Hey guys, I’m a junior in Texas, and I’m starting to feel the heat of the college application process. I've heard different things from my friends and counselors about whether to use Apply Texas or Common App for my applications. For someone who's looking at both in-state and out-of-state schools, which platform is generally better to use? Could applying through one be more advantageous than the other, especially for Texas schools?
Hi there! I completely understand why this could be confusing. It’s great that you’re looking into your options early. The key difference between Apply Texas and the Common App is the list of participating colleges. Apply Texas is primarily used for public universities in Texas, like UT Austin and Texas A&M, as well as many private colleges within the state. On the other hand, the Common App is accepted by a wide range of colleges and universities across the country, including some Texas schools.
If you're applying to a mix of in-state and out-of-state schools, you might find that some colleges only accept one application or the other. For Texas schools, there’s no inherent advantage to using one platform over the other. It's really about where you're applying. For example, if you're looking at UT Austin, you can use Apply Texas, but if you're also eyeing schools like Stanford or Harvard, you'll need the Common App. I’d recommend compiling a list of schools you're interested in and checking which application each accepts. That way, you can determine if one or both platforms will be necessary for your situation.
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