The University of Lynchburg has joined Common App’s direct admissions program, which will provide over 200,000 first-generation and low-income students who are interested in college with proactive admissions offers.
Common App’s direct admissions program also includes tailored outreach and resources for families and counselors whose students are receiving a direct admissions offer. Lynchburg is among nearly 70 colleges and universities nationwide and just six in Virginia to participate in the program.
“We’re excited for the University of Lynchburg to join our direct admissions program, where even more students will now know that they are worthy and wanted on a college campus,” said Jenny Rickard, president and CEO of Common App.
“Overall, direct admissions is about changing the narrative of a college education from one of scarcity to one of opportunity, by ensuring students know that college opportunity is an abundant resource — and one that’s available to them.”
Common App has piloted a direct admissions program since 2021, offering admission to students who created a Common App account and provided enough academic information, but had not yet completed all of their open applications.
This is how the program works:
- Participating colleges set their requirements, including a minimum GPA for students in their home state. Common App then finds first-generation and lower-income students who meet these GPA and residency requirements using their Common App responses.
- Common App then emails eligible students with their direct admissions offer(s). Students in some states may receive offers from more than one college.
- The email contains information to help students learn more about their offer(s), including any academic program exclusions or other requirements. It also has details on how to accept the offer, which includes submitting their Common App.
- If a student chooses to apply with this nonbinding admissions offer, they’re guaranteed to get in. They don’t have to pay an application fee and aren’t required to enroll if they apply.
- For more details, check out Common App’s Direct Admissions FAQs.
The latest iteration of the pilot offered admission to 33,000 students at 14 participating institutions, and over 800 students accepted the offer. Results showed the impacts of the intervention were strongest for Black or African American, Latinx, and first-generation students, according to Common App.
“We’re thrilled to participate in Common App’s direct admissions program, which will make it even easier for high school students to attend college and find their perfect fit,” said Aaron Basko, vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communications at Lynchburg.
“We’ve made a concerted effort here at Lynchburg to bring more local students to our campus to show them all we have to offer — and to help them see themselves on a college campus. This program aligns perfectly with our outreach.”
Lynchburg offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs, as well as pathways into several of its 14 master’s programs. The University also has three doctoral programs and a wealth of cocurricular opportunities, including 25 NCAA Division III varsity teams and more than 70 student organizations.
About Common App
Common App is a not-for-profit member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Founded in 1975, Common App serves over 1,000 member colleges and universities worldwide. In 2023, the organization launched its Next Chapter, with the goal of closing the equity gap in low- and middle-income students applying to college by 2030. To learn more, visit commonapp.org and follow @CommonApp and #CommonApp on social media.
