Maybe a Dumb Question: E-Mail Address?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm about to register for the Common App and seem to have run into a sort of problem; the registration process asks for an e-mail address, and I'm not sure if I should put down the one I normally use.</p>

<p>I'm not going to post it here, but it's rather similar in nature to, say, '<a href="mailto:refrigeratorbot@gmail.com">refrigeratorbot@gmail.com</a>'. So it's kind of weird.</p>

<p>Point is: should I bother making a new, more professional e-mail account exclusively for college admissions? Is it time for me to shed the casual electronic cognomen of my youth and turn instead to the terse, real-name-based titles of adulthood? Is this perhaps college in microcosm; am I being urged into maturation before my time at a university has even begun?</p>

<p>I'm applying to schools like UChicago and Harvard, if it matters. It seems like one might prefer it and the other wouldn't.</p>

2

<p>Honestly, I’d go with the more interesting one… but that’s just me, and I’m already at college…</p>

3

<p>It’s better to have a one with your name. Save the more interesting one for your friends.</p>

4

<p>^^ Agreed.</p>

<p>It’s fine to have more than one. Just give out the right one to the right one. ;)</p>

5

<p>Some people make an email address specifically for college applications, then important messages are all together and less likely to get lost in all of your other mail.</p>

<p>I agree that it should be straightforward and include your name.</p>

6

<p>It might be better to have one with just your name–and if you’re like me and only like checking one account, I’m sure you could take advantage of Gmail’s forwarding service and just forward all relevant emails to your usual account.</p>

7

<p>I suggested that my kids get yahoo addresses that are more “serious” than their play-AOL addresses (<a href="mailto:firstnamelastname@yahoo.com">firstnamelastname@yahoo.com</a> type of thing). It has served them well for summer jobs and communications with teachers.</p>

8

<p>—deleted—</p>

<p>Actually I just checked my email and I actually did use my more professional one when I registered, but my Common App username is not professional. Just create a professional email and register with that one.</p>

9

<p>Ya it’s always good to have a professional email that consists of atleast part of your name.</p>

10

<p>All right, thanks for the input. Professional it is!</p>