Coalition Application: A College Applicant’s Guide to Admission

List of Top Schools that Use the Coalition App

Below is a list of some of the top colleges and universities which accept the Coalition App, from the best engineering schools in the US, to the best undergrad business schools, to the best music programs in the US, find the school and program that’s right for you!

If you’re looking for which schools use the Common App, find them here.

• Boston University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Columbia University
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Emory University
• Harvard College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Northwestern University
• Pace University
• Penn State University
• Princeton University
• Quinnipiac University
• Rice University
• Rutgers University
• Stanford University
• University of Arizona
• University of Chicago
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Florida
• University of Idaho
• University of Illinois – Springfield
• University of Iowa
• University of Kentucky
• University of Maryland
• University of Massachusetts
• University of Michigan
• University of New England
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of San Francisco
• University of South Carolina
• University of Southern California
• University of Vermont
• University of Washington
• Vanderbilt University
• Wake Forest University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Yale University

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Here is the complete list of colleges which use the Coalition App!

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Coalition Application Guide

The Coalition App, like the Common App, is an application service that streamlines your college application process.

The Coalition App is a newer service than the Common App and has fewer school members who accept it. Although, the Coalition app is much more selective, only accepting member schools who are committed to diversity and inclusion. Specifically, the Coalition app seeks to help students apply to college who are from minority or underrepresented backgrounds in higher education. The Coalition’s mission is to help students succeed in getting into college and succeeding once they’ve enrolled, by providing tools and resources they may not have access to.

Coalition App vs. Common App

Should you use the Coalition or Common App? Can you create an application through both platforms?

Which platform you use may come down to which schools are on your university list and your own personal preference. Many colleges and universities accept both applications, while some accept neither. Check which ones your chosen colleges prefer ahead of time. It is possible to create both a Common App and Coalition app, depending on which colleges you’re applying to.

There are pros and cons to each application platform, however both are free to use. The Coalition app may be a better choice for students who are applying on a budget, since the Coalition app offers application fee waivers in certain circumstances, reducing the cost of applying to multiple colleges. While the Common app has more member universities, the Coalition has added schools in recent years. Plus, the Coalition app’s focus on inclusivity and diversity means any schools that accept the Coalition app may be more favorable to students from minority and underrepresented groups in higher education.

Coalition App Sections

Below, we’ve included a step-by-step guide of how to use the Coalition app and what to expect from the online platform. Plus, we’ll cover the different sections of the Coalition app and what is required.

1. Explore your college choices

After creating an account, the Coalition app platform first asks you to choose which colleges you want to apply to. If you already know which colleges you have in mind, great!

But the platform offers some good tools to explore your choices. You can narrow your search based on your chosen major or “academic focus”, the school’s location, size and setting (i.e. city or rural setting). You can also see which schools offer bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, and which institutions accept transfer students.

If you’re interested in college acceptance rates, each school’s profile includes its admission rate, average SAT and ACT scores. This is extremely informative in telling you what a good SAT score is for a specific school, and generally how competitive admissions are there. and You can also filter the list of colleges by whether the school has a test-optional policy or apply to colleges that do not require the SAT or ACT. So, if you’re wondering if you should take the SAT or ACT, check to see whether your chosen schools waive the requirement or not.

Lastly, you can filter the list of potential colleges based on their unique interests and profiles. For example, you can search for colleges with a religious or military affiliation. Or, you can see what athletics programs or extracurricular student clubs are available at each school to see which ones best match your interests.

Reviewing all of this information can not only help you decide which colleges are the best fit for you—beyond acceptance rates and test scores—but also which colleges you might have the best chance of getting into.

2. Choose your application timeline

Once you’ve added a college to your list, the Coalition app will prompt you to select what type of application timeline you want. You’ll typically have 3 common options, although some colleges may use rolling admissions or different application deadlines that are major-dependent.

Most colleges will ask you to apply through one of 3 options:

1. Early Decision – An Early Decision application is a binding agreement between you and the college. If you are accepted, you are obligated to accept the offer and attend this school. So, if you apply to any other colleges you’ll need to withdraw your application. Early Decision should be reserved for your top-choice college.
2. Early Action – Like Early Decision, you’ll receive notice of whether you are accepted or not earlier in the application season, but Early Action is not a binding agreement. If you receive an acceptance through Early Action you have time to consider whether you will accept or wait for all your Regular Decision admissions to come in.
3. Regular Decision – Regular Decision admissions are not finished until the spring and summer of the application year. These are non-binding agreements, but you’ll need to wait a few months longer to see if you receive any acceptances.

