The Ins and Outs of Third-Party University Application Portals!

When it comes to applying to universities, we usually have two options: apply directly from the official university website or through a third-party portal. In this article, we'll focus on the latter and discuss everything you need to know about third-party portals.

So, what exactly is a third-party portal? In simple terms, it's a broker portal through which we apply to universities, rather than applying directly from the university's website. Let's say you want to apply to Arizona State University - you can either apply from the university's website or through a third-party portal such as Kaplan Pathways, Shorelight, or INTO.

It's important to note that some third-party portals, like StudyGroup, are only accessible to consultancies or agents - not students.

Now, you might be thinking, "If we can apply directly from the university website, what's the use of these third-party portals?" Well, in many cases, applying through a third-party portal can save you money. Most portals don't charge application fees, and some even offer the chance to apply to multiple universities through a single portal. Plus, you don't have to upload all your documents separately - once you upload them to the portal, it sends your information to all the universities you've applied to.

However, there is one important caveat: when you apply through a third-party portal, they act as an intermediary between you and the university. This means that if you want to know the status of your application, you'll have to contact the portal rather than the university directly.

So, if you decide to use a third-party portal, it's crucial to ensure that it's a trusted one. As you'll be sharing all your information with them, it's important to do your research and choose a reliable portal.

Overall, third-party portals can be a useful tool for university applicants. They offer the convenience of applying to multiple universities through a single portal, and often don't charge application fees. Just be sure to choose a trusted portal and keep in mind that you'll have to go through them for any updates on your application.