Which Schools Use the Common App? Comprehensive Guide for College Applicants

Why It Matters: The Benefits of Using Common App

• Save time and effort. Fill out one application and send it to multiple colleges.
• Standardized format. Academic history, essays, activities, recommendations—all in one place.
• Accessible and equitable. Run by a nonprofit organization focused on fairness in admissions.

Which Colleges Accept the Common App?

A. Ivy League Schools

All Ivy League schools accept the Common App:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Princeton University
• Yale University

B. Top Private Universities

The Common App is accepted at:

• Stanford University
• University of Chicago
• MIT (No)*
• Caltech (Yes)
• Duke University
• Northwestern University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Vanderbilt University
• Rice University

(*MIT uses its own application system.)

C. Public Universities

Many public universities accept Common App, including:

• University of Michigan
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• SUNY campuses (select ones)
• University of Florida

Note: University of California (UC) schools do not use the Common App. They use the UC Application.

D. International Schools

Over 50 international institutions accept the Common App, including:

• University of St Andrews (UK)
• University of Sydney (Australia)
• Bocconi University (Italy)
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• IE University (Spain)

Who Doesn’t Use the Common App?

Some schools still use their own application systems or alternatives:

• University of California (all campuses)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Georgetown University
• United States Military Academies
• Texas A&M University

These schools may use their proprietary systems or alternatives like the Coalition Application.

Tips for Using Common App Effectively

1. Create your Common App account early.
2. Prepare your personal statement in advance. You can use our college personal statement examples for inspiration.
3. Pay attention to school-specific supplements. Each college may require its own essay(s). Learn how to approach these in our blog on college supplemental essays.
4. Request recommendation letters early. The platform allows you to track submissions. Read more on college recommendation letters.
5. Use the fee waiver if eligible. The Common App offers waivers for qualifying students.

FAQs: Which Schools Use Common App?

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting