University of Missouri joins effort to ease applications

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri has joined a nationwide coalition dedicated to making it easier for high school students to apply for college.

The Columbia Missourian reported the 80-college Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success aims to accomplish this goal by creating a website that allows students to create a digital portfolio of their school careers, look at financial aid opportunities and submit applications.

Coalition officials said the portfolio side of the site will go live in January and the application side in fall 2016. Students starting classes in fall 2017 will be able to apply using the new site.

Chuck May, University of Missouri director of admissions, said the site will be free for all students; however, application fees still will apply.

"We want to give (students) an additional level of support while they're going through the application process," May said.

May said he hopes the tools will encourage students to prepare to apply earlier.

He said some students don't realize how early they should begin preparing.

"The college admission process today can be stress-inducing, and we know it can present barriers for all students, especially for those who are the first in their family to attend college," Zina Evans, vice president for enrollment management at the University of Florida, said in a coalition release.

Leigh Spence, director of counseling at Battle High School in Columbia, said an easier application process also could increase the number of schools to which students apply.