<p>Does it matter? My D likes to submit paper apps. w/resume and essay etc. The on line apps make her feel she is leaving something out.</p>
<p>When DS and DD applied to colleges (three years apart) some schools actually stated a preference for online applications. Both of my kids submitted online as much as they could (DD did all of hers online...three years prior not all were online for DS). However, we did print out copies of EVERYTHING and maintained a file at home...just in case. If she is concerned about omitting something...have her make a list, and check it off. I will say...online applications are MUCH easier to deal with. You type in a field, and submit. Otherwise you are handwriting in the spaces (unless you have the fancy and expensive Adobe program).</p>
<p>I'll echo thumper1. Schools love online applications; they decrese both the piles of paper in the admissions office and and the time spent in data entry. Definitely make lists, though, so that you send every single esssay, etc. that the school requires.</p>
<p>Many (most?) of the online apps will let you know when you have omitted a question/section. Online submittals will often be immediately acknowledged with an electronic receipt. Many will ensure that your essays meet the character count limits. Many schools express a strong preference for online. Some will have online tracking re receipt of ancillary materials - scores, transcripts...</p>
<p>Some schools no longer offer paper application forms.</p>
<p>Anyone see a trend here ;)?</p>
<p>The only thing I didn't like about online applications was that it was hard to squeeze much info into those boxes. (Sometimes just the title of an AP Course!) But needless to say my computer geek sent them all off online, a couple of hours before deadlines, (which would be hard to do at the P.O.)</p>
<p>Jmmon....I do see a trend. My favorite application DD did was COMPLETELY electronic. The teachers who were doing her letters of recommendation received PIN numbers for her and they submitted their letters online. The guidance office received a PIN number and submitted the guidance form and transcript online. The application was online. EVERYTHING was online. I think this is the wave of the future...no paper at all. The teachers, in particular, loved it. All had their letters on their computers anyway. They just used the PIN and submitted...no printing, no sending to the guidance office, no stamps, no envelopes...click and done. The GC also loved it. He was able to complete DD's application to this one school more quickly than walking the info down the hall to the registrar (who in our HS packages and mails everything). DD thought it was great too....she just received emails when things were submitted so she could keep track here (including which teacher recs were in, etc).</p>
<p>Most schools prefer electronic submission. I would imagine when you submit electronically, it goes into their database right away, otherwise they probably would have to enter it manually. There was one school my D applied to where alumni went online to search for candidates they wanted to interview. There was another school that my daughter applied on Christmas day, a day later she was contacted by an alumni for an interview. Other students had to wait for a few weeks before they were contacted.</p>
<p>Something about that bothers me. Students should be encouraged to apply in whatever form they are most comfortable with - paper or electronically-not what makes it easier for the folks sitting in the admissions office.</p>
<p>They already have these kids jumping through hoops to please them. Some admissions offices say that they prefer on line aplications; OK then reduce the fee or make them free (as some schools do as an incentive). And if the admissions offices prefer the on line, then will they give preference to those kids over the ones that like to have paper application? That hardly seems fair to students without reliable computers, internet providers and computers that crash.</p>
<p>We sent the whole packet paper/printed out--common app & supplement stuff. It made me feel more comfortable that we knew the whole package (minus reccs.) went as one unit. Sent it return receipt, so we knew it got there. I'll probably do the same thing for the next one too.</p>