The fourth version of the Common Application, launched on Aug. 1 2013 has encountered many technical difficulties in the recent months. The most notable of these came Oct. 14 when, due to heavy traffic ahead of the Oct. 15 early deadline for many schools, the website crashed.
Senior Neha Rana, who tried to submit her Early Action UNC application, due the 15, on the 14 was unable to log onto the website. “It was frustrating and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to apply early action. Thank God they extended their deadline.” Rana said. Forty-one schools joined UNC in extending their early deadlines, including some whose deadlines were weeks removed from the Oct. 14 debacle.
Yale extended its Early Action deadline to Nov. 4 from Nov. 1. Senior Wolfe Glick was glad for the extension even though he hadn’t experienced the frustrations of Common Application. “I am a lazy sloth so I really need the extra time to procrastinate.” Glick said.
Others have learned from the Oct. 14 crash that, to avoid setbacks, they need to plan ahead. “I submitted my app on October 29th even though its not due until November 1st,” Senior Dylan Russell said in regards to his UVA application.
Whether by forcing students to submit earlier than planned or not allowing students to submit when they want, Common Application glitches have brought extra stress to an application process that already is over-stressful.