As you can see, the option you choose may affect your entire college application timeline and choice of school. Remember that until you finalize and submit your Coalition app, your choice will not be “locked in”, so if you need to make changes, you can do so. Once you’ve started your application, you might lose progress if you need to go back and change anything, so use the app’s features to save any essays or entries you’ve already filled in.

Check out these college essay samples for inspiration when writing your own!

3. Fill out your personal and family information

Your application will begin, of course, with your personal and contact information. You’ll also be invited to share your demographic and citizenship information. These sections will also include asking about your eligibility for college application fee waivers, financial aid and special circumstances.

For example, if you are the first in your family to apply for college, if your family was impacted by disaster or emergency situations and how this has affected you. These circumstances may affect your eligibility for financial aid, which can be a huge help in planning for college. Check to see if any of the listed situations apply to you, since you may have some fees waived or be eligible to receive extra help.

Another advantage is that you can explain any hardships or adversity you faced in your application to your advantage. For instance, if your GPA dropped because of circumstances beyond your control, you can explain these circumstances in your application materials and still get into college with a low GPA or a GPA below the minimum requirement. Or, you can use your adversity as the topic of a college diversity essay, where your experiences can help you stand out from the crowd.

4. Fill out your education information

The education information section of your Coalition app covers the following sections:

5. Write your college essays

In the essay section, you’ll include your college essay, school counselor information and any additional information you want to share with the admissions committee. For this section, it’s critical to know how to write a college essay and review college essay tips to write a strong entry. This is your opportunity to share your story with colleges and personalize your application.

The Coalition app lets you choose from the following college essay topics:

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
• Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
• Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
• What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?
• Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

6. Additional Information

The Coalition app additional information is covered under the “Essays” section, but we wanted to elaborate a bit more on it here. The intent of this section is sort of vague, but it is similar to the Common App additional information section.

On the Coalition app, you’re asked to share anything else you want to share with the admissions committees, that you didn’t cover elsewhere. You might choose to add an award you weren’t able to include in honors and distinctions, or maybe a link to your artistic portfolio.

Use this section as an opportunity to strengthen your application and stand out from your competition. Include something meaningful, that says something about you and who you are.

Keep in mind, this section is NOT for including other items a college might ask for, such as a college recommendation letters, a high school resume or supplemental college essays. Also do not include other application items you might choose to submit separately, such as a college letter of intent. These items may all be required or submitted to a college separately or outside the Coalition app. Check with individual schools for their specific requirements and submission of these documents.

Here are some of the advantages of seeking college interview prep help during applications:

7. Review and submit!

The final step is to review all the information you’ve included in your application and submit it!

You’ll be asked to confirm your application type and deadline (i.e. if you are applying Early Decision/Action or Regular Decision) and that all the information in your application is correct. This is your opportunity to make any additions or changes, so review everything carefully!

Once you’ve hit submit, you’ll be invited to complete “Part 2” of your Coalition app. This covers any school-specific questions, supplemental essay prompts or additional information a college requires.

You can begin working on Part 1 of your Coalition app, or the sections we’ve outlined above, as early as 9^th grade. Part 2 of your application can only be completed when Part 1 is finished and you are ready to apply to colleges.

Conclusion: Final Tips for Your Coalition App

The Coalition app is a useful resource for college applicants who aren’t sure how to begin navigating the admissions process. While the app itself is fairly straightforward, it can be a challenge to track down some of the required information you’ll need, and you’ll most likely have plenty of questions.

Applying to college is a lengthy process, so it’s a good idea to get some help from your guidance counselor or college advisor. It’s also prudent to make use of free advice and resources like this blog! If you’re looking for expert help getting into college, try talking to a college admissions consultant or an Ivy League application consultant, if your goal is to get into an elite institution. Professional help can guide you through the entire process of applying to college and give you invaluable advice on how to increase your chances of acceptance.

Good luck!

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To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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