I wrote a post a couple of days ago about reversals of policy at the Common Application, and I mentioned that the Common App now has some competition from the Universal Common Application. This upstart is not really an upstart at all. Actually, it is operated by the same folks who provide the technology platform behind the Common App. The Common Application then went off to find another technology platform and make some policy changes (about which much ink has been spilt). In the meantime, the folks at what is now the Universal College Application started a new initiative to broaden out participation to include any accredited university, and to compete with the the Common App.
As it happens, a college can be a member of both. And the number of colleges signing up with the Universal College Application is growing. The ball really got rolling when Harvard signed up. Now look at the list:
Bard College
Bryant University
Carroll College
Clark University
Colby-Sawyer College
Creighton University
University of Dallas
Drew University
Drexel University
Duke University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Guilford College
Hampden-Sydney College
Harvard College
Hawai’i Pacific University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Iona College
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson & Wales University
University of Maine
University of Maine Farmington
Marquette University
Monmouth University
Montana State University
Niagara University
Nichols College
Prescott College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rider University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rockhurst University
San Francisco Art Institute
Seattle University
St. Joseph’s College – Brooklyn Campus
St. Joseph’s College – Long Island Campus
Susquehanna University
University of Tampa
Texas Christian University (TCU)
Ursinus College
Villa Julie College
Wagner College
Wake Forest University
Warren Wilson College
Washington University in St. Louis
Wesley College
Whitworth University
WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
While I have no particular bone to pick with the Common Application, I dowish the folks at the Universal College Application well. As a student of economics, I’m all for competition in the marketplace. It helps give consumers (i.e., my clients) more choices, better service, and ultimately more efficient and open access to college.
Mark Montgomery
Giver of Great College Advice
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