<p>I received a letter in the main from UoP saying that I have been chosen as a distinctive candidate. They gave me a username & pw for the distinctive candidate application, which has no application fee and only a brief personal statement. Has anyone applied to UoP through this application?? is this real or fake, because I have gotten similar letters from other private schools i plan to apply to. Thank you!</p>
<p>I don’t know about this case specifically, but what you have described is quite common. If it is through the University’s website, I don’t see any reason to assume it is fake.</p>
<p>It’s real. But I’m going to tell you right now…a LOT of people get that application. The counselor who talked to my Microecon class about college even told us that so many people get that application that the counselors cry because the students put next to no effort in it, while the counselors have to put a lot of effort in it.</p>
<p>Since it is pretty common would it be better to apply through the common app? or should i just apply through the candidate application?</p>
<p>You should apply using whichever form you like- all Common App member schools commit to treat all applications the same in their review regardless whether they are the schools’ own form or a CommonApp form. Pacific, and many top schools who are trying to expand their reach, send these targeted applications to groups of students with desirable grades, PSAT and/or ACT Plan scores. It’s probably a good sign that you received one, and there’s probably a message on the materials you received saying that you can use the CommonApp forms with the same benefits.</p>