Both the Common and Coalition Applications have included an optional question for applicants to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their lives, both personally and educationally. As the Common Application Board has stated, “Our goal is to reduce anxiety for applicants affected by these events and provide them with a way to share their experience with colleges and universities.” The Board noted that they want to provide colleges with information they need while giving students the option of answering a COVID-19 question only once so that they can use the rest of their application to share their interests and perspectives beyond COVID-19.

Here is the question applicants will see on the Common Application:

“Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.

Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Y/N
Please use this space (up to 250 words) to describe how these events have impacted you.”

The question will appear in the Additional Information section of the application, and be accompanied by a more detailed FAQ to help students consider the kinds of impacts they may wish to report, including illness and loss, housing and employment disruptions, and shifting family obligations. See: https://www.commonapp.org/blog/COVID-19-question-common-app and https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/news-announcements/coalition-adds-application-question-to-help-students-and-counselors-address-the-pandemic