Applying to multiple colleges at once can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, many schools use the Common App or Coalition App. These are online college application platforms that streamline the college application process by partnering with colleges and universities so students only have to input key information once.
Both the Common App and Coalition App will help you stay organized and keep track of important deadlines. Familiarize yourself with the differences between the Common App and the Coalition App; then make a login for the platform most suited to your needs.
In the meantime, common questions students asked themselves during the college application process include: How many reach schools should I apply to? How many colleges can I apply to on Common App? And how many colleges should I visit?
If you have similar questions, read on for further insights into the college application process. Learn valuable tips for how to apply to multiple colleges at once, while staying organized and meeting deadlines.
Senior year is a particularly busy year. Thankfully, there are several important college application steps to take during your junior year. Ideally, you should take your SAT or ACT twice during your junior year, once during the fall and once during the spring. You should also start thinking about which schools you want to apply to.
You don’t necessarily need to have a finalized college list during your junior year, but you should definitely start researching colleges, meet with your guidance counselor, and consider what options may be available to you after graduation. You’ll also want to start visiting colleges during your junior year, as well as during the summer before your senior year.
Researching colleges is one of the most important steps of the college application process, but how do you choose which colleges to apply to? And how many colleges should you apply to? Is applying to 4 colleges enough?
While there is no set number of colleges you should apply to, typically 5-8 colleges is a good number. How many colleges can you apply to on Common App? The Common App allows you to submit up to 20 applications, but applying to more than 12 colleges starts to become too many.
In this section, we’ll review some key questions to ask yourself during your initial college research. You’ll also want to read up about the differences between colleges and universities, as well as explore various types of colleges and universities, such as liberal arts colleges in the East and top public universities in the West.
There are thousands of colleges and universities to consider in the US. So how do you decide where to apply? One of the first steps will be to figure out what type of college you are most interested in attending. Some options include 2-year colleges, 4-year colleges, trade schools, art and music schools, liberal arts colleges, and public universities.
You’ll also want to start thinking about college majors you may be interested in pursuing. Lots of students start college undecided, but you should try to figure out options that interest you before you start college. That way, you’ll be more likely to choose a college that supports your academic interests and goals.
Of course, there are other factors you’ll want to consider when selecting colleges. Here are some common questions you’ll want to reflect on when selecting colleges for your college list:
Some students, especially those with demonstrated financial need, may wonder how many colleges can you apply to for free? There isn’t necessarily a limit to how many colleges you can apply to for free; rather, some colleges may offer application fee waivers, while others may not. After all, every college is different. Depending on your financial needs, your ability to receive fee waivers may influence how many schools you choose to apply to. Keep this in mind as you form your college list.
It’s important to stay organized during the college application process. After all, there are a lot of important dates and facts to remember about each college. Use the template below to help you stay organized as you research colleges. You may also want to consider the Class of 2026 college acceptance rates as you start assembling your college list.
| Name of College | Location | Student Population | Acceptance Rate | Cost of Tuition | Application Deadline | Website | Additional Notes |
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One of the most important ways to remain organized and prepared during the college application season is to be aware of important college admissions dates, including SAT and ACT test dates. To start, let’s review a few important college application dates and deadlines:
Most regular decision college applications are due sometime between December and January and will notify you of their decision sometime in April, with the expectation that you will make a final decision by May 1st. But what about early action and early decision?
It’s important to make informed decisions about early action and early decision as soon as you are able, for the simple reason that their application deadlines are early. To start, you likely have a few questions, such as: Can you apply to multiple colleges early decision? And how many colleges can you apply to early action?
While there is certainly some nuance to these questions, Early Action and Early Decision are fairly straightforward. Applying early action or early decision signals a clear, demonstrated interest. It also speeds up the college application process.
Now, what is the difference between early action and early decision? Early decision is a binding agreement with a college. This means that if a student is accepted, they are contractually obligated to attend that school. Students who apply early decision are not permitted to send out other applications early. They also have to rescind regular decision applications if they are accepted. Early action, however, is nonbinding. This means that students may apply to multiple schools through early action. Again, early applications help signal demonstrated interest and speed up the college application process.
Now, onto dates: early applicants receive admissions decisions in December and January. Regular decision applicants, however, often have to wait until April for their college admissions decisions. So when are early action and early decision application deadlines? Typically, early deadlines fall between November 1st and November 15th.
Now that we’ve discussed important college application prep work, let’s take a look at some practical tips for staying organized during the actual college application process. To start, consider the following organizational tips and strategies:
How can you apply to multiple colleges while best keeping track of deadlines? The best way to stay organized throughout the college application process is to make lists and calendars for yourself.
Use the college application checklist below as a helpful starting point. There are likely items you’ll want to add to the list. Feel free to personalize it to best suit your needs. You’ll also want to list relevant dates and deadlines with each item on your list.
There are lots of steps involved in the college application process. The best way to stay organized and meet deadlines is to clearly understand what is expected of you. Then make manageable to-do lists for yourself to help you stay on track. It’s especially important to plan ahead by scheduling your SAT/ACT, college visits, and any college interview you may have.
