Common App vs. Universal College Application: which is better?

Hey peeps, getting ready to start my applications and I'm hearing a lot about Common App and Universal College Application. Opinions on which one is better or easier to use? Do colleges prefer one over the other?

Hey there! It's pretty common to wonder which application platform is the 'better' choice. The good news is that most colleges that use both don't have a preference for one over the other; what matters most is that you submit a complete and well-prepared application.

The Common Application (Common App) is the more widely used platform, with over 900 member colleges. It’s popular because you can apply to many schools with just one application, which saves a lot of time since you don't have to enter the same information over and over again for different schools.

The Universal College Application (UCA), on the other hand, is used by much fewer colleges and might be less familiar to students. Its interface is straightforward, but because fewer colleges use it, you might end up having to use multiple platforms anyway.

The best way to decide is to first make a list of all the colleges you're interested in and see which platforms they accept. If all of your schools are on the Common App, it might be the most convenient for you. Ultimately, it's not about which one is 'better' in general, but which is better for you, based on where you're applying. Hope this helps and best of luck with your applications!