Advantage of Common App?

<p>Hi, as stated in the title I was just wondering what the perks are of using the common app, do you only have to write essays once then copy them or do you save money? etc.</p>

<p>saves time. you won't have to individually fill out every part of multiple applications; it's all there and you only have to do it once (cept some of the essays/suppliments) but ya...</p>

<p>Do colleges really don't care if you send the common application or their application? I imagine, if you send the common application to college X, that definitely means you send it also to some other colleges and the college X thinks you don't care so much for this particular college, it's not special to you in any kind, just one more college you apply to; but if you send their application, that means you have dedicated your time especially for your application to that college and you really want to go there. Does it make any sense? Do colleges take it into account?</p>

<p>^ I've been wondering about that too. Is it possible that the school's application is a way to show interest in the school?</p>

<p>I've also noticed that most Common App Supplements have the school's orignial essays to begin with anyway. In another words Common App = Common App Essay + The Schools'</p>

<p>No, it isn't a way to show an interest. It may make sense that way, but no. The colleges who joined the Common App did so for your advantage: so that in applying to colleges, you don't have waste more time filling out all the basic information (personal info, SAT, etc.), time which could be spent doing other things, e.g. essays. That's also why they have a small supplement, which is specific to that school and would "show your interest." At any rate, the colleges use the common app for your convenience (not to mention to encourage more to apply).</p>

<p>^^Also for the number of letter of recommendation. Some high school states a limit number of schools that they will write letter of recommendation. Common Application counts as one school eventhough you technically can apply to more than 10+(the number is an example).</p>

<p>this discussion has made me start thinking about why a school would join the Common App. I mean, how does it benifit them? Do you think they've created programs that sort out the applicants by scores and puts people oin different categories due to their race or location and than accept the top, idk, 100 or so before even giving the others a look? oh snap controversy!</p>

<p>They don't want to but they have to, otherwise they will miss out on a lot of students.</p>

<p>yup, from my experiences and ppl i know. it really doesn't seem to matter or not you use common app or school specific application. </p>

<p>common app saves u tedious work. like typing in your address a billion times.
but if you send common to all your schools at once and you made an error in our application, um ur screwed.</p>