What’s new with Common App - 2025–26 updates for counselors

Sep 22, 2026

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Webinar material summarizing Common App updates specifically for counselors, covering the 2024–25 year in review and a detailed rollout for the 2025–26 application cycle. Includes registration and engagement statistics by counselor role, key focus areas such as system enhancements, first-year UI updates, account rollover, essay prompt and additional information question changes, ACT reporting adjustments, self-reported transcript tools, and school form and integration partner updates. Concludes with member institution context, mission and vision, and objectives for actions before and after August 1.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages54

Reading Time19 min

AccessFree to download

What’s new with Common App

Registration stats

What we’ll cover in the webinar

Key objectives

What we heard:

Common App year in review

Common App member institutions

This year so far

# What’s new with Common App: 2025–26 updates for counselors Michaela Alcorn, Manager of Counselor EngagementMeredith Lombardi, Director of Education & Training ## Registration stats as of May 15, 2025 | Role | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Independent educational consultant | 898 | 37% | | Counselor/ director at a public school | 725 | 29% | | Counselor/ director at an independent school | 443 | 18% | | Other | 130 | 5% | | Counselor/ director at an international school | 120 | 5% | | CBO advisor/ director | 67 | 3% | | Non-profit organization | 53 | 2% | | District/ state/ country coordinator | 18 | 1% | | Transfer advisor | 2 | 0% | | Total | 2456 | | | Top 5 | | | --- | --- | | States | Countries (non-US) | | California | India | | New York | Canada | | Florida | China | | Texas | United Arab Emirates | | Massachusetts | Australia, Singapore, UK | 300+ questions received in advance ### Top 10 categories ● Activities ● Account rollover ● SCOIR integration ● General updates ● Supplemental essays ● Rec system ● Testing ● Direct admissions ● Course entry ● New UI # What we’ll cover in the webinar ● Common App year in review ● 2025–26 system enhancements ○ First-year app UI updates ○ Account rollover ○ Essay prompts ○ Additional information question changes ○ New responsibilities and circumstances question ○ Citizenship question ○ ACT test reporting changes ○ Self-reported transcripts (C&G / STARS) ○ School form updates ○ New integration partners ○ Transfer app updates ● Common App initiatives ○ Direct admissions ○ Scholarship matching ○ Community colleges ● Advising tools and resources Many thanks to all the contributors: | ●●
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● | NatashaSamanthaMeaganEmmaAmy | ● Jason M.
● Ariana
● Kyran
● Ryan G.
● Michelle S. | | --- | --- | --- | Agenda ● Common App year in review ● 2025–26 system enhancements ● Common App initiatives ● Advising tools and resources ● Your questions © ## Key objectives ● Identify what you can dobefore August 1 ● Learn what to expectafter August 1 ● Connect with resources Thankyou for submittingquestions in advance! ## What we heard: ● General updates ● Direct admissions ● Scholarships ● Resources ● Courses & Grades / SRAR usage ● Writing supplements ● Activities section limitations ● 20 college limit max Share yourenhancementsuggestions withCommon App’sproduct team. ideas.commonapp.org # Common App year in review © 2025 Common App, Inc. MISSION Common Appis a nonprofit membershiporganization committed to the pursuit ofaccess, equity, and integrity in the collegeadmission process. VISION Be the trusted source to access, afford,and attain opportunity for all. ## MOONSHOT By 2030, Common App will close itsequity gap in students pursuingpost-secondary opportunities © 2025 Common App, Inc. # Common App member institutions 2024–25 1K+ Memberinstitutions 50 U.S. states, DC, andPuerto Rico 300+ Public members 50+ Internationalmembers 600+ Charge noapplication fee 15+ Countries outsidethe U.S. commonapp.org/explore © 2025 Common App, Inc. ## This year so far 2024–25 as of May 1 1.5M Unique first-yearapplicants(+5% y-o-y) First-year apps 10.1M submitted (+8% y-o-y) 100K Unique counselors Total forms 26.2M submitted (+4% y-o-y) Forms submitted ● 8.5M: School reports ● 184K: ED1 + ED2 ● 3.4M: Fee waiver ● 7.2M: Counselor recommendations ● 1M: Optional report 1 + 2 ● 5.8M: Midyear report ● 132K: Final report © 2025 Common App, Inc. First-year applicants’home states and countries 2024–25 as of May 1 Top 15 states ● Texas ● New York ● California ● Florida ● New Jersey ● Illinois ● Georgia ● Pennsylvania ● Ohio ● Virginia ● North Carolina ● Massachusetts ● Maryla

FAQs

What registration categories are reflected in the webinar stats?

The registration stats break down counselor/engagement roles such as independent educational consultants, public and independent school counselors/directors, international school roles, CBO advisors, and other categories, with totals shown as of May 15, 2025.

Which 2025–26 system enhancements are highlighted for first-year applicants?

Highlights include first-year app UI updates, account rollover, essay prompts, changes to additional information questions, updates to responsibilities and circumstances, a citizenship question, and ACT test reporting changes.

What guidance does the webinar provide around August 1?

It sets key objectives to identify what counselors can do before August 1, learn what to expect after August 1, and connect attendees with advising tools and resources.

Sep 22, 2026

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