Direct Admissions - What's the deal?

Direct admissions is a tool for students applying to specific schools to hear back sooner, avoid application fees, and simplify the application process. With application fees ranging from $50 - $100, even grabbing

a few opportunities is worth the effort. Here is what to know:

click arrows to reveal answers

What services offer direct admissions?

The College Board - Access the College Board's direct admissions opportunity from your My Big Future profile.

The Common Application - Complete your education and profile section. When a student creates a Common Application account, they consent to receive direct offers from participating institutions.

Niche - Create an account and complete the 37 data fields - more work, but fast turnaround.

How many schools participate? This number is frequently updated; however, the numbers below are current as of the time of this post.

The College Board - 11 schools

The Common Application - 116 schools (based on 2024-2025 application cycle)

Niche - Over 100 colleges

How do I register for direct admission with each service?

The College Board - Opt in by 7/15 from your My Big Future Dashboard

The Common Application - Look for banner notifications after August 1st and in the fall in your Common Application account- creating your account, completing your profile and education section, and adding direct admission schools.

Niche - Requires a 37-field detailed profile, so more upfront effort, but early responses are your reward.

Is there a fee to participate in any of these programs? - No, application fees are waived.

When can I expect to hear back?

The College Board - Offers sent in August if the student opts in by the deadline. Quick!

The Common Application - Offers start going out early to mid-September.

Niche - Offers begin in early August and are rolling.

How do I determine which program to use?

Fastest offers - Choose Niche, but a detailed profile takes more effort.

Already have an account? Choose College Board if you're interested in the participating schools. Integrated with traditional applications - Select the Common Application if you want a streamlined process with more options and are comfortable waiting to hear back in November.