Coalition App: Everything You Need to Know - Crimson Education US (2024)

The Common App is the most widely used application for colleges in the US, but not the only one. The main alternative is the Coalition App, an application platform that is now accepted by more than 150 schools

Are you looking to know more about the Coalition App? Well, you're in luck because today, we're diving deep into this application platform; what it is, how it works, and what schools use it.

What is the Coalition App?

Similar to the Common App, the Coalition App is an online platform designed to streamline the college application process by allowing you to submit applications to a diverse range of schools, all in one place.

This makes it much simpler to apply to your target colleges without having to submit multiple applications. But with that said, some schools might ask for specific additional materials or supplemental documents outside of the main Coalition App.

The Coalition App is much newer than the Common App, and it’s used by fewer schools. This is because there’s a specific type of school that uses the Coalition App - schools with financial and academic programming for lower-income, under-resourced, and first-generation students.

In fact, one of the defining characteristics of the Coalition App is its focus on accessibility and inclusivity, and how it aims to break down barriers to higher education. The online platform it uses provides an online locker that makes it easier for you to track your achievements and documents throughout your high school journey.

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How Does the Coalition App Work?

The Coalition App is designed to simplify the college application process, and so the steps to applying using it are fairly simple as well:

Create Your Account on their website: This will serve as your central hub for managing your college applications.
Identify Your Colleges: Choose the colleges you're applying to. (see list of colleges that accept the Coalition App below)
Gather Your Materials: Gather all the necessary materials, such as transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Remember that the Coalition App provides a digital Locker where you can store and organize these documents throughout your high school journey.
Complete Your Profile: This includes providing basic information about yourself, your academic history, extracurricular activities, and any other relevant details.
Write Your Essays: The Coalition App allows you to write and revise your essays directly within the platform, making it easy to keep track of your progress. (See essay prompts below)
Request Recommendations: If required, you can request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors through the Coalition App's Collaboration Space. This feature allows you to invite others to review and provide feedback on your application materials.
Submit Your Applications: Once you've completed all the necessary sections of your application and reviewed everything for accuracy, it's time to submit! The Coalition App allows you to submit your applications to multiple colleges with just a few clicks, saving you time and hassle.

Coalition App Essay Prompts

The Coalition App provides you with 5 essay prompts, but you only have to choose one to write about.

Keep in mind that every member school that accepts the Coalition App requires this essay. Additionally, some schools might require college-specific essays for their individual application.

These prompts might change in the future. However, they’re the same for both year 2023-24 and year 2024-25. Here are the essay prompts:

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?

What Schools Use the Coalition App?

Keep in mind that the list of member institutions may evolve over time. As of May 2024, here is the list of all the schools that use Coalition App:

