The Truth about the Common App and Applying - Jenny Rickard
Sep 19, 2023
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Jenny Rickard, President and CEO of the Common Application, discusses the evolution of the Common App and the data they collect, focusing on first-generation college students. She also explores the significance of applying to prestigious schools and the appropriate use of AI tools in college admissions.
The Common App is committed to prioritizing equity in college admission and helping students feel valued and informed about available opportunities.
Finding the right college that fits the individual goals and aspirations of each student is crucial, with the myth that getting into college is the biggest challenge being debunked.
Deep dives
Common App's Focus on Equity in College Admission
Jenny Ricard, President and CEO of the Common App, discusses the organization's efforts to prioritize equity in college admission. She highlights the challenges students face with the overwhelming nature of the Common App and the application process in general. Ricard emphasizes the Common App's commitment to ensuring that students feel valued and know about the opportunities available to them. She mentions the importance of building a balanced list of colleges that fit each student's individual needs and interests.
Insights on College Admission Trends and Options
Ricard and Rick Clark discuss the landscape of higher education and the numerous options available to students. They stress that the majority of colleges admit the majority of students, debunking the myth that getting into college is the biggest challenge. The conversation focuses on the importance of helping students find the colleges that best fit their individual goals and aspirations. Ricard encourages students and parents to explore the many options and not get caught up in the popular belief that only certain institutions are worth pursuing.
Exploring Common App's Research Initiatives
Ricard highlights the research initiatives undertaken by the Common App to shed light on issues of access and equity in college admissions. She discusses research specifically focused on first-generation college students and their behaviors within the Common App platform. Ricard emphasizes the significance of understanding the different definitions of a first-generation student and the implications they have for college admissions and support. Additionally, she mentions recent research on students who start but do not complete the Common App and the factors that contribute to this. The goal of these research efforts is to identify barriers and inequities in the admission process and work towards overcoming them.
This week, President and CEO of the Common Application, Jenny Rickard, joins Rick and Brennan to talk about how her career path lead her into admissions, what the Common Application is doing to identify trends in their data sets, expanding direct admissions standards to more colleges, and how they plan to address AI.