How do I choose the right college application platform?

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I've heard about different college application platforms like the Common App, Coalition App, and others. How do I decide which one to use, and are there any advantages or disadvantages to each? Thanks for your help!

Hi there! It's great that you're thinking about college applications already. From my experience with my own child, I can share some insights into the different platforms. The Common App is the most widely used platform, with over 900 colleges and universities accepting it. It's convenient as you only have to fill out one application for multiple schools, saving you time and effort. The Coalition App is newer and has fewer schools (around 150), but it was designed to be more inclusive, particularly for students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. It also offers a 'locker' feature where you can store your achievements and other materials throughout high school. There are other platforms too, like the Universal College Application and individual school-specific applications, but they are less common. To decide which platform to use, first look at the schools you're interested in and see which platforms they accept. If your school list includes mostly Common App schools, then it makes sense to use the Common App. However, if you find that your schools accept multiple platforms, explore each one and choose the one that feels most comfortable and intuitive for you. Additionally, don't forget to check if any of the schools you're applying to have additional requirements or supplements. Best of luck with your applications!