Admissions Applications Without the $10K Platform
Multi-step applications with essay uploads, transcripts, and recommendation letters. Reviewers get assigned automatically. Everything lives in Airtable where your team can actually use it.
Application management is expensive and clunky
Admissions teams face the same problems every cycle:
Commercial platforms charge $30-50 per applicant. 500 applications = $15-25K
Google Forms can't accept transcript uploads or break the application into steps
Native Airtable forms show MBA applicants the same questions as undergrads—no branching
Someone on your team manually assigns each application to a reviewer
Applicant data lives in the vendor's system, not yours. Export fees apply.
40-question single-page forms have 60% abandonment rates
The result: expensive software, abandoned applications, and admissions staff drowning in manual work.
Applications that land in your database, ready to review
Instant sync
Applicant hits submit. Application appears in Airtable. No export, no import, no delay.
Document uploads
Transcripts, essays, rec letters—all attached directly to the applicant record in Airtable.
Auto-assign reviewers
Set up automation: new application → assign to reviewer → notify them via email.
Multi-step forms
Page 1: Personal info. Page 2: Academic history. Page 3: Essays. Completion rates go up.
How to create a college admissions form
Set Up Your Airtable Base
Create an "Applications" table in Airtable with these fields:
Create a separate "Reviewers" table to track who reviews each application.
Connect Filla to Your Base
Sign up at app.filla.io (free, no credit card required).
Click "Connect Airtable" and authorize access to your base. Filla uses OAuth, so you never share your API key.
Select your base and the Applications table. Your fields appear automatically — no manual mapping needed.
Build Your Multi-Step Application
Create a multi-page form for better applicant experience:
Page 1: Personal Information
Page 2: Academic Background
Page 3: Program Selection
Page 4: Essays & Documents
Add conditional logic:
Configure Document Uploads
Set up attachment fields properly:
Files upload directly to Airtable's attachment storage. You can set validation rules to require specific file types.
Share & Manage Applications
Publish your application form:
- Auto-assign reviewers when applications are submitted
- Send confirmation email to applicants
- Notify admissions team of new applications
- Update status and trigger decision emails
Track everything in Airtable views filtered by program, status, or reviewer.
Taking admissions forms further
Conditional Logic Examples
- Show graduate-specific questions only for graduate programs
- Display international student fields based on citizenship
- Require portfolio upload only for art/design programs
- Show financial aid questions based on checkbox selection
Linked Record Use Cases
- Connect applications to Programs table for department-specific views
- Link to Reviewers table for assignment tracking
- Reference Semesters table for enrollment planning
- Connect to Interview Slots table for scheduling
Automation Ideas
- Auto-send confirmation email when application is submitted
- Notify reviewers when assigned to new applications
- Send status update emails when decision is made
- Create follow-up task for incomplete applications
Common issues and solutions
"Applicants can't upload large files"
- Check Airtable attachment limits (up to 5GB per base on paid plans)
- Consider accepting file links (Google Drive, Dropbox) as alternative
- Split large documents into multiple smaller uploads
"Reviewers can't see assigned applications"
- Create a filtered view in Airtable based on Reviewer linked field
- Share the filtered view with each reviewer using Airtable permissions
- Set up Airtable Interface for cleaner reviewer experience
"Duplicate applications from same applicant"
- Use email field as unique identifier to detect duplicates
- Set up Airtable automation to flag duplicate emails
- Add confirmation page reminding applicants to only submit once
College admissions form FAQs
Can applicants save progress and return later?
Forms complete in one session. For long applications, break them into multi-step pages and tell applicants upfront: 'This takes 20 minutes. Have your documents ready.'
How do we assign reviewers to applications?
Link applications to a Reviewers table. Set up automation: when application lands, assign to next reviewer in rotation (or by program). They get notified automatically.
Can we collect application fees?
Filla doesn't process payments. Collect a Stripe confirmation number, or set up Airtable automation to trigger payment collection on submission.
Is applicant data secure?
Data lives in your Airtable base—you control access. Filla connects via OAuth and never stores copies of applications. Your data, your control.
Can we customize the confirmation message?
Set any success message: next steps, timeline, contact info. 'We received your application. Expect a decision by April 1. Questions? admissions@school.edu.'
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