One of the first steps in the college application process is understanding which application portals the colleges you’re interested in applying to utilize, and then familiarizing yourself with the given platform’s process and requirements. I have outlined the primary portals below.
It’s also important to note that YourEDU has partnered with the Common App on the parent side of the application process (we’ll be expanding to student materials next year), but our platform tools submit families utilizing any application platform.
The Common Application (CommonApp)
On August 1st of every year, the Common Application opens up for both first year and transfer students applying for admission the following school year, and over 900 colleges and universities use the Common Application for their admissions process. The benefit of using the Common App is that much of the applicant's general materials (both student materials and the administrative materials parents submit) need only be uploaded once and can be used for all of their applications. The Common App streamlines the application process for applicants and admissions officers, and it helps applicants track all of the relevant deadlines and the numerous documents that must be completed, signed, and uploaded. The Common App is used by schools that charge an application fee, as well as schools that do not. And many schools that do charge an application fee often waive that fee for low-income students who qualify for a waiver.
We’ve also partnered with the Common App, aligning on application requirements and participating in a direct platform integration.
The Coalition Application
Recently, a group of colleges and universities focused on creating academic opportunities for lower-income and underrepresented students created the Coalition Application. Like the Common App, the Coalition App provides students sophisticated tools to match student interests with colleges they might consider applying to. Additionally, it helps match you with schools based on your financial aid needs and the schools history of providing financial aid support for lower-income and underrepresented students. Again like the Common App, the Coalition App offers students the ability to upload their application materials in one place and apply to multiple schools using the same tool. While the Coalition App is used by fewer schools than the Common App, the Coalition App does offer the ability for students to upload audio, video, image, presentation and other portfolio materials that may enable homeschool and other creative students to provide a more complete view of their passions and creative academic endeavors.
QuestBridge Application Portal
QuestBridge is a national platform that connects exceptionally talented, high-achieving, low-income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation’s best colleges and universities. Like the Common Application and Coalition Application, QuestBridge simplifies the college application process for its participants by allowing them to apply to multiple partner schools through a single application. The QuestBridge National College Match application includes detailed sections on academic accomplishments, personal essays, and financial information, which are shared with all schools to which the student decides to apply.
Unique to QuestBridge is the College Match process, which aims to pair students with full scholarships at prestigious institutions, assuming they meet the schools’ rigorous admission criteria. This feature is particularly beneficial for students who may be financially disadvantaged, as it removes the financial barriers that prevent many from considering elite colleges. Additionally, QuestBridge provides a comprehensive support system, including application guidance and access to a network of peers and alumni, enhancing the application experience and supporting students throughout their educational journey. This program is distinct in its focus on serving those who have demonstrated significant academic excellence in the face of economic challenges, helping to level the playing field in college admissions.
School Specific Application Portals
While the vast majority of colleges and universities in the US allow students to apply via the above platforms, it’s important to note that some schools do not use these platforms, and instead require applicants to upload academic information and submit school-specific essays through each school’s admissions website (Georgetown and MIT are two examples of these schools). Students should research the application submission process for each of their prospective schools. These ‘App’ holdouts will require significantly more effort on the student’s part to ensure that academic information, letters of recommendation, and the like are all submitted properly.
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This blog post is a part of YourEDU’s Homeschool to College Series, overviewing the different aspects of applying to college as a homeschooler. It’s important to note that YourEDU is not a college consulting company, rather, it’s a college application platform for homeschool students and parents. YourEDU has partnered with the Common, and is working with hundreds of individual colleges and universities, to help homeschoolers understand requirements, create admin materials, and apply to college. This series of blog posts comes out of conversations with college admissions professionals, reviewing hundreds of successful homeschool applications, and Henry’s (YourEDU co-founder) own experience applying to college as a homeschooler.