When applying to college, one of the first decisions students need to make is which application platform to use. The two main options are the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Many students wonder if colleges prefer one platform over the other. The short answer is that most colleges do not have an outright preference. However, there are some differences between the two platforms that applicants should consider.
What is the Common App?
The Common Application is a nonprofit organization that provides a standardized online college admission application that students can submit to over 900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. The Common App allows students to complete one application that can be sent to multiple schools. This streamlines the process and reduces duplication of effort.
Some key features of the Common App include:
- Standardized application questions, essays, recommendations, and more that can be sent to multiple schools
- Over 900 member institutions in 49 states and 19 countries
- Seamless submission of application materials online
- Ability to self-report academic information and achievements
- Access to fee waivers for income-eligible students
The Common App has been around since 1975. It is very well-established and widely used among high school students applying to college.
What is the Coalition Application?
The Coalition Application is another standardized application platform that was launched more recently in 2016. It was developed by a coalition of over 150 public and private colleges and universities as an alternative to the Common App.
Some key features of the Coalition App include:
- Online locker for students to store materials and share them with colleges
- Collaboration platform allowing students to connect with peers and mentors
- Standardized application with essays, recommendations, and more
- Can be sent to 135+ Coalition member institutions
- Option for students to submit graded papers and multimedia projects
- No application fees
The Coalition App is newer on the scene but offers some distinct features beyond just an application form. The locker and collaboration spaces aim to help students showcase themselves more holistically.
How widespread is each application?
In terms of usage, the Common App is much more widely used by applicants than the Coalition App. Well over 1 million students submit a Common App each year. In comparison, the Coalition App has been used by around 250,000 students per year since launching.
The Common App also has many more member institutions – over 900 compared to around 140 Coalition members. Nearly all top-tier, Ivy League, and other elite institutions accept the Common App. The Coalition App is popular among public schools and lesser-known liberal arts colleges.
Overall, the Common App tends to be the default choice for most students simply because it is accepted at so many more colleges. However, the Coalition App is steadily gaining traction and offers some intriguing features not found on the Common App.
Do colleges prefer one application over the other?
Generally speaking, colleges and universities do not prefer or incentivize students to use one application over the other. The vast majority of schools accept both the Common App and Coalition App equally.
For schools that are members of both platforms, they essentially provide two different but equal avenues to apply. The applications are processed and evaluated the same regardless of which one a student submits.
There are a small handful of colleges that are exclusive to one platform. For example, University of Florida and University of Washington only accept the Coalition App. Meanwhile, Princeton, Yale, and Harvard are among a few elite schools exclusive to the Common App. But again, for schools accepting both, neither platform is preferred.
Colleges recognize that students have different reasons for choosing one platform or the other. As long as a student submits a strong application, the platform itself does not matter to admissions officers.
Which application platform should students choose?
So if colleges themselves don’t prefer one application over the other, how should students decide whether to use the Common App or Coalition App?
Here are some factors for students to consider:
- Schools you are applying to – Check to see which application(s) each college accepts. For schools exclusive to one app, you must use that platform.
- Ease of use – Try out the interfaces. Some students find one platform more intuitive to navigate than the other.
- Availability of fee waivers – The Common App offers fee waivers based on financial need. The Coalition App has no fees.
- Application features – The Coalition App offers multimedia uploads and collaboration spaces not on the Common App.
- Where your materials are stored – The Coalition locker lets you reuse content for multiple applications.
Ultimately there is no right or wrong choice. Each platform has its own pros and cons. Students should weigh up these factors and consider talking to their school counselor when deciding.
Tips for deciding between Common App and Coalition App
Here are some quick tips when choosing an application platform:
- See which schools you are interested in applying to and what platforms they use.
- Create accounts on both Common App and Coalition App to compare.
- Consider ease of use and available features on each.
- If applying to many reach/elite schools, the Common App may be better.
- For focused applications to just a few schools, the Coalition locker is useful.
- Talk to counselors, teachers, and current college students for advice.
- Most students choose the Common App, but don’t rule out the Coalition App.
- Ultimately focus on submitting your best applications, not superficial factors.
Pros of using the Common Application
Here are some of the main pros of using the Common Application for college admissions:
- Accepted by over 900 colleges – Great for applying to many different schools, especially top-ranked institutions.
- Simple and familiar interface – Easy for students and counselors to navigate since it’s so commonly used.
- Reusable components – Some parts like activities section can be copied to multiple school applications.
- Wide availability of fee waivers – Makes applying more affordable for lower-income students.
- Large existing user base – Lots of available guidance since the Common App is so popular.
- Students control when materials are sent – Flexibility to submit different components at different times.
For students aiming to apply to a diverse mix of schools, especially competitive ones, the Common App is typically the safest choice thanks to its wide usage.
Cons of using the Common Application
Some potential downsides of the Common Application include:
- Repetition of information – Students still have to re-enter some info for school-specific supplement sections.
- Limited formatting options – Text-heavy design without much multimedia integration.
- Applying to just a few schools – Its features are best suited for high-volume applications.
- No collaboration capabilities – Unlike the Coalition App, doesn’t facilitate connecting with others.
- Less innovation – The core application hasn’t changed dramatically over the years.
