<p>This is about paper versus online applications. When I asked my college counselor about sending in paper applications, she said she thought it would be a pretty good idea if I did because I am including a resume. She is a counselor at an elite private school that sends boatloads of students to Ivies, so I trust her word, but still have some doubt. She said that many colleges know my school is more "old fashioned"- whatever that means. Also, most colleges just print all of their online apps so it really makes no difference to them. Now I know that a resume could be attached to the common application, so it's far from imperative that I send paper applications. However, I would like to because online forms make me nervous, and I feel much more secure sending in the stacks of paper - I want my common app, supplemental essays, resume, all in the same place!</p>
<p>The problem is... that I am an environmentalist, IE I typically want to save paper, and my involvement with environmental issues is one of the focal points of my application. Wouldn't I look wildly hypocritical if I were to submit paper applications boasting about how much I care about the environment? Or do you think the adcoms wouldn't notice/care/would understand? I do save paper on a regular day but for something as monumental as college applications I would like to send off some big envelopes to my schools. I'm applying to all LAC's, if that's relevant.</p>
<p>mikira: if an adcom were to hold your paper app and consider you not genuine in your green outlook, they are seriously sick and petty.</p>
<p>I think you can rest assured that they are dedicated professionals w/o axes to grind </p>
<p>"Omigosh: Lookit this "environmentalist" who sent in <em>GASP</em>, a full TEN PIECES OF PAPER! To the hypocrite application/furnace pile it goes! MUHAHAHAHAAHAHA"</p>
<p>A problem with many counselors is that they were born before the computer age and still believe things about paper apps that are no longer true. Most colleges still accept paper apps (some don't even do so anymore) but all now prefer electronic apps. It is not true that colleges just print out all the apps. Many reviewers now review via computer and very often reviewers get a computer file or print-out that provides the key info from your app and then also get additonal info supplied (like a resume sent by separate letter which you can do if you don't attach it electronically, although many will ignore a resume). Also, submit a paper app and they just put the info into a computer and follow the same process as electronic apps.</p>
<p>I completed my Cornell application for Ed through paper, because I added a lot of things to supplement my application. The admissions office scanned everything into a computer and was sent to the the admissions committee. The dean of admissions told me that the extra information was definitely helpful.</p>
<p>You are not being hypocritical, they do not expect you to not ever use paper in your life.</p>
<p>It's not just the paper, it's the carbon emissions from the vehicles used to transport the paper, first the trees to the saw mills, then the paper to the store, then your completed application to the college. I don't know how in good conscience you can send in a paper application.</p>
<p>I am being facetious of course. How much junk mail do you receive per day at your home. How does that compare to the enivronmental impact of a paper application?</p>
<p>No, I don't. There's a difference between what I call the "maintaining a beautiful and healthy world" environmentalist and the moronic "OCD" environmentalist who wants everyone to abandon civilization and live like animals so we "affect the environment" less and think that people should be taxed for having babies to offset their "carbon footprint". The former does good for society, the latter needs to see a psychiatrist.</p>
<p>In other words, using the pages won't make you a hypocrite.</p>
<p>However, from what I know, I think the two are genuinely treated the same as the people above said.</p>