An Admissions Application Committed to Access

The summer of 2022 was an exciting time in the world of college admissions. For many schools, August signifies the opening of undergraduate admissions applications for the upcoming year. At Drexel, August 1 was the first day that students could apply via the Common Application or Coalition Application, which for the first time this year is powered by SCOIR.

The new Coalition Application, powered by SCOIR, has effectively created a new streamlined approach to applying to college. You can read more about it on their website. 

Just days after the Common Application and the Coalition Application were opened up, I had the opportunity to attend the Coalition for College Annual Meeting & Conference, hosted by Southern Methodist University in Dallas. For a college admission professional, conferences serve multiple purposes. They are a chance to congregate with colleagues and friends from other colleges and universities, they give us a chance to travel to exciting places, and, most importantly, they provide us with knowledge and tools to help us better serve the students we work with.

It is also our hope that we will get to know you even better by reading your applications, whether you choose to apply via Common Application or Coalition Application.

At the Coalition Conference, I had the opportunity to attend sessions on strategic planning; the effectiveness of post-pandemic virtual recruitment; financial aid; and working with transfer students, veterans, and other nontraditional populations. I also had the opportunity to connect with other admissions deans, directors, and admission counselors about the work being done on their campuses in order to increase access to a college education. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 38% of Americans aged 25 or older have a bachelor's degree. Many of us who work in college admissions would like to see that percentage increase over the next decade. That's why I'm so excited about the Coalition Application being powered by SCOIR. Just like the Common Application, it helps to simplify the college admissions process for students by allowing them to apply to multiple schools using a single platform.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Drexel is excited to be hitting the road throughout the fall, and we hope to continue to see many of you during our travels. It is also our hope that we will get to know you even better by reading your applications, whether you choose to apply via Common Application or Coalition Application. Whether you are a student, school counselor, parent, or guardian, we wish you all a great year and the best of luck with the admissions process!