Common App vs Coalition: Which to Use for Your List For most U.S. applicants, the Common App is the simplest default choice. Use Apply Coalition with Scoir only when a target school requires it, or when the Locker’s portfolio storage genuinely fits your workflow. That single rule covers the vast majority of students building a typical 8–12 school list. Here is why the numbers back that up: The Common App served roughly 1.5 million applicants who submitted approximately 10 million applications in the 2024–2025 cycle across more than 1,100 member institutions. Apply Coalition with Scoir counts approximately 150 member schools , a much smaller footprint. If every school on your list accepts the Common App, there is no practical reason to open a Coalition account. If even one target school is Coalition-only, you need that platform for that school specifically. Check each school’s official admissions page first. Never assume a school accepts both platforms. The comparison below goes deeper on features, trade-offs, and the step-by-step process for making a final call. Table of Contents What is the Common App and how does it work? What makes Apply Coalition with Scoir different? How do th