As seniors are preparing to return to school, you may have noticed that some students are already starting on college applications. It’s very important to remember that college applications are not a race, and there is no reward for submitting during the first week of August. In this post, I will break down the most common ways to apply: Common Application, Coalition Application, and directly to the institution.

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Get Organized First

I recommend that students should finalize their college lists as much as possible before applying. Also before applying, always check the universities’ undergraduate admissions websites to find lists of detailed requirements. These will include the applications they accept, deadlines, and required materials. Students should make a list or spreadsheet of prospective colleges, their deadlines, the applications (Common, Coalition, DTI) they will use for each, and the required materials.

At the end, I outline a common time-wasting situation that students can avoid by being organized before applying.

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The Common Application

The Common Application can be used to apply to multiple colleges at once. It is accepted by over 1,100 universities for 2024-25. The Common App includes sections for personal information, academic history, extracurricular activities, and essays.

Generally, if students have multiple Common App schools in their lists, then applying using the Common App is best. Bundling Common App schools from the college list will save time and prevent the need for extra applications. Also, many colleges are now Common App exclusive meaning that Common App is the only way to apply there.

Pros

• Accepted by numerous universities
• Save time by applying to multiple colleges at once (if the colleges in your list accept Common App)
• Streamlines the application process and prevents the need for additional applications and logins
  

Cons

• Longer, complicated, and intimidating compared to most other college applications
• Applying directly can be faster if you only have one Common App school
• Common App only allows a maximum of 20 colleges per application cycle (it is rarely appropriate for a student to apply to this many colleges)

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The Coalition Application

The Coalition Application is similar to Common Application and is designed to promote access, affordability, and success in higher education. It can also be used to apply to multiple colleges at once, and contains tools like the Locker, where students can store documents and multimedia to use in their applications. The Coalition App emphasizes support for underrepresented and first-generation college students through its resources and partnerships.

The most frequent situation in which students use Coalition App is when they are applying to over 20 colleges and have reached Common App’s upper limit. Other students simply prefer it for its interface, mission, and resources.

Pros

• Apply to multiple colleges at once
• Colleges in the Coalition are committed to support first-gen and underrepresented students
• Expand beyond applying to 20 universities (not usually recommended)
  

Cons

• Only about 150 colleges accept Coalition App
• Less support available since it is less frequently used
• Coalition App does not save time if a student is already using Common App

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Direct to Institution

Many colleges and universities still offer the option to apply for admission directly through their websites. For many regional and community colleges, this is the only way to apply. To apply directly, locate and click “Apply” on the site.

Pros

• Best option if applying to one college
• No extra steps
• Straightforward
  

Cons

• Time consuming when applying to many colleges
• Many colleges have outdated or archaic applications
• Teachers and counselor may need to send or upload additional materials separately

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A Common Mistake to Avoid

Here is a common mistake that students should avoid. I will use example universities from my time as a counselor in Illinois.

A student applies to Bradley University and chooses to apply directly to the institution because it seems easier than the Common App.

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They decide later to apply to DePaul University which is Common App exclusive. Unfortunately, that student completed the Bradley application for no reason. The Common Application would have saved time and allowed that student to apply to both simultaneously.