Getting through high school is stressful enoughand then there’s the anxiety of preparing college applications.
The concept of direct admissions has been around for decades.
How does direct admissions work?
Think of direct admissions as being pre-approved for a credit card.
Colleges participating in direct admissions review these profiles and send a letter of intent to the prospective student.
What are the drawbacks to direct admissions?
Jenny Rickard, president and CEO of the Common App,toldU.S.
News and World Reportthat the company tried to avoid these situations as much as possible.
Still, as this program grows in popularity, it’s likely to happen more often.
The process can get even more complicated if the student is accepted into multiple schools.
Participants should be careful and look for potential scams or anyone asking for personal information.
Why don’t more prominent schools do this?
Direct admissions help students, but smaller colleges looking to increase and diversify their enrollment also benefit.
For a list of many participating colleges,check out thisForbesarticle.
Is there an app for direct admissions?
There is an utility fee, but students can apply for a fee waiver if needed.
Nichealso has a direct admissions program that works similarly to Common App.
Creating an account is free.
Participating students can see which institutions have accepted them in real time.
Niche also claims to provide merit scholarships to those who qualify without applying for one.
It’s worth mentioning that these services aren’t a one-stop shop for college forms.
If your student needs to apply for financial aid, they must begin that process under a different system.
The same goes for colleges that don’t accept Niche or Common App.
For example, Texas colleges use a different utility system.
