Competition for the Common Application

[asteriskea]

<p>Last year, the board of the Common Application hired a bigger technology firm and redesigned in the quest to make it more attractive and easier for greater numbers of students to apply to multiple colleges. So, is there is a market out there for yet another application service? - a service that sets out to offer something the Common Application can’t: to “be truly common”.</p>

<p>The Universal College Application
<a href=“https://www.universalcollegeapp.com/[/url]”>https://www.universalcollegeapp.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Articles in Inside Higher Ed:
<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/06/28/apps[/url]”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/06/28/apps&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and in the Baltimore Sun:
“Cast off by his customer, businessman starts again”

“We helped to develop the Common Application online. We got the colleges to use it, we got the colleges to join. Now we have to tell them about the Universal College Application and it’s the same software, the same interface, the same people.” He smiled. “We’re our own worst enemy.”</p>

<p>Then again, having successfully processed 3 million online applications for hundreds of colleges, he has built a decade of trust with his customers. So while the Universal College Application launches today with only 13 “founding members,” they include Harvard University, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis and Hopkins…

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.college27jun27,0,1878842.story?coll=bal-home-headlines[/url]”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.college27jun27,0,1878842.story?coll=bal-home-headlines&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[asteriskea]

<p>and in the Washington Post “Application Service To Rival Fairfax Firm”:</p>

<p>

Joshua J. Reiter, president of ApplicationsOnline, said that when Common Application switched to another provider, ApplicationsOnline decided to start a rival service, called the Universal College Application, or UCA…“Our intent is to be more inclusive and to attract a broader and more diverse applicant pool, including underrepresented populations and low-income, high-academic students,”… “We are also reaching out to colleges outside the United States.”…He said that unlike the Common Application, the UCA will welcome colleges that do not require recommendations or student essays…</p>

<p>John Latting, director of undergraduate admissions at Johns Hopkins, said: “The significance of the UCA . . . lies in its ambition to increase access to higher education. We look forward to being partners in taking an innovative approach to the issue.” He added, “We expect them to use new technology and partnerships with all their college and university members.”

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062601883.html?nav=rss_education[/url]”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062601883.html?nav=rss_education&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[xiggi]

<p>For a second I feared the new alternative was some form of Chicago’s Uncommon Application! </p>

<p>

The following institutions are members of the Universal College Application: </p>

<p>Clark University
Drew University
Drexel University
Duke University
Guilford College
Harvard College
Johns Hopkins University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Seattle University
University of Maine Farmington
Villa Julie College
Washington University in St. Louis
WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute

</p>

<p>Of course, the new company might want to hire a spellchecker before posting a gem like “The following institions are members …” Just in case! </p>

<p>Drew University? Robert Weisbuch is keeping busy with finding publicity wherever he can.</p>

[spencer123]

<p>Um, didn’t they spell institutions correctly in the reference? Unless you’re referring to something else, it’s definitely correct.</p>

[asteriskea]

<p>Add Bard, Niagara University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Susquehanna University, Ursinus College, Warren Wilson College, and Wesley College to the list of member IHEs.</p>

[asteriskea]

<p>Are the Common App and the Universal College App going to duke it out in the courtroom? So may it be according to an article in Pomona’s “Student Life News” that makes mention of “pending litigation” over ownership of the code created for the Common Application and now in use for the Universal College Application. In any case, don’t expect to see Pomona’s name on the list any time soon.</p>

<p>“Common Application Faces Competition”</p>

<p><a href=“The Student Life - Claremont Colleges News”>The Student Life - Claremont Colleges News;