<p>If I get "invited" to those free online apps that take almost no time to fill out and process, should I fill them out?</p>
<p>Basically, there were a few universities that seem fairly nice that sent me invitations for those. While I could picture myself being in those places and enjoying it, they're definitely not my top choices. Should I still submit the applications for them since they take almost no time, are free to fill out, and the worst that can happen is that I don't get accepted?</p>
<p>About how should I go about looking at these? I think they send these to quite a few people, but should I leave them alone, or should I just fill those out and use those as safeties just in case something goes wrong?</p>
<p>Why not? What's the downside? Remember, you're not going to get accepted to 100% of the schools you don't apply to. And if you do get in to one of them, it removes a lot of stress later on in the process.</p>
<p>Don't forget there are a few additional costs, even if the applications are free, such as sending test scores and doing Profile if they're Profile financial aid schools.</p>
<p>Only apply if it is worth $9.50 to send test scores, $0.41 postage for each recommendation, your teachers' time for each recommendation, and the time it would take you to fill out their form. Nothing in life is free.</p>
<p>Those free apps - they take almost no time. All I have to do is fill out info about myself, send in an official transcript, and have SAT or ACT send the scores in.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure it's worth the $8.50, but not worth anything over $20. After all, I would not have bothered applying to those schools if there was more hassle.</p>
<p>Only apply if you're interested in attending those schools. Some such free apps will bring full scholarships, and I've seen unhappy students posting on CC that their parents are making them take those full scholarships even though they got into better colleges.</p>
<p>excelblue, you might want to check with your GC before you start filling them all out. My D couseling dept. has limited students to 6-9 apps. I guess with almost 700 in senior class, transcript requests and recs they only have so much time. That being said, my D list is over that, so I'll have to see what they day or do once she hits the "9" mark. I see you are from Fullerton, I graduated in the 70's from Sunny Hills, we lived close to the Pantry!</p>
<p>Yeah, go for it. I did, and a lot of those don't even require a recommendation or any of that other stuff. All in all, I wound up applying to close to a dozen colleges, and I can only remember asking my parents for money to pay for 3, maybe 4 of them.</p>
<p>Our S did the free application that was emailed to him as a "just in case". It took 10 minutes and was free...so why not? He didn't choose to go there but it was nice since it was the first acceptance letter to arrive and became a sort of "security blanket"</p>
<p>Union College is also free to apply if you apply on-line.</p>
<p>My d also did her personalized app to a school she would have been happy to go to. She had an acceptance in October or early November (how quickly we forget!), so didn't have to worry about a safety school anymore. It turned out to be her second choice of the schools she got into (of course, she's at her first school).</p>
<p>It certainly made the wait for other acceptances a tad easier!</p>
<p>My daughter got an e-mail from tulane (Its on the long list) I am making her send it in as it's a good excercise in "getting her in the mindset". Putting a little fire under her belly. They talk about a "deadline" but don't mention one so far as I can see.</p>
<p>Most noncompetitive colleges don't require recs or essays because they need more top students to enroll and so don't put much weight on extracirricular stuff and just let you in as long as you're in their range.</p>
<p>I wrote one (3 page application) in a green pen, sharpie, and a pencil because I ended up finishing it in a week (since I kept on leaving it off) I had no intention of going but since my friend was thinking about going she made me apply. (since they sent her 200 applications) They gave me a scholarship (without even getting a proof of my GPA or test scores) and it was nice self-boost to have an acceptance in hand.</p>
<p>I got "offered" from Tulana, Portland, and Loyola.</p>
<p>They dont require recs. The only things I need to do is write an essay, send in my grades, and send in my act score. The decision comes in 2 weeks</p>