Common App vs Ravenna Admissions

Common App helps students explore colleges, submit applications, and navigate the admissions process. It serves first-year and transfer applicants and lets students explore more than 1,100 Common App colleges. Its first-year guidance covers gathering materials, setting up an account, adding colleges, engaging supporters, reviewing requirements, planning essays, and submitting an application. Accounts can roll over from year to year, and answers in My Common Application can be saved across years. Students who complete a profile may receive non-binding direct admission offers from participating colleges before submitting an application; applying through the program to colleges offering those admissions is free. Otherwise, each college decides whether to charge an application fee and the amount, and many colleges do not charge one. Qualifying students may be eligible for a Common App fee waiver, subject to participating colleges’ policies. The nonprofit membership organization describes its focus as access, equity, and integrity in college admission. Common App is available on web, Android, and iOS. It lists integrations with CRM and SIS providers, school counseling platforms, and embedded services including SlideRoom and UStrive.

Ravenna Admissions is web-based admissions software for private K–12 schools, including independent and faith-based schools. Its CRM handles inquiry imports, email and text campaigns, event, tour and interview scheduling, and committee collaboration. Families can apply and submit documents through a mobile-friendly portal with single sign-on, while schools can tailor forms, questions and events. Real-time analytics show funnel activity, yield and year-over-year trends. Listed integrations cover financial aid, enrollment contracts, tuition management and SIS platforms including Veracross, Blackbaud, FACTS and PowerSchool; Ravenna Admit also offers an open API. The system serves small and medium schools as well as large and multi-campus operations. Ravenna says implementation takes 4–5 weeks, followed by four weeks of training after configuration. Client and parent support is described as available 24/7/365 in more than 40 languages. Pricing is not published; schools are directed to request a demo. Ravenna lists Android, iOS, web and API platforms.