<p>I'd like opinions/advice/ concerning using the Common Application versus each school's individual application from parents/students who used the common application in the past few years. </p>
<p>The main questions: </p>
<p>-do you feel that using the common application hindered admissions chances in any way?
-Why did you choose the common app. over individual applications (or vice versa)?
-Did your child or you do anything in particular to customize the common app. for each school (beyond the school supplements)?
-Did you get any feedback from admissions reps or guidance counselors on how colleges view the common application?</p>
<p>If possible, please supply some raw data on number of schools applied to using the common application and number of acceptances.</p>
<p>We are particularly interested in this question with regards to Vassar who offers either the Common App OR their own app. Although they profess not to have a preference of one over the other, is this true? If this were really the case, why offer their own app at all? My D is considering submitting Common App.</p>
<p>Just my humble opinion. I think the worries over which app are worries you could spend on something way more important (like whether it's ok to wear brown socks with black shoes :) ).</p>
<p>I really think colleges are looking at the content, not which form. Their preference for online versus paper seems to be increasing each year, based on what I read, so I think asking what worked in the past may give you outdated information.</p>
<p>I think if the college offers both and says they don't care, you can believe them. I think they are looking at the content, not the form (unless "form" means sloppy, illegible, poor grammar, punctuation, etc.).</p>
<p>I don't know why some schools keep offering their "own" app when they say it doesn't matter. For masochists :)? For Luddites who don't use/trust computers :confused:? It does feed the worry gene, doesn't it? </p>
<p>I think some folks believe use of the school's "own" application shows that you care a lot about that school and aren't just "firing off" another common app. I believe they are looking for much more substantive signs that you "care": expressions of interest, what you say in the app about "why college x", etc. </p>
<p>S used common, submitted electronically. Supplements electronic where available, hard cc when necessary. Why? Easier. Left more time to play RGPs, play his instrument, live his life...
Results: 5 apps, 4 admits, 2 siginificant merit aid.
(Do I think that 5th one would have admitted him if he used a different sheet of paper? Nope.)</p>
<p>jmmom, I think that you are right, but I do not have the data that Carolyn is seeking. I am posting only to say that there are still private college consultants that do not recommend the common app, or sending the app electronically. We did not use such a person, but I know somebody who did. They recommend a paper app that the adcoms must hold in their hands. They even recommend a nice grade of paper!! I do not understand what that has to do with the applicant, other than to look like their application was packaged by a pro! Apparenly, the professional thinks this is important. By the way, the applicant applied to many schools and was accepted everywhere with the exception of one school. She was offered merit aid at several schools where you would expect her to receive aid-no surprises, and she did not apply to any real reaches; only matches and safeties.</p>
<p>My college junior used the common app with 8 schools, and was accepted by all of them. She filled them out by hand and made copies heself at Kinko's and mailed them.
She used the school's own app for one school, and was waitlisted there.</p>
<p>My son will use the common app online. He'll print it out first to make sure it looks ok, and then just press the button. He's very comfortable with the computer, so this he's glad to be able to do it online.</p>
<p>Personally, I'm not crazy about the common app - I wish it gave the student's more space to list and explain their ECs. I also don't like it that they are asked to list them "in order of importance to you."
That seems to put an artificial ranking that neither of my kids felt is accurate. I do believe the colleges when they say they don't discriminate between the common and their own app.</p>
<p>Northeastmom - I wonder if some of these consultants are a little afraid of the online applications. It takes some of the control out of their hands, don't you think?</p>
<p>ASAP, I really have no idea. Perhaps the consultants need to recommend this to jusify their fee? In the end the gpa, and the sats are what they are. I think pretty paper is just unnecessary. I guess that to some it looks silly, to others it looks like you presented yourself in a neat fashion and cared enough to go the extra mile, to others it looks like you got some outside advice in how to apply. It seems totally unnecessary.</p>
<p>I think it's unnecessary, too. In the long run, I think the colleges appreciate it when the applicant follows their recommendations, so if they say they prefer it online, the applicant should probably try to oblige. Online makes it less work for the colleges, I think.</p>
<p>S3 is applying to colleges now and insists on applying online & using Common App over school's app when available. Some schools do state they prefer online apps. When S1 applied, there were no online apps. When S2 applied,
he completed apps by hand. His printing was teeny tiny, wonderfully neat and easy to read; he could fit way more into his short essay answers this way so that his personality came across. Usually big essay was typed and attached. S3 absolutely refuses to handwrite anything for any.</p>
<p>We were told by an Admissions rep that the on-line Common App.
