Other Types of College Applications: FAQ

What are the Common, Coalition, Common Black College, and Universal College Applications?

These are platforms that allow you to apply to multiple schools with a single, standardized application. Instead of filling out multiple applications, you fill out one application that you can submit to each college. Compare your college list to the schools that accept each application to decide which one(s) might be right for you. 

• The Common App is accepted by over 900 institutions.
• The Coalition application is accepted by more than 150 institutions.
• The Common Black College Application is accepted by almost 70 HBCUs.
• The Universal application is currently accepted by 18 institutions.

Remember that you'll still need to pay each school's application fees, and some schools may require additional materials. Speak with your school counselor if you need college application fee waivers to cover this expense.

What are reach, match, and safety schools?

BigFuture has developed a system to help you rank schools and weigh your options, based on your SAT scores or GPA. On BigFuture, if your SAT Score (or GPA, which we convert to an SAT Score) falls within the 25–75 percentiles for that specific school, we consider it a match. This range marks the middle 50% of admitted students. If your score is under the 25th percentile, we consider it a reach. If it’s above the 75th percentile, we consider it a safety. We’ll help you find reach, match, and safety colleges so you can build a balanced college list.

What are early action and early decision plans?

Students who are ready to apply to their preferred schools in November or December can early action or early decision. The important difference between them is that early decision is binding to one school, while early action allows the student to apply to multiple schools.

Should I apply for early decision?

There are pros and cons to applying by November or December to qualify for an Early Decision. The best option is to research early decision and early action plans to learn if what’s the best choice for you. Early decision is binding. You’ll have to withdraw your other college applications if you’re accepted. If you’re not sure, it’s best to select early action or regular admission, both of which are nonbinding. Early decision plans are best for students who are accepted by their first-choice school and receive the required financial aid. You also won't know your financial aid package until you're accepted. If you're still considering your options, you may not want to lock into a school just yet.