ApplyTexas or Common App: Which Should I Use?

We are within application season, which means it is time to make some basic decisions about how to begin the daunting process. It is well known that applying to college involves writing numerous essays, organizing activity lists, submitting test scores, requesting letters of recommendation, etc. Many do not realize, however, that there are important decisions to be made regarding what platform these steps will be completed through. This brings us to the topic of this blog post: should you apply to college using the Common Application (Common App) or Apply Texas?

The Common App is a nationwide platform that allows you to effectively streamline your application process. Essentially, you fill out the Common App with all your basic information, allowing it to be saved in one place. It provides space for activities, awards, essays, supplemental essays, and more. You can complete all necessary parts of an application for any particular school through the Common App platform, then submit this information to your chosen list of schools, so long as they subscribe to Common App’s services. Using the Common App has its advantages and disadvantages. The foremost benefit of using the platform is convenience. Most schools across the United States accept Common App submissions, so by using the platform, you cut down on time spent submitting the same materials to multiple schools. Another benefit is that the Common App has a very intuitive and easy to use platform as compared to its competitors. The final (and usually very appealing) advantage of using the Common App is that it offers application fee waivers to students in need. While there are many favorable traits embedded within the Common App, it certainly has a few disadvantages. Primarily, if you have a large number of schools that do not accept Common App submissions, the platform loses its purpose.

Now that we have discussed the individual advantages and disadvantages of both the Common App and Apply Texas, it is time to decide which platform is right for you. To make this decision, the first step is compiling a list of schools you plan to attend. If most of your schools are outside of Texas, it makes the most sense to use the Common App. This is because most schools in Texas accept the Common App in addition to Apply Texas, and it will save you time to use just one of the two platforms. The Common App is also likely your best option if you require fee waivers. If most of your schools of choice are in Texas (especially if they prefer Apply Texas applications), Apply Texas might be your best bet.If you are in a more complicated situation where some of your Texas schools prefer Apply Texas, but you're also planning to apply to many schools in other states, your choice of platform will likely come down to how badly you want to get into the schools that prefer an Apply Texas application. If these are important schools for you to receive admission to, fill out both the Common App and Apply Texas platforms.

Hopefully, this guide has given you a better idea of what platform you should use to apply to college. With the decision you’ve made here today, go forth, make an account on your college application platform of choice, work hard on your application materials, and good luck!