Does it really matter?

Applying to College
1

<p>Some of my teachers and friends have been telling me to use the UPenn application, since I'm applying to UPenn SEAS early. On this forum, I've been told the opposite, but they haven't been really strong answers. Could somebody please point me in the right direction? </p>

<p>I'm leaning towards the CommonApp because it has one more required essay and one optional essay, which means there are two more opportunities to express yourself than on the UPenn application. If I were to switch over to the UPenn application now, I'd have to mix and match forms because my counselor and teachers already submitted CommonApp rec and school forms. Would inconsistency look even worse?</p>

2

<p>Officially, colleges are required to weigh CommonApp and their own app equally. In practice - I'm not an admissions counselor so I don't know. I think there would be no advantage for them to weigh one above the other, though.</p>

3

<p>Anybody else.</p>

4

<p>Generally, schools are more interested in the information than in the form it came on. But if you do decide to use Penn's own application, the "inconsistency" doesn't matter.</p>

5

<p>Can anyone else comment on the inconsistency? Does it matter?</p>