<p>I have to say that the reason that I applied using the Common App to a lot of my schools was simply because I applied to 13 schools. I found it stupid to write a separate and different essay for each of the 13 schools, and of course, these schools all had to write more than one essay. </p>
<p>If a school wasn't on the COmmon App, I wasn't deterred. I just used their application. It all depends on where you really want to go. My friend had a fee waiver, and applied to 2 or 3 schools just for the hell of it. I had to pay, so I couldn't do that. Otherwise, I might've done more safeties or reaches, instead of mostly middling.</p>