is printed out anyway prior to review. Was also told you could submit
a resume/supplement for activities (send it to the school GC & they
will send it in with other forms). I've gotten the impression from
visits that the Common App. if available is what they want - less
chance of errors apparently.</p>
<p>the only piece of advice my college freshman got last year re applications was not to submit hers online- the problem was that her essay was a little long and her counselor was afraid it might get cut off at the end- too risky. It was a good essay and it was worth the hassle of doing it by mail. I think she did the common application when it was an option. Some schools ask for the common app and then have a supplementary section w/specific questions, mostly short answer types of things.</p>
<p>I don't think the question is online vs paper, but rather common app vs school app. Many schools have their own app available online.</p>
<p>S used all online apps. He used 6 online school apps and 2 online common apps with online supplements for those schools that did not have their own. S did personalize each common app with a paragraph about "why school x" in the additional info section. I think it is important to focus on each individual school when applying. I also think the individual school app lets you see what that particular school values in its applicants. </p>
<p>I, like ASAP, am not a big fan of the common app format and I don't feel it always lets kids present themselves in the best light. I think kids need to compare the CA to the school's app and see which one showcases their unique qualities better. The answer may not be the same for every school they apply to.</p>
<p>S's results-8 apps, 6 acceptances, 2 waitlists-both waitlist schools were the CA schools and were also his reach schools.</p>
<p>my-3-sons -- That's a great idea to include a paragraph about "why school x" in additional info section on the Common App. Only I have a copy of the Common App and can't find that section. Sometimes the school's Supplement to the Common App asks for that info.</p>
<p>3boys - If you are looking at the PDF version of common app, there may not be a section called "Additional Information" but there are mentions in several places that you can attach resume, essay, etc. So I would just attach what you want and head the page "Additional Information."</p>
<p>If you look at the online version, you will see a section at the end of page 3 for "Additional Information." Also, I recall from DS' app last year that if you have a little more to say than what fits in a given "cell", it shows up in the Additional Info section automatically and references the question that it relates to.</p>
<p>What I remember with my son -- and my daughter has commented the same - is that sometimes the college's online application seems to "fit" what the student has to present a little better. Sometimes not, of course -- but if the college itself is a good fit, it stands to reason that its application might be structured in a way to bring out the best in a student.</p>
<p>So I think that the students should look at both apps and figure out which one they like better -- and use whichever one that is. </p>
<p>I honestly don't think the app itself really makes a different, as long as the student takes the time to personalize the common app for each college, at least for the "why do you want to go here" section. </p>
<p>I do think that online is the way to go and I am pretty sure that it is going to speed consideration of the app, and I also believe that chances are generally better for an app considered early in the process than one considered late when the ad coms are bleary eyed with exhaustion and under pressure just to get things done. The bottom line is that the paper submission is going to get sidetracked while manual data entry is completed.</p>
<p>Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard that colleges scan all of the paper applications onto the computer and that they are viewed via computer. Not sure if this is correct, but I did hear it somewhere.</p>
<p>Colleges probably do scan the applications and convert them to pDF files if for no other reason storage purposes especially if the school must hold on the the applications for any period of time.</p>
<p>ColumbiaMom, I don't know whether they scan in essays or not -- it stands to reason they might - but the task of data entry cannot be done by scanning, because the data must go into specific fields. Also, while an essay can be scanned in to create a graphic, readable image -- to get text the scan must be accompanied by OCR conversion. OCR is not 100% reliable - probably more about 80-90% depending on the quality of the original document and type size and style used - so it is also not suitable for data entry for that reason, as it can easily misread a letter or numeral, for example substituting a 3 for an 8. (If the GPA is 3.8 and the OCR turns it into 3.3 you can see where the problem lies).</p>
<p>Experience in our house. Daughter applied to 7 schools used common app for all 7 schools and applied on line. Filled out supplements and sent by snail mail, got 7 aceptances, no adverse effects. I do recommend to people if and when possible to use the common app.</p>
<p>From a perspective of managing the application, using the common application was definitely easier as far as filling out information and totally streamlined the process. You also get confirmation e-mails when the application is sent and when it has been accessed by the school. You can also save a backup pdf copy to your computer in the event that something goes wrong.</p>
<p>D were able to hand out 1 reccommendation form to each teacher with 7 stamped envelopes (it really made them happy as they made the copies and placed an original signature on each rec form and mail merged the letters ). GC was happy to recieve only one rec form and made copies. She even requeseted her preference for the common app.</p>
<p>D was able to write one main essay on the topic of her choice. The supplemental essay which was mandatory for Amherst, she was able to tweak and use for the optional essay at Tufts. Wrote one why essay and made minor modifcations to tailor it for each school that requested it.</p>