Common App 2013

The trusty old Common Application, or "CommonApp" as everyone calls it, is a bit different this year in two areas that matter. Actually, the two changes won't keep anyone up at night, but they are worth noting.

First, the long essay has a longer word limit - now it is 650 words. It was 500 words last year. There is a catch: the application will prohibit students from going over 650 words. In the past, students were including attachments and in essence creating their own word limits. Say adios to that.

The other change is that the topics for the long essay have changed. In the past, the CommonApp always had an option for the student to write whatever the student wanted to. Well, our friends at CommonApp got rid of that option. This is also not a big deal - a smart student can still write about whatever he or she wants within the very broad confines of the new CommonApp questions.

In essence, it really is about the same Application as it always was, but do note these changes.