The Common Application

Executive summary

The Common Application (CommonApp) is an undergraduate college admission application system that applicants use to apply to any of 900+ member colleges and universities across the globe.  Increased complexity of the application process and outdated functionality prompted the organization to initiate an Application Modernization effort.  Developing a simple, intuitive, reliable and secure system that supports a holistic admission process was the core mission of the effort.

Enquizit played a vital role in the design, development and deployment of The CommonApp Refresh project.  We understood the promises, challenges, and associated benefits of Cloud Computing earlier than our competitors. Our team started envisioning the system in 2008 and embarked on the project in 2010 when Cloud Computing models were still emerging. Enquizit leveraged the robust and elastic cloud based solution components with a key focus on minimizing risks.

Business Challenge / Problem Detail

Increased complexity of the application process, non-scalable infrastructure and outdated functionality prompted the organization to initiate an Application Modernization effort.

Output / Our Solution

Enquizit developed and implemented The CommonApp Refresh project, which was a complete rewrite of the then current Common Application System. Enquizit replaced a legacy system with The CommonApp Refresh Project in late 2012. We understood the promises, challenges, and associated benefits of Cloud Computing earlier than our competitors. Our team started envisioning the system in 2008 and embarked on the project in 2010 when Cloud Computing models were still emerging. Enquizit leveraged the robust and elastic cloud based solution components with a key focus on minimizing risks.

Our team conceived a true Application Modernization project to deliver an application with mission critical performance at scale, with elasticity, flexibility, security and a better TCO. A comprehensive development approach and agile process, along with validated tools and technologies, were selected to ensure quality deliverables. With a trusted development approach that uses: rewrite, reuse, migrate, or replace we developed a solution that met CommonApp’s requirements.

CommonApp was implemented as a cloud native solution with no data center or non-cloud components. Amazon Web Services (AWS) was chosen as the primary cloud service provider for enhanced “out-of-the-box” functionality minimizing customization efforts. With minimal customization efforts, Common App is monitored and managed for availability and performance.

Cloud was a natural fit given the extremely seasonal nature of the application, and AWS was the most stable and mature choice available. Common Application was rewritten with familiarity to start and innovation to continue in mind.

Enquizit Role

Enquizit worked directly with the management team and recommended a business transformation. Enquizit advised the CommonApp team through multiple stages of development and played a major role in modernizing the application by moving it from ColdFusion to a Microsoft Platform, then on to the cloud as a Cloud Native application.

Tooling (Tools and Technologies)

Expected Challenges

Client:

The Common Application

The Common Application, informally known as the Common App, is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to any of 693 member colleges and universities in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, China, and many European countries.

Industry:

Education

Problem Statement

Increased complexity of the application process, non-scalable infrastructure and outdated functionality prompted the organization to initiate an Application Modernization effort.

Goals and Benefits

A modernized, easy to extend, maintain and scale application codebase and infrastructure. Continuously secure and easily auditable. Improve end user response while reducing underutilization. Improving user experience all around the globe.

Core Partners:

Amazon Web Services (AWS)