A subset of higher education institutions does not participate in the Common Application, a standardized undergraduate college admission application used by many colleges and universities. These institutions maintain their own distinct application processes, forms, and submission portals. Examples include certain state universities, specialized art and music schools, and some private institutions that prefer to manage their application process independently.
The significance of these institutions lies in the alternative pathways they offer to prospective students. Applying directly to an institution allows for a tailored application experience, potentially enabling applicants to highlight aspects of their qualifications that might not be fully represented in the standardized Common Application format. Historically, many colleges and universities pre-dated the Common Application’s creation and have chosen to retain their independent application systems to maintain control over their admissions process and institutional identity.