Full List of Schools That Accept the Coalition App
Allegheny College, Meadville, PAAmerican University, Washington, D.C.Amherst College, Amherst, MAArcadia University, Glenside, PAArizona State University, Tempe, AZAustin College, Sherman, TXBabson College, Wellesley, MABard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NYBarnard College, New York City, NYBates College, Lewiston, MEBelmont University, Nashville, TNBeloit College, Beloit, WIBentley University, Waltham, MABerea College, Berea, KYBinghamton University, Binghamton, NYBirmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, ALBoston University, Boston, MABowdoin College, Brunswick, MEBucknell University, Lewisburg, PACaltech, Pasadena, CACarleton College, Northfield, MNCase Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHCentenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LACentre College, Danville, KYChaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HIChatham University, Pittsburgh, PAClaremont McKenna College, Claremont, CAClark University, Worcester, MAClemson University, Clemson, SCColby College, Waterville, MEColgate University, Hamilton, NYCollege of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MAThe College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJThe College of Wooster, Wooster, OHColorado College, Colorado Springs, COColumbia University, New York City, NYDavidson College, Davidson, NCDenison University, Granville, OHDePauw University, Greencastle, INDrew University, Madison, NJDrexel University, Philadelphia, PADuke University, Durham, NCDuquesne University, Pittsburgh, PAEastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CTElmhurst University, Elmhurst, IllinoisEmory University, Atlanta, GAFlorida Southern College, Lakeland, FLFranklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PAFurman University, Greenville, SCHamilton College, Clinton, NYHanover College, Hanover, INHarvard College, Cambridge, MAHaverford College, Haverford, PAHigh Point University, High Point, NCHobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NYHope College, Holland, MIIllinois College, Jacksonville, ILIllinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, ILIndiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, INJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MDKenyon College, Gambier, OHKnox College, Galesburg, ILLawrence University, Appleton, WILehigh University, Bethlehem, PALe Moyne College, Syracuse, NYLoyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CALycoming College, Williamsport, PAMaine Maritime Academy, Castine, MEMarquette University, Milwaukee, WIMaryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MDMarywood University, Scranton, PAMercyhurst University, Erie, PAMiami University - Ohio, Oxford, OHMichigan State University, East Lansing, MIMiddlebury College, Middlebury, VTMount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MAMount Marty University, Yankton, SDNC State University, Raleigh, NCNew Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Socorro, NMNortheastern University, Boston, MANorthwestern University, Evanston, ILOberlin College, Oberlin, OHOccidental College, Los Angeles, CAOglethorpe University, Atlanta, GAOhio Northern University, Ada, OHOhio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OHOlin College of Engineering, Needham, MAPace University, New York, NYPalm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FLPenn State, University Park, PAPomona College, Claremont, CAPortland State University, Portland, ORPrinceton University, Princeton, NJQuinnipiac University, Hamden, CTReed College, Portland, ORRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NYRice University, Houston, TXRobert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PARose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, INRowan University, Glassboro, NJRutgers University - New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJRutgers University - Newark, Newark, NJSaint Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CASaint Michael’s College, Colchester, VTSkidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NYSmith College, Northampton, MASouthern Methodist University, Dallas, TXSt. Edward’s University, Austin, TXSt. John’s College, Annapolis, MD & Santa Fe, NMSt. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MDSt. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TXSt. Norbert College, De Pere, WISt. Olaf College, Northfield, MNStanford University, Stanford, CAStevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJStockton University, Galloway, NJStony Brook University, Stony Brook, NYSwarthmore College, Swarthmore, PASyracuse University, Syracuse, NYTexas Christian University, Fort Worth, TXTrinity University, San Antonio, TXTufts University, Medford, MAUNC Charlotte, Charlotte, North CarolinaUnion College, Schenectady, NYUniversity at Buffalo, Buffalo, NYUniversity of Arizona, Tucson, AZUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, ILUniversity of Connecticut, Storrs, CTUniversity of Dayton, Dayton, OHUniversity of Delaware, Newark, DEUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, FLUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, IDUniversity of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, ILUniversity of Kentucky, Lexington, KYUniversity of La Verne, La Verne, CAUniversity of Maryland, College Park, MDUniversity of Massachusetts - Lowell, Lowell, MAUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIUniversity of New England, Biddeford, MEUniversity of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, INUniversity of Oklahoma, Norman, OKUniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PAUniversity of Richmond, Richmond, VAUniversity of Rochester, Rochester, NYUniversity of San Francisco, San Francisco, CAUniversity of South Carolina, Columbia, SCUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles, CAThe University of Tampa, Tampa, FLUniversity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TXUniversity of Vermont, Burlington, VTUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WAUniversity of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WAUrsinus College, Collegeville, PAVanderbilt University, Nashville, TNVassar College, Poughkeepsie, NYWake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NCWashington and Jefferson College, Washington, PAWashington and Lee University, Lexington, VAWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MOWebster University, St. Louis, MOWellesley College, Wellesley, MAWesleyan University, Middletown, CTWestern Carolina University, Cullowhee, NCWestminster College, New Wilmington, PAWheaton College, Norton, MAWhitman College, Walla Walla, WAWillamette University, Salem, ORWilliams College, Williamstown, MAYale University, New Haven, CTYork College of Pennsylvania, York, PA

Full List of Schools That Accept the Coalition App

Allegheny College, Meadville, PAAmerican University, Washington, D.C.Amherst College, Amherst, MAArcadia University, Glenside, PAArizona State University, Tempe, AZAustin College, Sherman, TXBabson College, Wellesley, MABard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NYBarnard College, New York City, NYBates College, Lewiston, MEBelmont University, Nashville, TNBeloit College, Beloit, WIBentley University, Waltham, MABerea College, Berea, KYBinghamton University, Binghamton, NYBirmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, ALBoston University, Boston, MABowdoin College, Brunswick, MEBucknell University, Lewisburg, PACaltech, Pasadena, CACarleton College, Northfield, MNCase Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHCentenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LACentre College, Danville, KYChaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HIChatham University, Pittsburgh, PAClaremont McKenna College, Claremont, CAClark University, Worcester, MAClemson University, Clemson, SCColby College, Waterville, MEColgate University, Hamilton, NYCollege of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MAThe College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJThe College of Wooster, Wooster, OHColorado College, Colorado Springs, COColumbia University, New York City, NYDavidson College, Davidson, NCDenison University, Granville, OHDePauw University, Greencastle, INDrew University, Madison, NJDrexel University, Philadelphia, PADuke University, Durham, NCDuquesne University, Pittsburgh, PAEastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CTElmhurst University, Elmhurst, IllinoisEmory University, Atlanta, GAFlorida Southern College, Lakeland, FLFranklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PAFurman University, Greenville, SCHamilton College, Clinton, NYHanover College, Hanover, INHarvard College, Cambridge, MAHaverford College, Haverford, PAHigh Point University, High Point, NCHobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NYHope College, Holland, MIIllinois College, Jacksonville, ILIllinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, ILIndiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, INJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MDKenyon College, Gambier, OHKnox College, Galesburg, ILLawrence University, Appleton, WILehigh University, Bethlehem, PALe Moyne College, Syracuse, NYLoyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CALycoming College, Williamsport, PAMaine Maritime Academy, Castine, MEMarquette University, Milwaukee, WIMaryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MDMarywood University, Scranton, PAMercyhurst University, Erie, PAMiami University - Ohio, Oxford, OHMichigan State University, East Lansing, MIMiddlebury College, Middlebury, VTMount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MAMount Marty University, Yankton, SDNC State University, Raleigh, NCNew Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Socorro, NMNortheastern University, Boston, MANorthwestern University, Evanston, ILOberlin College, Oberlin, OHOccidental College, Los Angeles, CAOglethorpe University, Atlanta, GAOhio Northern University, Ada, OHOhio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OHOlin College of Engineering, Needham, MAPace University, New York, NYPalm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FLPenn State, University Park, PAPomona College, Claremont, CAPortland State University, Portland, ORPrinceton University, Princeton, NJQuinnipiac University, Hamden, CTReed College, Portland, ORRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NYRice University, Houston, TXRobert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PARose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, INRowan University, Glassboro, NJRutgers University - New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJRutgers University - Newark, Newark, NJSaint Mary’s College of California, Moraga, CASaint Michael’s College, Colchester, VTSkidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NYSmith College, Northampton, MASouthern Methodist University, Dallas, TXSt. Edward’s University, Austin, TXSt. John’s College, Annapolis, MD & Santa Fe, NMSt. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MDSt. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TXSt. Norbert College, De Pere, WISt. Olaf College, Northfield, MNStanford University, Stanford, CAStevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJStockton University, Galloway, NJStony Brook University, Stony Brook, NYSwarthmore College, Swarthmore, PASyracuse University, Syracuse, NYTexas Christian University, Fort Worth, TXTrinity University, San Antonio, TXTufts University, Medford, MAUNC Charlotte, Charlotte, North CarolinaUnion College, Schenectady, NYUniversity at Buffalo, Buffalo, NYUniversity of Arizona, Tucson, AZUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, ILUniversity of Connecticut, Storrs, CTUniversity of Dayton, Dayton, OHUniversity of Delaware, Newark, DEUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, FLUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, IDUniversity of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, ILUniversity of Kentucky, Lexington, KYUniversity of La Verne, La Verne, CAUniversity of Maryland, College Park, MDUniversity of Massachusetts - Lowell, Lowell, MAUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIUniversity of New England, Biddeford, MEUniversity of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, INUniversity of Oklahoma, Norman, OKUniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PAUniversity of Richmond, Richmond, VAUniversity of Rochester, Rochester, NYUniversity of San Francisco, San Francisco, CAUniversity of South Carolina, Columbia, SCUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles, CAThe University of Tampa, Tampa, FLUniversity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TXUniversity of Vermont, Burlington, VTUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WAUniversity of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WAUrsinus College, Collegeville, PAVanderbilt University, Nashville, TNVassar College, Poughkeepsie, NYWake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NCWashington and Jefferson College, Washington, PAWashington and Lee University, Lexington, VAWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MOWebster University, St. Louis, MOWellesley College, Wellesley, MAWesleyan University, Middletown, CTWestern Carolina University, Cullowhee, NCWestminster College, New Wilmington, PAWheaton College, Norton, MAWhitman College, Walla Walla, WAWillamette University, Salem, ORWilliams College, Williamstown, MAYale University, New Haven, CTYork College of Pennsylvania, York, PA

How Many Schools Can You Apply to on the Coalition App?

The short answer is as many as you want.

On the Coalition App, there is no set limit to the number of schools you can apply to. You have the flexibility to apply to as many member colleges as you want.This flexibility allows you to cast a wide net and maximize your chances of finding the perfect fit for you.

With that said, keep in mind that each school may have its own application fee and specific application materials, so it's important to strategize and prioritize your applications based on factors such as your interests, preferences, and resources.

Are There Coalition-Exclusive Colleges?

While some colleges initially committed to being "Coalition-exclusive," meaning they only accepted applications through the Coalition App, that landscape has evolved.

The University of Washington-Seattle was the sole Coalition-exclusive institution for a while, but it recently announced a change in its admissions process, no longer accepting Coalition Applications for fall 2023 admissions.

This shift means there are currently no remaining Coalition-exclusive schools.

Coalition App vs Common App: What’s The Difference?

Navigating college applications can feel like a maze, especially when comparing platforms like the Coalition App and the Common App.

The main difference lies in their membership and accessibility. While both platforms aim to streamline the application process, the Coalition App is backed by a specific coalition of colleges and universities, focusing on access and affordability.

On the other hand, the Common App boasts a larger membership base, including a wide range of institutions across the globe.

When deciding which platform to use, consider factors like your preferred schools, application requirements, and personal preferences.

Read our post explaining the differences in details:Common App vs Coalition App

Final Thoughts

We hope this deep dive into the Coalition App has provided you with valuable insights as you embark on your college application journey.

With its emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity, the Coalition App provides a robust platform for showcasing your unique qualities and achievements to a diverse array of colleges and universities.

Whether you're a first-generation student or come from a low-income background, this application offers valuable resources and support to help you navigate the college admissions process with confidence.

If you need help with finding the perfect school for you and applying to it, whether it's through the Common App or Coalition App, our expert strategists are ready to help.

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