Hopefully, after juggling important dates and deadlines, come spring, your next question will be: what to do when you get accepted into multiple colleges? Until then, regardless of where you are in the college application process, you may benefit from hiring a college counselor. Whether you need assistance writing a successful college essay or are wondering the best way to study for the SATs, here at Prepory, we have the resources to help you succeed. If you feel like you could benefit from professional assistance and insight into the college application process, reach out to learn more about our services.
Learn valuable tips for how to apply to multiple colleges while staying organized and meeting deadlines. There are thousands of colleges and universities to consider, but no set number of colleges you should apply to. Most of the time, 5 to 8 is a good number.
The Coalition App is an online college application platform similar to the Common App. Prospective college students only need to input key information once, streamlining the application process. This article discusses which schools use Coalition App, its deadline, how to format the activities section, and the differences between it and Common App.
One of the most common types of supplemental essays is the “Why This College?” prompt. Here’s what you need to know in order to write a successful “Why This College?” essay.
When you apply to schools during your senior year, you’ll likely write several supplemental essays for your applications in addition to your personal statement. Supplemental essays are an opportunity for you to further demonstrate who you are and your interest in a particular school. One of the most common types of supplemental essays is the “Why This College?” prompt. This prompt seeks to get at the core reason(s) why you want to attend the given school to which you are applying. College admissions officers want to know what you admire about the school and how you see yourself fitting into its culture and academic environment. To answer this prompt well, you must demonstrate how the school is a good fit for you (and how you are a good fit for the school) by drawing on specific details and examples. The key to answering this prompt and knowing what college admissions officers look for in an applicant is to do your research.
To start, let’s take a look at some iterations of the “why this college?” essay prompt. Some schools ask the simplest version of the prompt:
These four example prompts are pretty open! You are free to talk about academic, social, professional, cultural, and/or personal reasons why you wish to attend the school.
Other schools ask variations of the prompt that focus on a particular aspect of life at the college/university and why you want to experience it:
The best “why this college” essays are highly-detailed and well-researched. Initially, researching colleges may seem difficult. In this section, we will review how to start researching colleges, what to look for when researching colleges, and ultimately, how to decide between colleges.
The best way to know how to choose a college that’s right for you is to research each school on your college list thoroughly. When you’re first getting started, you’ll want to start narrowing down your options by asking yourself questions such as: Do you want to go to a 2-year or 4-year college? Do you prefer smaller or larger classes? What are you interested in studying? Do you prefer rural or urban settings? Then you’ll want to start conducting more thorough research.
Once you have begun applying to schools, you will likely have to write several supplemental “why this college” essays. Approach this essay prompt as an opportunity to deepen your research so that when the time comes for you to make your final decision, you will know how to choose a college or university that’s right for you.
The best way to know how to research colleges and universities is to start at the college’s website. Familiarize yourself with the admissions and prospective students’ webpages. Find the school’s list of academic majors and minors and see what appeals to you. Then visit the faculty page and read the bios listed under your prospective department. You may even choose to read some of the faculty’s published works. Flip through the course catalog and see what appeals to you; depending on the school, you may even be able to find the course’s syllabus. If you can view syllabuses, review the assigned texts.
You will also want to research other academic opportunities that may be available to you, such as internships or study abroad programs. If the school you’re interested in is located in an urban setting, find out if they have any partnerships with nearby companies or organizations. Find out what opportunities may be available to you.
There are lots of ways to learn more about a specific college, its campus culture, and its academic offerings. If you are serious about attending a particular college, ask the admissions office to connect you with a current student. Once you’ve connected with a student, ask them about their classes, the campus culture, clubs, sports teams, and more. This is a great way to confirm whether or not the school is a good fit for you. It can also help you brainstorm for the “why this college” supplemental essay.
Remember, whenever you contact someone from your prospective college, be sure to write clear, purposeful, grammatically-correct messages. Review the proper way to format a college admissions office email before drafting any of your messages. Always be respectful of the correspondent’s time and thank them for their help. After all, you want to make a good impression!
There is no one right way to answer the “Why This College?” prompt. You can approach the prompt in a mathematical, analytical manner, or in a more creative, artistic manner. What matters most is that you answer the question in a way that best illustrates who you are, what you have to offer to the school, and what you hope to gain as a student. After all, these factors are at the core of holistic college admissions standards.
Consider the following criteria below when writing your response and be sure to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes:
If the school offers a program/course/major that interests you, mention it! This will show that you’ve done extensive research and can relate your interests to what the school has to offer. Be sure to note what makes this school’s offering unique relative to other schools. If you could change the name of the college in your response to another college and your response still works, you are not being specific enough! Additionally, being able to speak about specific buildings/resources/opportunities around campus or perhaps a professor you’d like to meet will make your essay stand out. Utilize the school’s websites and academic department pages to investigate what courses and professors pique your interest. And, if you’re unable to make a campus visit, consider a virtual tour. Virtual tours can be accessed directly on Youvisit.com. This website has access to over 1,000 colleges and university campuses. If a college you’re looking for isn’t on the website, you can always search on the school’s website for virtual tours.
