Is it better to use common or regular?
Should you wait until you get recommendations, transcripts, etc. delivered
at the same time of the application instead of piecemealing the info to the colleges (the commons apps come out 7/1/05- do you need to wait until the fall to send everything at once ?)
Thanks
<p>All of the colleges that use the common app have agreed not to show applicants using the college's own application form any favoritism. I believe that is true since why would they care anyway. If you think it matters, then you have nothing to lose by using the college's specific app. A compromise position is to use the common app and fill each one out in ink instead of just xeroxing it. After you have collected all of the info that you need such as your high school's CCB, the GC phone #, the GC fax #, and so on; it isn't very hard to just fill out the blanks on the form anyway. </p>
<p>I don't think I would mail it for a while for RD. If you mailed it now, it might get confused with the ED apps. I can't think of any reason it would help to have it go in early. It might show interest in the college and colleges do like that. Incidently, some colleges track your interest using your SSN and know if you have visited or requested information from the college.</p>
<p>Colleges with rolling admissions have earlier deadlines. They will let you know early so you have a safety in the bag if accepted.</p>
<p>Some colleges do not have their own apps and just use the common app for everybody.</p>
<p>Colleges that do accept the common app will probably have additional appendums or essay questions that need to be attached to the common app.</p>
<p>You can always file online, but then the additional material such as activity-lists (or resumes) have to be mailed and staff at the college will combine it with a copy of the app that is printed at the college.</p>
<p>A good book to read is "Acing the College Application" by Michele Hernandez. She gives advice about the application process and relates it to the actual app form.</p>
<p>Transcripts, GC rec, and teacher's recs are mailed directly from the high school and you never see them. I have seen one college that wanted everything combined together on arrival and so they asked that the applicant give the application to the high school who would then mail everything at once.</p>
<p>Great anwser..thanks for your long reply...</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn't use the common app. Taking the time to fill out a college's specific application (which involves looking it up, filling out separate ones, etc) just seems through common sense like it would show interest. Also, I think it's A is for Admission that says that the regular app is better (we discussed all this in a recent thread).</p>
<p>If you have the time, it can't hurt to fill out a couple specific applications.</p>
<p>My brother used common application to five VERY selective schools and got into all. It's not which app you use, it's what the application has to say. You might want to look at the common app though and see if the document gives you an opportunity to present yourself in the best light. For example, the common app has many lines for work experience. If you've never worked, there's a gaping hole and so if the school you wanted to go to has its own app and it doesn't have many lines for work, in that case you might pick the school's app. But overall, the common app is just fine if it's good for you. Other thinking is old school now.</p>
<p>How many lines does the common have for extra curriculars?</p>
<p>There are 8 lines on common app for ecs. Also a sep section for academic honors/distinctions. Once the common app is posted on commonapp.org on July 1 posters on this board usually share techie advise on how to expand line space etc.</p>
<p>u can't do the common app online, right?</p>
<p>Yes, you can do the Common App online (after July1st).</p>