Coalition App vs Common App: Which Should You Use?

The Common App dominates college admissions with 1,000+ member schools. The Coalition for College, launched in 2015 by a group of selective universities, originally offered its own application platform. In 2023, the Coalition partnered with Scoir to deliver its application, consolidating the technology while maintaining the Coalition's mission of broadening college access. The Coalition Application is now powered through Scoir's platform. Here's how it compares to the Common App.

The Numbers[1]Common Application, 2024–2025

Which Schools Accept Which?

This is the decisive factor for most students.

Common App only (not on Coalition): Most schools. Examples: Boston University, NYU, Tulane, USC, Northeastern, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, and hundreds of others.

Coalition only (not on Common App): University of Washington is the most notable. UW Seattle uses its own application through the Coalition platform.

Both platforms: Many selective schools accept either. Examples include all Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, UVA, UNC Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech, and University of Florida.

Neither platform: UC system (own application), Georgetown (own application), MIT (uses Common App but previously was independent), some state university systems with their own portals (ApplyTexas, Cal State Apply, SUNY).[1]Common Application, 2024–2025

The Practical Reality

If you're applying to 8–15 schools, chances are most of them are on the Common App. Many students find they need the Common App regardless, making the Coalition App an optional second platform rather than a replacement.

The Locker Feature

The Coalition App's most distinctive feature is the Locker, a digital portfolio you can build starting in 9th grade. You can upload:

• Documents and writing samples
• Photos and images
• Videos
• Links to websites or projects

The idea is that you curate evidence of your growth over four years of high school, then draw from it when writing your application. Recommenders can also access your Locker materials.

In practice: The Locker is an interesting concept that's underutilized. Most students don't start building it in 9th grade. If you're a junior or senior discovering the Coalition App for the first time, the Locker advantage is largely moot. But if you're a younger student reading this, starting a Locker early could give you useful raw material later.

Essay Prompts Compared

Common App Prompts (2024–2025)

1. Background, identity, interest, or talent
2. Lesson from failure or setback
3. Questioning a belief
4. Problem solving
5. Personal growth event
6. Topic that captivates you
7. Topic of your choice

Coalition App Prompts (2024–2025)

1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it.
2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus.
3. Has there been a time when you've had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond?
4. What is the hardest part of being a student now? What's the best part? What advice would you give to a younger sibling or friend?
5. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.[1]Common Application, 2024–2025

Key differences:

• Coalition prompts feel slightly more personal and reflective
• Coalition has fewer prompts (5–6 vs. 7)
• Both include an open "topic of your choice" option
• Word limits are similar (500–650 for Coalition, up to 650 for Common App)

Can you reuse your essay across platforms? Often, yes. The themes overlap significantly. A well-written personal essay about overcoming a challenge works for both Common App Prompt 2 and Coalition Prompt 1. Adapt the framing slightly, but the core narrative can serve both.

Feature Comparison

Application Sections

Activity descriptions: Coalition gives you 255 characters per activity vs. Common App's 150. That extra space matters. It's the difference between a headline and a short description.

User Experience

The Common App has had decades to refine its interface. It's well-documented, widely supported by school counselors, and has extensive help resources. The Coalition App's interface is functional but less polished. Most counselors are more familiar with the Common App.

When the Coalition App Makes Sense

Scenario 1: University of Washington

If UW Seattle is on your list, you need the Coalition App. It's the only way to apply to UW as a freshman.

Scenario 2: You Want More Activity Description Space

255 characters vs. 150 characters per activity is a real advantage if your extracurriculars need more explanation. For students with complex activities (research, entrepreneurship, family obligations that need context), Coalition's longer descriptions help.

Scenario 3: You Started the Locker Early

If you've been building a Coalition Locker since 9th or 10th grade, you have portfolio materials ready to supplement your application at schools that review them.

Scenario 4: You Prefer the Essay Prompts

Some students find Coalition prompts more natural or open-ended. If a Coalition prompt inspires a better essay, use it for schools that accept both platforms.

Scenario 5: Fee Waiver Access

Both platforms offer fee waivers, but Coalition was designed with affordability as a core principle. All Coalition member schools commit to meeting full demonstrated financial need for admitted students. If financial access is a priority, the Coalition's mission aligns with that.

When to Stick with the Common App

• Most of your schools are Common App only. If 12 of your 15 schools are on Common App and only 3 accept Coalition, use Common App for everything.
• Your counselor is familiar with Common App. Support and troubleshooting matter.
• You're starting senior year. The Locker advantage requires advance preparation. If you're building your app in fall of senior year, Common App's larger school selection wins.
• You want maximum school options. 1,000+ schools vs. 150+.

Can You Use Both?

Yes. There's no rule against submitting some applications through Common App and others through Coalition. However:

• You'll maintain two separate profiles and activity lists
• Supplemental essays are school-specific regardless of platform
• It adds logistical complexity

Most students pick one primary platform and only use the other when necessary (e.g., UW Seattle requires Coalition).

The Bottom Line

For the majority of college applicants, the Common App is the practical choice due to its vastly larger school network and wider counselor familiarity. The Coalition App is a solid alternative for specific use cases, particularly if UW is on your list, if you value the longer activity descriptions, or if you started building your Locker early.

The platform you apply through doesn't affect your admission chances. No school prefers one application over the other. Choose based on logistics, school coverage, and which interface lets you present yourself most effectively.

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