<p>I really don't think the adcoms care if an application is submitted online or through the mail, and the student should submit the application in the way they are most comfortable with. The online applications are probably printed out by the clerical staff for the student's file, so the adcoms will see the printed copy. For my daughter's ED school, the application fee was waived if ANY part of the application was submitted online. She submitted the Part 1 (Preliminary Application just giving very basic information) online, and then completed the Common Application and Supplement through the Common Application website, but then printed them out and mailed them along with her resume (the Common App says to attach an additional resume if desired). As others have said, the Common Application online allows for additional pages for continuation of responses which don't fit into the spaces allowed (not for the activity list, though) and has a preview function so you can see exactly how it will appear when printed. Even if you are submitting the applications as hard copies, you can save your applications on the Common App. website and reuse or modify as appropriate for other colleges. This method worked well for her.</p>