Common Application Removing "Topic of Your Choice" for 2013

[Periwinkle]

<p>The New York Times The Choice blog reports pending changes in the Common App for next year.</p>

<p>

The new Common App is removing the “topic of your choice” essay option, an announcement that “was met with gasps,” The Chronicle reported. Instead, there will be four or five topics that may change from year to year.</p>

<p>This change has already prompted a discussion among college counselors of the pros and cons of limiting the freedom of this essay.</p>

<p>The new Common App will also be a stickler for essay lengths. The 250-word minimum will be enforced. Students who exceed the 500-word maximum will face an error message.</p>

<p>Other changes include updates to the user interface and the elimination of the ability to upload a resume, unless specifically requested by the particular college.

</p>

<p>[Common</a> Application Is Removing a Surprising Essay Topic - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Common Application Is Removing a Surprising Essay Topic - The New York Times”>Common Application Is Removing a Surprising Essay Topic - The New York Times)</p>

[zobroward]

<p>if a school is really important to you and you think your essay is a must to get in and it is over 500 words, many schools still have their own application. a little more work but for that school, apply directly to them . just saying.</p>

[mathmom]

<p>Wow. When we attended a GW info session they said their favorite essays nearly always came from “topic of your choice”.</p>

[mathinokc]

<p>A college could always add it to their supplement…</p>

[OHMomof2]

<p>^^ and I bet many will add it to their supplement. Half of the appeal of that essay is learning what subject a kid will choose, I’d think.</p>

<p>I do like this:</p>

<p>

Applicants will not have to answer questions that don’t apply to them, based on their answers to previous questions. A sidebar will offer on-screen help, and a new interface will feature “at a glance” progress checks that show students what parts of the application they have and have not completed. (Think green check marks.)

</p>

<p><a href=“http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/meet-the-new-common-application/32122[/url]”>http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/meet-the-new-common-application/32122&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[missypie]

<p>OP, thanks for the link I sent it to my D’s GC and English teacher. Both were very interested.</p>

[ellemenope]

<p>My kids always liked the Topic of your choice. They had 2 main essays that they tried to use in most applications. For those topic of your choice applications, they could send in the essays as is. For specific topic essays, they had to try to massage one of their main essays to somehow fit the topic.</p>