Common App vs Scoir

Purpose

This is a centralized college application platform where students can submit applications for up to 20 institutes.

This is a college planning tool which can be used by students, counsellors, and parents. However, although it is mostly used as a planning tool, students can use Scoir to apply to colleges via the Coalition App.

Main functions

Main functions include submitting applications, providing essay prompts to which students write their main college essay, application status tracking and submitting recommendation letters and transcripts.

Main functions include researching colleges, planning applications, matching students to colleges based on their personal and academic interests, and exploring career and degree pathways.

Target users

High school students who are ready to apply to colleges and universities.

Students, school counsellors, and parents.

Registration

Users can register directly on the Common App website. For an account setup guide, see this post here.

Students can either create their own account, or they wil need to obtain login credentials from their school. Students who are part of a school subscription will have access to more features than those who create their own accounts.

Use by colleges

Colleges use the Common App to manage student applications to their institutes.

Students can use Scoir to apply to some colleges via the Coalition App. It is important to note that Scoir and the Coalition App are not the same. Students can apply to Coalition App schools using Scoir, but Scoir can also be used to plan applications to other schools that do not accept applications through the Coalition App.

College search options

Contains a college search feature with filters (location, size, majors, etc.) and allows students to bookmark schools.

Offers a more in-depth college search feature with more extensive filters. Students can make use of the "College Compare" feature which provides side-by-side charts to allow students to compare key features of various colleges.

Counsellor involvement

Limited involvement - can only submit recommendation letters.

High degree of involvement - counsellors can track how well a student is researching colleges, recommend colleges for students to apply to, and upload transcripts and recommendation letters.

Integration with other platforms

The Common App is a standalone platform. However, it accepts external transcripts sent from high schools.

Students can use Scoir to apply to colleges that accept applications via the Coalition App platform.

College visits

There is no option to schedule or plan college visits.

Schools can schedule college visits and students can view, register, and add these events directly to their calendar in Scoir.

Financial aid

Provides some FAFSA and scholarship links which students can explore to apply for financial aid.

Includes a scholarship search tool, career planning, and detailed financial aid information. Students can estimate college affordability based on trends in past student data.

Cost

It is free to use the platform, however individual schools may charge an application fee. Some students may be eligible for a fee waiver. Check out this post here for more information on how to apply for a fee waiver.

Scoir is a subscription-based platform and is usually free for students to use as the subscription fee is covered by the school board or individual school. However, if students apply to the Coalition App using Scoir, they may have to pay an application fee depending on the institutes they are applying to.