While the Common App is very well-established, some students may find it repetitive to fill out for each school or want more ways to showcase themselves.
Pros of using the Coalition Application
Some key upsides to using the Coalition Application include:
- Innovative online locker – Stores materials like essays to reuse for multiple applications.
- Multimedia uploads – Option to submit videos, portfolios, graded papers beyond just text.
- No application fees – Free to apply to all member institutions, unlike the Common App.
- Collaboration portal – Enables connecting with peers and mentors during the process.
- Often used by public schools – Good option if applying to public institutions in your state.
- Supplemental essays often optional – Coalition schools tend to have fewer required supplementals.
Students interested in public colleges/universities or wanting multimedia capabilities may benefit from the Coalition Application.
Cons of using the Coalition Application
Some potential drawbacks of the Coalition Application:
- Newer platform – Does not have as long of a track record as the Common App.
- Fewer member institutions – Accepted at 140+ schools, far less than 900+ Common App schools.
- Most elite schools don’t accept it – Not ideal if applying to many Ivy League/top-ranked institutions.
- Potential technical issues – Some students report glitches since the platform is newer.
- Collaboration is optional – Students not interested in the networking features may not use them.
The Coalition App has innovative features but may have limitations if applying to many selective or out-of-state colleges.
Key differences between the Common App and Coalition App
| Comparison | Common Application | Coalition Application |
|---|---|---|
| Year established | 1975 | 2016 |
| Number of member institutions | 900+ | 140+ |
| Notable member schools | Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, UChicago, etc. | University of Florida, University of Maryland, University of Washington, etc. |
| Usage by applicants per year | Over 1 million | Around 250,000 |
| Membership fees for colleges | Yes | No |
| Application fees for students | Yes, but waivers available | No fees |
| Core application questions | Academics, activities, essays, recommendations, etc. | Academics, activities, essays, recommendations, etc. |
| Supplemental essays | Required by most member colleges | Optional at many member colleges |
| Additional capabilities | None | Online locker, collaboration portal, multimedia submissions |
While the core application components are similar, the Coalition App offers some bonus tools and features not available through the Common App.
Can you apply using both the Common App and Coalition App?
Is it possible to cover your bases and submit applications through both the Common App and Coalition App? The answer is yes and no.
For schools that accept both applications, you can only apply through one or the other, not both. Colleges want to avoid duplicate applications from a single student. Any school you apply to will only accept an application from either the Common App or Coalition App, but not both.
However, you can use the Common App for some schools and the Coalition App for others. For example, you might submit to Harvard through the Common App and use the Coalition App for the University of Washington. Mixing and matching is completely fine.
The only limitation is the number of separate applications you want to manage. Applying through both platforms for different schools means keeping track of two accounts, essays, recommendations, and more. Streamlining onto one platform is easier, but not always possible if schools have exclusive partnerships.
In summary, you can utilize both applications but not for the same schools. Picking one platform per college is the way to go.
Should I apply through Common App or Coalition App ED/EA?
What if you want to apply early decision or early action to a college? Should you use the Common App or Coalition App?
Again, it depends entirely on the school. If a college accepts both platforms, either the Common App or Coalition App ED/EA application will work and be treated the same.
Check each college’s admissions website to confirm which application(s) they accept for early programs. The deadlines are often different for Coalition and Common Apps even at schools accepting both.
Some tips for ED/EA applications:
- Apply early action through Coalition App if possible since supplements are often optional.
- For binding early decision, maximize your chances with whichever platform is accepted.
- Manage deadlines carefully, as EA/ED timing differs on the two platforms.
- Start essays and applications earlier because you can’t reuse content between ED/EA and regular apps.
The platform itself doesn’t matter for early applications. Focus on submitting your best overall application on time through the proper channels.
How to choose between Common App and Coalition App
Here are some steps to help decide whether to use the Common Application or Coalition Application when applying to college:
- Research which schools you are interested in. Make a list of colleges you plan to apply to, including reach, target, and safety options.
- Identify which application(s) each school accepts. Check admissions websites for application requirements. Make notes on schools that are exclusive to one app or the other.
- Create an account on each application. Poke around the Common App and Coalition App platforms. Get familiar with the interfaces and different features.
- Compare the pros and cons of each application relative to the schools on your list. Weigh factors like supplement requirements, multimedia options, and more.
- Consider your personal preferences. Which application seems easier to manage based on your needs? Where do you want your materials stored?
- Talk to your school counselor. Ask for advice based on your specific college list and circumstances.
- Make a final decision on which platform(s) make the most sense for your applications. You can use both for different schools.
Stay organized, understand the options at each school, and choose the application(s) that will let you put your best foot forward. With smart planning, colleges won’t prefer one platform over the other.
Conclusion
While the Common App and Coalition App take different approaches, most colleges that accept both platforms do not actually prefer one application over the other during the admissions process.
The more pertinent factors are the individual parts of your application itself – your academics, test scores, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular profile. Colleges aim to evaluate candidates holistically, not based on the mere vehicle used to apply.
Focus your efforts on submitting robust, compelling, and thoughtful applications through whichever platform(s) make sense for your school selection. Understand the options, but don’t overanalyze small differences between the two applications. At the end of the day, colleges care much more about your qualifications and fit for their institution than superficial factors like application type.