<p>If it was a question of filling out multiple applications (with different essay questions, etc.) vs. filling out one application, and I could simplify my child's life by doing that, I would probably pay, maybe as much as a few hundred dollars. (Maybe.)</p>
<p>But the issue doesn't rest with me, it rests with the colleges that want unique essays and an answer to the "Why Us?" question. Once a kid has to do that, he's back where we are now with the Common App, pretty much. I wouldn't pay a thing for my child to avoid typing his name and SSN a few extra times.</p>
<p>Of course, once you convince the colleges to accept exactly the same application, then there's no value in the service that lets you do it, vs. copying it yourself. So to make money you would have to convince all the colleges (a) to accept exactly the same application, but (b) to accept exactly the same application only from one proprietary service, and to require all others to submit unique applications. It's conceivable that you could get some colleges to do that (by sharing the revenue with them), but rots of ruck getting critical mass for the proposition to be marketable.</p>