<p>Im just trying to figure out how the 'School Forms' section works.
I've read OVER and OVER and OVER again but still feel confused;
any input would be appreciated:</p>
<pre><code>While some colleges say that the 'School Forms' part can be completed online, others insist that the official documents must be mailed to the school. So, to make life easier (or harder?) I was planning to fill out all parts of the Common App EXCEPT for the 'School Forms' part and send them in in one bundle to ALL the schools that I apply to. Is this idea perfectly legitimate (and efficient for that matter)?
</code></pre>
<p>You should print the school forms and have them mailed to the school separately. A lot of other things have to be mailed (transcripts, SAT score reports, and so on) so the colleges don’t mind the additional papers. Besides, in the end, they’re going to print your application, anyway. Finally, it’s easier for the teachers to hand-write their recommendations. It allows for them to have more privacy and let’s them be able to write more honestly.</p>
<p>Having just gone through this, I think I can clarify the School Forms part… yes, it is very confusing. </p>
<p>Although from the student side, the Common App has pretty much switched to fully online, the counselors’ and teachers’ perspective is still a little fuzzy, and there are three possible options for how Common App School Forms may be sent. The option you use is determined by your school guidance department. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>If your school uses Naviance, which is a software program that coordinates college applications, transcripts, and keeps track of college history for your school, then your Common App online interface will be a little different, and some School Forms will be printed out and given to your counselors/teachers. The Common App website will make it clear what has to be done. If your school uses Naviance, your Common App interface will reflect that after you type in your school name. With Naviance, an advantage is that the transcript can be sent online.</p></li>
<li><p>This is the “new” method, which I used, and which will soon be the standard method for Common App. Common App has created an Online Forms system for high schools, designed for counselors and teachers. First, the guidance counselor has to decide whether she wants to use the Online Forms system (the backup option is old-fashioned paper and mail). If the counselor opts for Online Forms, then she creates an account with Common App for herself. Then, the applicant enters the counselors’ information into their application, “choosing” the counselor as the writer of the School Reports. Similarly, the applicant uses the teachers’ (recommenders) email address to “invite” a teacher to be a recommender. Then both the counselor and teacher have Common App accounts, which they use to write your recommendations and enter your info. After you invite your counselors and teachers, your job is pretty much done. The counselor and teachers now type the school information, ratings, and recommendation into the online system. The only disadvantage to this is that the transcript must be uploaded as a PDF file; if your school cannot do this, the transcript must be mailed.</p></li>
<li><p>If your school doesnt have Naviance and doesn’t want to do the Online Forms thing, you’re stuck with paper. Go to the “Download Forms” section of the Common App website and print out all the School Forms and recommendation forms. Give them to the appropriate teachers and counselors, along with stamped and addressed envelopes for the colleges of your choice. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Note: Once your guidance counselor chooses “online” or “paper”, your entire high school must follow this. For example, if your counselor chooses the online method, then all your high school recommenders must use the online method for their letters; they can’t choose to mail their forms in. </p>
<p>I think I’ll have to stick to the paper-version for the School Forms component and have all other components done online;
I happen to be an overseas student and schools in Australia aren’t so familiar with the whole common app. thing… </p>
<p>At any rate, all comments were helpful so thanks again!</p>