<p>Today my S2 received a pre application to Wash St. Louis. (for $55) I see no questions on the form relating to GPA or test scores, but they did ask for his high school code.</p>
<p>Anyone have an idea as to the purpose for this pre app?</p>
<p>I don’t know why they have a pre-application, but I can tell you that you need to submit the preapplication in order to submit the… application. The actual application is what has the GPA and the test scores, and I believe the high school code is optional. Submitting the pre application is free, however, or at least it is online! </p>
<p>(Oh, and I’m about as wigged about the idea of an application for an application as you are. Presumably, they’ll have a mid-application application and a post-application application out in a few years… :D)</p>
<p>The pre-application is just their supplement to the Common Application. The only other portion he will have to fill out is the Common Application. I have no idea why they call it a “pre-application” and not just a supplement. But, filling it out will put you on file and perhaps make you more likely to receive an invite to Discovery Weekend.</p>
<p>i got that in march and online its free i just filled it out and sent it back right away</p>
<p>They don’t ask for ethnicity or race on the pre-app, so it doesn’t seem like it functions as a vehicle for gathering names for Discovery weekend.</p>
<p>Years ago one of my kids filled out the pre application for Columbia which at the time had him self report his SAT scores, SAT subject tests, and his projected GPA. He had applied early to another school and was accepted. Then in May he received a letter from Columbia that indicated that they had to refuse his application because of missing documentation. It was very interesting that he received calls for an interview prior to December. I never understood why they called him for interviews when an application was never sent out. My son did recall that because we were early in sending all college board information out that Columbia did receive his scores from college board but there was no application, letters of rec, or guidance councelor info sent. I know that his pre application was considered an application when it came time to posting their numbers that year. That really made me wonder about the purpose of pre-applications.</p>
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<p>Which would make sense, as Discovery Weekend is not an event aimed at minorities. People of all backgrounds were invited, and both minorities and majorities were offered all-expenses paid trips (but not everyone was offered that).</p>
<p>There was a time when pre-applications or “Part 1” apps were used to bump up app numbers. As soon as Part 1 arrived, it was counted as an application.</p>
<p>This practice may have changed, though.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the pre-app process allows colleges to create proper applicant folders upon receiving the short pre-apps from the applicants, prior to receiving other required forms. </p>
<p>Because of the heavy work involved in crafting a quality application, many students wait until the deadline to submit their apps. This means that their apps could be received after their LOR’s, transcripts and test scores. It may be hard for a receiving college to figure out whether a recommendation letter or a college transcript is for a freshman, a transfer or a graduate application without more information. It would be even harder for Unis with separate college/major applications to figure out what the info is for. Materials can be lost because of this confusion. It happened to S1.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Also, there can be multiple students with the same name, etc.</p>
<p>But yeah, Wes has a pre-app (free, I think), when I applied, and as I understand it its purpose was, as PaperChaser Pop says, the main point is that they can create a file for you, which makes sense to me. Thus, the school code (so they know where letters of rec and transcripts from your school go).</p>
<p>Speaking of Wes, S filled out the pre-app, and had scores sent. When we visited in the fall, he interviewed, just in case. But never sent main app, recs, transcripts, counselor rec, essay, etc., because he got into another school ED. But they officially rejected him, anyway. I have to say, I think it was a numbers boosting thing.</p>
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<p>Perhaps you meant to use another word than “supplement” but a pre-application is not a supplement to the Common App. Carleton College (for example) does a pre-app, the Common App and a Supplemental App. </p>
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<p>Spot on. Thanks for the post.</p>
<p>The pre-application to Washington University in St. Louis is the supplement to the Common Application. Other than the pre-application, there is no supplement to the Common Application. In the Common Application website, when you hit “supplement” for WashU, you will be linked to the Pre-Application. Therefore, it is safe to say that the Pre-Application is WashU’s supplement to the common application. Some schools have pre-applications and supplements. WashU does not.</p>
<p>A few schools seem to require the pre-application by a certain date in order to be considered for certain scholarships or financial aid. </p>
<p>I found the pre-applications to be a pain in the neck. Other colleges seem to manage just fine with getting materials and applications at different times.</p>
<p>Some pre-application forms are coded to indicate the source of the student’s name (College Board Student Search, Alumni recommendation, whatever), which allows the institution to include that information in the student’s file from the get-go, and helps the institution work out which marketing leads are the most productive.</p>