<p>So I personally enjoy having something in front of me on paper to read if it's an article or book or the like rather than electronically (like I couldn't read a book on an iPhone or Kindle), but does this hold true for College Admins? Is it better to submit your application in paper or online? Does it vary from school to school? i.e. state schools really don't care but HYPSM and the like do.</p>
<p>If you submit via paper, I believe your essay and such is scanned. And don’t most colleges say they prefer electronic?</p>
<p>And don’t most colleges say they prefer electronic? </p>
<p>I don’t know which is why I’m asking.</p>
<p>At least you know your formatting will be kept. One thing that irked the hell out of me when submitting the UC application was when I realized it turned my entire application into one gigantic paragraph. </p>
<p>That was … SOOOOOO DISAPPOINTING.</p>
<p>Most colleges DO prefer an entirely electronic application. If you send them something by paper, they will scan it. Honestly, with the amount of applications places like HYPSM receive, I’m sure the online process is much easier for them.</p>
<p>Well online is a whole lot easier to fill out, copy and paste sure as heck is a nice feature. 
I didn’t know they just scanned it, thanks for that information.
Does anybody have personal experience with the matter?</p>
<p>wow you completely stole my thread name.</p>
<p>Wow, haha, sorry. Yea, looking at the “similar threads” I realize there’s like 6 more too. Just goes to show no idea is unique. ;)</p>
<p>Most colleges prefer electronic.</p>
<p>Colleges now highly prefer on-line application; many now require it. If you submit paper, all that happens is a clerk enters the information into a computer file and the admissions personnel who make decisions get the compuiter info. In other words by submitting paper all you are doing is requiring more work for the clerks who have absoutely no input into the decision as to whether you should be admitted.</p>
<p>Not only is paper slower and more inefficient - it’s also riskier. Things get lost in the mail. More middlemen to pass it on to. Mistakes happen with inputting. Items get separated or misplaced. No easy way to keep track of things. More trees to cut down. More expensive to mail. etc etc etc etc etc etc</p>
<p>Online, for sure. It’s infinitely easier for them, and, like others have said, paper apps just get scanned and uploaded.</p>