Hi, Reader!

We’re at the beach this week for a little vacation and a little essay work, so apologies for this email coming out late. Because I’m getting ready to head down to the beach, I’m going to make this newsletter a little bit of a roundup of current news and tidbits of information you might find helpful!

The Common App Is Open

The Common App came back online a little early last night, and here are some of the changes you can expect to see when you go on and create a new account or roll over your existing account. Do know that the Common App could be a little glitchy with the new interface, and it might also get overwhelmed by users, so be patient.

Applying to UT-Austin?

Then you’ll want to check out this free webinar from College Matchpoint (Wednesday, Aug. 6, 6 pm CT) where they’ll break down this year’s newly released UT Austin application requirements and show how students can build a major-aligned application that stands out. You can register for the webinar here. (You can also snag a copy of my UT-Austin Application Resource Guide here.)

Using AI to Evaluate Applications

Last week, Virginia Tech announced a change to its admissions process: instead of having two human reviewers evaluate student essays, it will now use one human and one AI reviewer. Now, while we can all agree that technology is a great thing, it feels a little hypocritical (not to mention impersonal) to tell students not to use AI to write their essays … but then use AI to (partially) evaluate those essays. (Interestingly, Michigan Law just added a supplemental essay prompt that asks students about their AI usage and how they see that changing in law school—and requires them to use AI to develop their response.)

A Rise in Gap Years

The New York Post reports more high school graduates are opting for gap years to explore career paths, gain work experience, and improve mental health before college. The pandemic contributed to a rise in gap year participation, with the rate increasing to 4.9% before stabilizing at 2.6%. Experts and colleges that increasingly support gap years cite their value for personal growth and future academic success.

Understanding the Impacts of the Reconciliation Bill

The reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 has major implications for students and institutions in terms of opportunities, costs, and access. To learn more about these implications, read NACAC’s analysis of the bill.

Happy Writing!

Julia

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