The new Common Application — a universal form that allows students to apply to multiple colleges and universities — is going Web-only next year, and is bringing with it some surprising changes to the essay rules,The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.

At the annual meeting of the National Association for College Admissions Counselors, which was held in Denver last week, representatives from the Common Application discussed the changes, which will begin on Aug. 1, 2013.

The new Common App is removing the “topic of your choice” essay option, an announcement that “was met with gasps,” The Chronicle reported. Instead, there will be four or five topics that may change from year to year.