2023-24 Common App Updates: Learn What’s Changing

June 25, 2023

Reading time: 5 min.

If you’re applying to college, chances are good you’ll be using the Common App to do so. With more than 1,000 member institutions, it’s the most popular way to apply. In fact, there were 1.3 million unique first-year applicants for the 2022-23 season, with 8.6 million first-year applications submitted (a 13% increase from last year).

There are 29 new members joining the Common App family so far this year — including Houston Christian University (TX), Rutgers University (NJ), Southeastern University (FL), and three international universities — solidifying the Common App as the go-to portal to applying to college.

Every year, the Common App goes offline for a few days at the end of July to upgrade for the upcoming application season, and this year is no exception. This year, there are some great changes coming, some things staying the same, and some useful resources the Common App makes available to students to support them in their journey.

Recently, I attended a webinar given by the Common App to learn what to expect from the Common App experience in the 2023-2024 application season. Let’s go over the 2023-2024 system enhancements that are going to make applying to colleges via the Common App easier than ever! (Because seriously: Who doesn’t love easy?)

Changes to the Look and Feel of the Common App

First, let’s tackle just a few of the changes coming to the Common App in August (a few of these are live already). While none of these are major, they’re all designed to improve functionality and take some of the stress and confusion out of applying. So let’s take a look at a few of the bigger changes.

College logos now appear in the application (in the college search, in your My College list, and on your Dashboard), making it easier to make sure you’re selecting the right school when you’re choosing from among several schools with similar names.
You can personalize your Common App experience with avatars — including colors, icons, and initials. This is a quick and easy way for students working on shared computers to make sure they’re working on the right application.
You can delete your Common App account without contacting Common App support.
You can select which name the Common App uses for you in communication, and the Common App better explains to users how those names are shared with third parties.
You can easily change your practice accounts to live accounts, and you can easily change your start year if needed.

Updates to Language in the Common App

Some of the Common App updates are simply changes to language, making the questions easier to understand — and answer. Here are three of the places where wording will change.

The language for submitting test scores will change from “Have you taken …” to “Would you like to report …” to make it easier for you to decide if/when you’d like to report test scores.
Some schools suppress information you report in the Common App, so the Common App has added more data about suppressed information to give increased visibility to what schools have opted to suppress and why it’s not visible in the PDF version of your application.
There will be improved language on inviting and assigning recommenders, including increased visibility of all recommendations accepted at a college, even if a college doesn’t accept a Teacher or Other recommender type. Now there will be a box that explains the types of letters of recommendation that are accepted.

What’s Staying the Same in the Common App

Luckily, some things are staying the same in the Common App for 2023-24. Some of the sections that won’t change at all include:

The activities section. You’ll still be able to report only 10 activities.
The essay prompts. All seven will remain the same.
The student affirmations on application integrity when you submit your applications. While there is nothing referring specifically to not using ChatGPT and getting other AI assistance, you must still attest that all work is your own.
The short-answer COVID-19 prompt. This also remains optional for applicants to answer.

What to Know About the Aug. 1 Rollover

Here’s what you should know about what happens on Aug. 1 when the Common App reopens for the 2023-24 application season:

The following will roll over on Aug. 1:
- Username and password
- A student’s college list. You can choose to roll over your entire My Colleges list, or you can select only certain colleges to roll over.
- Answers to questions on the Common App tab:
  - Profile
  - Family
  - Education
  - Testing
  - Activities
  - Writing
  - Courses & Grades
Anything on the My College tab won’t roll over, including:
- College-specific questions
- FERPA release authorization
- Recommender invitations (counselors, teachers, other recommenders)
Advisor invitations will roll over if you follow these instructions:
- Step 1: You’ll log in to the Common App after Aug 1 to complete the rollover.
- Step 2: You’ll sign the FERPA release.

Common App Resources Available to You

Students who want to research colleges will have lots of new options within the Common App, including:

Expanded filters, like:
- Public/private
- Enrollment size
- Campus setting
- Merit/need-based aid
- Specialized mission
- Test-optional
- Accepts self-reported test scores
Map views of colleges
PDF export of college lists
College profiles
Virtual tours and image galleries

You can also check out helpful YouTube videos that walk viewers through:

First-year applications
Transfer applications
Breaking down the essay prompts
Answering frequently asked questions

What to Keep in Mind When Completing Your Application

Some students are concerned that there are “better” prompts than others to respond to for their main personal statement (or admission essay). Don’t worry! Schools don’t prefer one essay prompt over another. They just want to make sure your essay does its job in helping admission officers get to know you.

If you’re curious, here’s the rough breakdown of which essay prompt students chose to respond to in 2022-23.

27% wrote an essay on the topic of their choice.
22% responded to the prompt on facing adversity.
21% answered the prompt about personal growth.
19% answered the prompt about their background, identity, interest, or talent.
6% answered the prompt about intellectual curiosity.
3% answered the prompt about gratitude.
3% answered the prompt about challenging an idea.

And with the Common App mobile app, you can do everything there that you can do on the web version!

It’s also helpful to remember that you can change any of your answers between submissions. So if you want to submit test scores to one school but want to apply test optional for another one, you can change your answers (and then change them back) to customize each application.