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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.
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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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PaperChaserPop:
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.
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<p>Spot on. Thanks for the post.</p>