Online Application Crash Has St. Olaf Admissions Twiddling Thumbs

Many high school students applying to various colleges across the county were likely met with blank screens after hitting the send button last week.

According to the Star Tribune, the temporary meltdown of Common Application, which processes applications for more than 500 colleges and universities, left students, parents and college officials frustrated.

Northfield's St. Olaf College completely relies on Common Application, and the crash left admissions staffers with a lot of free time, the Star Tribune reported:

" ... the glitches have delayed the first wave of applicants and left admissions staffers “sitting on their hands,” said Jeff McLaughlin, dean of admissions. ...

“It’s an ongoing roller coaster,” McLaughlin said Wednesday. In September, the admissions office sent a test application to itself to see if it got through. It took a month, he said. But he insists he’s optimistic all will be fixed before St. Olaf hits its first deadline, Nov. 15, for applications for early admission."
This is the first year that a paper application hasn't been used by St. Olaf.

According to the Star Tribune, Common Application issued a news release this week acknowledging the crisis, saying: “We are committed to resolving these issues promptly."

Do you know someone who ran into this issue last week? Tell us in the comments section below.

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