The Common Application is an online college application tool that lets you apply to more than 1,000 participating universities in the United States and abroad. Developed by the nonprofit access ...

The Common App is a shared application system that is used by just under 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States, and roughly 70 international institutions. Last year, the Common App ...

Editor's Note: This column contains material similar to text that appeared in other published work. An Editor's Note was published in the Feb. 8, 2008, Herald. That Editor's Note can be found here.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write on the human/political issues surrounding college admissions. The Common Application, a centralized platform over 1,000 ...