Bob Zimmer, who came on board this summer. Part of his mission is to shake things up a bit. So what's new. </p>

<p>For those that don't know higher ed well, most universities do not have strong presidencies. They're not like BU under Silber, for example. And Chicago is one that does not have a strong presidency or powerful administration, for that matter. </p>

<p>So Zimmer and a few administrators want a change? We'll se what the faculty says.</p>

<p>Schools that don't use the CA needlessly make busy work for students and teachers (who have to fill out yet another different recomm form). A pox on such schools. Any school's reasonable needs can be satisfied by the CA and a reasonable supplement. Contening otherwise is arrogance.</p>

<p>Also on the topic of schools that require their own "so special" paperwork. a double pox on those schools that don't find the FAFSA and the Profile (which has its own supps) adequate for financial aid(ya listening Columbia, Vasser, and others?). Its like we don't have better things to do than filling out more blasted forms for no reasonable good reason. </p>

<p>Finally a triple pox on schools that require a student to file online. Hey, some people like to use good old paper. You did it that way for years.</p>

<p>Of S's 11 applications, five are to Common App schools and six (Michigan, Wisconsin-Madison, Penn State, CUNY Honors, UNC-CH and Virginia) are not. However, three of the Common App schools (Cornell, W&M and NYU) have supplements which require significant writing, and the questions are such that each requires its own answer...no recycling of essays from other apps! I'm quite sure Chicago will do the same, so what's all the ruckus about anyway?</p>

<p>I think the Uncommon App is a good filter for Chicago. I hope they keep it.</p>

<p>Our son was considering applying to UChicago and as I recall the only things unique about the Uncommon App was the name, the paper it was printed on and the wonderful essay choices.</p>

<p>As long as they retain the essay choices as supplemental essay requirements, I agree with HelimomNYC and fail to see what the fuss is all about.</p>

<p>With the exception of our state flagship U, our son used the CommonApp for all other schools applied to and he did them all in one short evening, including the "Why Oberlin" supplemental essay. How easy was that-six college applications-three hours of work-done!</p>

<p>If UChhicago had had the CommonApp it is likely that he would have applied there too, and I think that is why they are giving students that option.</p>