<p>i am incredibly uninformed about the application process. I would love it if anybody can answer any of the following questions:</p>
<p>-Does all UC's require the same application? So technically, applying to UCBerkeley and UC Davis requires just filling out the same form and sending it to two different places?</p>
<p>-Does the common app work the same way?</p>
<p>-Has anyone heard if a school offers both their own and common applications, that they prefer their own app?</p>
<p>-How long should the essays be, if they tell you min. 250 words?</p>
<p>Yes, you only fill out one application for the UCs and send it to however many you're applying to (you just have to pay more money in application fees)</p>
<p>Common app works the same way except each school might have their own supplements in which case they're unique and you would have to fill them out separately.</p>
<p>I don't think colleges prefer their own apps if they don't say it. (most schools I know say they don't care) I applied to JHU (which had their own) and I used the common app and I still got in.</p>
<p>If there's no max for the number of words for the essay, I would say around 500-750 words and no longer than one page single spaced.</p>
<p>Hope that helped!</p>
<p>That helped a lot.. thanks!</p>
<p>How many colleges should i apply to? I don't know if i want to do the whole applying to all the Ivy's and hoping that i will get into at least one of them thing. Is that even worth the effort? </p>
<p>Also, when should i start the whole process? Is right now too early?</p>
<p>AND (lol sry i have so many questions!) if it's cheaper to do it online, then how come people still apply by mail? Do colleges like one or the other more?</p>
<p>The number of colleges you apply to really should depend on your own personal preference. I applied to 11 (though looking back, I should have probably only applied to 8) Most people recommend 7-10 just so you have sufficient time to finish each application with enough care and you aren't hurried for them. Also remember to apply to the appropriate number of safeties, matches, and reaches. </p>
<p>I would say don't apply to all the Ivy's. Don't look at the college application process as trying to get the most prestigious school possible (though it really does seem like it, especially coming from the bay area). Each of the Ivies have distinct personalities and you want to make sure the schools you apply to match yours. I'm not discouraging applying to reaches, but you should apply to PROPER reaches. I only applied to two ivies, both of which I believed I fit well with.</p>
<p>Right now is not too early to start. I started at around this time last year. You'll be thanking yourself when school rolls around and you have to juggle this with courses and extracurriculars. Even though I started early, I still finished at the last minute. (mainly due to procrastination XD)</p>
<p>Colleges do not prefer online to mail or vice versa. Some people do it by mail because they don't have access to the internet or they feel more comfortable doing it by mail. It depends on your own preferences. I did things online because it was easier for me..</p>
<p>Thanks again! </p>
<p>That whole prestige thing is all from peer and parental pressure, i don't know. I feel like i know very little about the colleges back east, i have no idea which one to apply to. Maybe do some research?</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, what kind of EC's did you have? I feel like i'm really short on those... :( and feel kind of desperate now that the application is coming up.</p>
<p>The internet vs mail thing - i just thought it made more sense to apply online if it cost less, i mean for those who apply to 10+ schools, that's a lot of money they're shelling out just for apps. I mean, wouldn't everyone like to save $$?</p>
<p>Hmmm, I'm not sure how much you can improve your ECs at this stage. </p>
<p>What I put on the common app was biology club prez, MUN club co founder, FYCO orchestra section leader and MC, science newsletter founding editor, math and science club member, speech and debate team member, and I grouped all my volunteering into one space.</p>
<p>I did join science newsletter and math and science club my final year. One was because my friend decided to start the newsletter then and I found it interesting and he asked whether I wanted to become part of it. Math and science club because I didn't actually know about it until then (stupid of me). The one activity that I was completely dedicated to in math and science club was science bowl and the competition didn't happen until Feb, when college apps were done! XD Haha, I didn't really join it for the boost for the application, I did it mainly cause science bowl is awesome and I love it to death. ( I just wished I discovered it earlier).</p>
<p>So I'm thinking that the ECs that had the most impact on my application were probably the ones that I already had before senior year.</p>
<p>It doesn't cost less in most cases to apply online. Some schools do allow you to apply online for free, but most don't. I would HIGHLY recommend doing as much as possible online. It gives you more time and makes sure that less things are lost in the mail/college admissions offices.</p>
<p>thank you both! very helpful.</p>
<p>have you ever heard of anybody who doesnt have leadership, didnt win national awards, not a minority, not athletic and got into any of the ivies?</p>
<p>Ok yea that last question had nothing to do with this thread.</p>
<p>But here's another more pertinent one: for class of o8, looking back at the college application process, what would you have done differenly if you could do it again:</p>
<p>-would you have applied to more/less schools
-started filling out forms/essays earlier
-"prepared" better teacher recs
-take back something you said on an app
-wished spent more time on any one app</p>
<p>all stories/comments/advice welcome!</p>
<p>Going to hijack this thread: </p>
<p>Are UC essays more formal than private school essays?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are UC essays more formal than private school essays?
[/quote]
I thought that the UC essays were more informal. They didn't ask you to respond to quotations with some cleverly worded anecdote but wanted you to write about you and your life. Easy, simple, straightforward.</p>