Starting in fall 2009 the University Office of Admission will begin accepting the Common Application from prospective students in place of the traditional University application.
"We felt strongly that having a universal application would make it easier for students," Associate Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts said, adding that the Common Application will completely replace the University's old application.
According to the Common Application Web site, students can fill out one standardized Common Application and use it for any of the more than 300 participating colleges and universities.
Roberts said he feels the Common Application is especially beneficial today, as students are applying to an increasing number of colleges and universities.
The decision to switch to the Common Application "was driven by ease," Roberts said.
Roberts noted some schools have experienced an increase in applications since switching to the use of the Common Application; however, he said he does not expect a dramatic change in the number of applicants to the University.
The switch to the Common Application is part of an ongoing series of changes designed to make the University more accessible, according to Student Financial Services Director Yvonne Hubbard.
In some rural or urban areas with less efficient college counseling, the admissions process is too intimidating, Roberts said, resulting in students submitting fewer applications; the Common Application is "designed to make the process fair and equitable," Roberts said.
The University can put out next year's application earlier by using the Common Application, Roberts added. The admission office anticipates the application being available in July as opposed to August or September, as it has been in previous years.
The Common Application also will allow schools to submit a supplement to the basic application, giving the University the opportunity to use its own essay topics.
The same University essay questions from previous years will be part of the supplement, Roberts said, noting he hopes this will prevent the application from becoming too generic.
"We didn't want to lose the character of our own application," Roberts said.
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