<p>I have a list of 8 schools that I am applying to. 4 of them take the Common App. The thing is I don't trust technology, the Internet, or electronics all that much with really important things. It isn't really a large distrust, it is just something constantly on the back of my mind. I also don't really like all the limits that the common app seems to have (the annoying character amount thing, the limited fields for things such as activities- is there even a seperate thing for community service?)</p>
<p>I like paper. I like tangible things. However, factors are getting in my way for preference to snail mail/paper apps:</p>
<ul>
<li>Online it is delivered quickly</li>
<li>Doing it online would keep it neat (admissions is spared of my less-than-pretty handwriting)</li>
<li>Less money spent on stamps/post office services? :)</li>
</ul>
<p>So, can anyone offer some advice to help me in my silly conflict?</p>
<p>(Oh and if I decide that I do not want to do it online, is there a way to delete my current account on the commonapp website?)</p>
<p>Also, some schools waive the application fee for online apps. This probably indicates that it is at least somewhat easier for them to deal with the Common App submitted electronically.</p>
<p>I was also nervous about hitting "submit" and sending my son's apps into the deep dark mysteries of cyber-space. But the common app website is supposed to tell you when the apps are received. And since when is the Post Office a 100% reliable way to send something? Another factor is the piles of paper that will be in the Guidance office the next two weeks when he applies. Guidance still has to send his teacher recs, guidance rec, and transcript, but at least we'll know the app got there in one piece, with all the right pages in the right order!</p>
<p>All 6 of my son's colleges take the Common App, and after much hand-wringing on my part we've decided to do all the apps online. Two of the schools will waive his application fee for applying online, a combined savings of $120. </p>
<p>The colleges clearly prefer to receive applications online, so why not make them happy? Just be SURE to hit SUBMIT and check back to see that they were received.</p>
<p>You will likely have to get used to technology and the internet once you get into college, most of your work will probably be done on your computer, communicating with your teachers via email, student account and info will be online, etc, etc.
My son's college just stopped sending out paper tuition bills - they send you an email and you have to log into a special account to check your bill and pay online.</p>
<p>I suppose I will just have to get used to it. Can I still send in extra things that are not covered by the commonapp or is this looked down upon by colleges?</p>
<p>So what kind of "extra" things are you thinking of sending in? A plate of brownies? A resume? An 8x10 glossy photo? Information about athletics, art, music, drama? Most of the latter can be covered in colleges athletics, art, music or drama supplements. You'd be better off not sending most of the former items. (There should be room in the common app for just about everything that would be on a resume, for example.)</p>
<p>Actually it is a sheet that explains the type of things I did in a program that I was very heavily involved in during my high school years (not a school-related program). Ah well, I suppose I will try to add it into the essay?</p>
<p>There's a section of the common application on-line that is for "Additional Information / Explanation." You probably can't fit a pie in there, but an explanation of an extracurricular activity would probably fit quite well. I would not advise trying to squeeze an explanation into your personal statement, unless that extracurricular activity is the subject of your personal statement anyway.</p>
<p>We added an "Extra-curricular Resume" to the Additional Info page. It was a major pain to get it to format correctly.</p>
<p>Even applying online, some things will still have to be sent thru the mail. Teacher recs, transcript, etc. Plus one of my son's schools wants a copy of an original graded piece of writing that he turned in during 11th or 12th grade - no way to submit that online! So after we get confirmation that the online app has been delivered, we'll mail the rest of the stuff (or Guidance will mail the recs & transcript).</p>