When listing specifics about a school, make sure it is clear why you value that the school has a particular opportunity, value, or characteristic. It is not enough to state unique qualities about a school. You must qualify why such things are important based on your particular interests, past experiences, and future ambitions.
Colleges are looking for students who can make an impact on their campus and its surrounding community. Research their clubs, organizations, and how you can make a difference by being a part of communities and groups on and off-campus. Mention extracurricular activities you’ve previously been involved with and hope to continue while in college.
Talk about how you are a good fit for the school. It is not only important that you mention what you like about the school, but what the school will appreciate about you as a student there. Review the components of a strong personal statement to determine how to best communicate who you are and what you are passionate about.
If any of the school’s values align with your own, the school will want to know! Schools may be invested in social justice and activism. For example, Brown University has a rich history of students participating in on-campus protests to push for university-level changes, as well as students participating in off-campus protests to push for change at the state and national levels. Oberlin College is also known for its liberal politics and social activism, as well as its passion for gender equality and inclusivity. Other schools are committed to serving their communities. Georgetown University, for example, is grounded in the Jesuit ideal of service to others and has more than 100 university-sponsored service opportunities working within the DC area and beyond.
The school doesn’t want to hear that they are highly competitive or well-liked. They know this. The school also doesn’t want to hear random facts about its history, geographic placement, or demographics. If you do mention any of these things, there should be a personal and important reason why. For example, you might mention location if you’ve grown up in the area and want to foster partnerships between the university and local organizations you currently work with. Your supplemental essay would include plenty of research but not include generic facts. Every detail you choose to include should be purposeful.
When making factual statements about a school, do not confuse their course titles, faculty, mascot, or facilities on campus with that of another school. Fact-check everything. College admissions officers will not view these types of mistakes kindly.
You will not convince an admissions officer that you are a good fit for their school by telling them that you just “feel” like you are or that you could tell the first moment you stepped on campus. Give them concrete reasons why their school is a good fit. Don’t focus on your general impressions of the campus and student body after attending a college tour.
Use your own words to make your own points. Do not copy language from the website, blog posts, brochures, or anywhere else. Supplemental essays are meant to further personalize the admissions process. College admissions officers want to see who you are beyond your GPA and standardized test scores. They are looking for unique essays and unique voices.
When explaining the reasons why a school is a good fit for you, you may assume that the admissions officer is familiar with the general history, offerings, and traditions of the school. You do not, for example, need to explain to UChicago what Scav Hunt is. You could, however, explain why you appreciate the ethos of the tradition or why you want it to be part of your college experience. Use your words wisely. There is no need to be overly verbose.
Now that you know more about what content to include and avoid in your response to the prompt, you should determine how you’d like to structure your response. Much of your structure will be determined by word count restrictions. As you may have noticed, word count restrictions ranged from 100 to 500 words for the prompts we looked at in the beginning. The amount of space you have will determine how many specific reasons you can list for wanting to attend the school. In light of this, let’s consider a few different approaches for structuring and writing your essay.
One approach to writing your response is to gather a list of 8-15 specific, unique characteristics, offerings, and opportunities offered by the school and then group them into categories. For example, you might have 3 categories–academic, professional, and volunteer–that you list 3-5 specifics under.
This approach allows you to jump around in your response a lot to provide a brief survey of what draws you to the school. This could be a good option for you if you have lots of reasons why the school excites you but no clear focus.
Another approach is to focus on 3-5 specifics unique to the school and connect each of these back to you. You might connect a specific back to you by asking: How do these specifics fit into what you’ve already done and your established interests? How do these specifics fit into what you hope to accomplish in college and/or what you want to do after college?
By focusing on a handful of reasons or less, this approach allows you to share more about yourself. It gives you the space to emphasize why you are a good fit for the school.
This approach builds your response around one core value or reason why you would like to attend the school and then tells a story about it. This approach is particularly valuable when you want to provide some depth to your response and feel restricted by the maximum word count limit. If you choose to focus on the sole reason why a school is a good fit for you, be sure to focus on something truly unique to the school. You do not want to write an essay that could theoretically be submitted to another school.
The college application process and its many essays may feel at times like a series of hoops you have to jump through to secure what you’ll be doing next year. Yet, you should think of the essays as offering an opportunity for you to seriously think about what you want to do with the next few years of your life and where you want to do it. Deciding where to attend college is one of the biggest decisions of your life and the “Why This College?” prompt is one of the best tools for making an informed decision about which college you should go attend. So, enjoy the research process, discover what excites you about the prospect of attending a given school, and share that excitement and your vision for the next few years of your life in your essay.
From designing an SAT study plan to making an informed decision about Early Action and Early Decision, applying to college can feel overwhelming at times. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance, regardless of where you are in the college application process. reach out to learn more about our services. Here at Prepory, we have the resources to help you reach your full potential, by helping you craft a compelling and competitive college application.
