The Common Application launches August 1, and they’ve made some changes and improvements this year.

Here are the highlights:

• You’ll find a more standardized and streamlined way to report your courses and grades.
• Your privacy will be better protected because Social Security numbers will be masked.
• If you live in an EU country, you’ll be asked to give your consent before providing personal data. This reflects your rights under the new European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• A new Common App for transfer students also launches August 1. I’ll tell you more about that in a later post.
  

In the meantime, if you’re applying to colleges that accept the Common App, now’s a good time start your Common App account. The system will be down July 27-31 and opens again on August 1, but your account will roll over. For more info on the Common Application and opening a Common App account, visit the Common Application website.

Sharon Epstein is a Writers Guild Award-winner and two-time Emmy Award nominee, teaching students around the world how to master interview skills, write resumes, and transform their goals, dreams and experiences into memorable college application essays. I work with students everywhere: in-person, by phone, FaceTime, Skype and email. Visit my website for more info. Connect with me on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.