Ok so what is the best:
1- MAIL THE COMMON APPLICATION
2- MAIL THE COLLEGE OWN APPLICATION
3- APPLY ONLINE VIA THE COMMON APP WEBSITE OR THE COLLEGE WEBSITE
<p>Choice 3</p>
<p>I cannot tell you how great online applications are. Dont miss out on it.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Do not have to worry about it getting lost in the mail</p></li>
<li><p>Arrives immediately to the school</p></li>
<li><p>Allows for saving and revision without having to start all over due to some careless mistake</p></li>
<li><p>Looks neater</p></li>
<li><p>Less Stressful and easier to keep up with (With Common App, do it once and send it to the necessary schools. Only thing you have to worry about is college supplements, which are also online)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I've heard that the online common app screws up the spacing of the essays...is this true?</p>
<p>Many colleges will waive the application fee if you file the Common Application on-line. Check each college's admissions website for information.</p>
<p>Yes, your formatting will likely not be exactly perfect, but that is expected by the admissions counselors. Don't worry about that too much.</p>
<p>The only big problem to worry about is running out of space. If that happens, contact the admissions department at each college to see if you can send in the essay separately. Don't start hacking away at a good essay just to fit in in the box. You obviously don't want to go too far beyond the word limit, but if you need just another line or two to make your point, sending it in separately might very well be worth the hassle.</p>
<p>If you apply to multiple colleges via the common app, does each school view which other schools you applied to?</p>
<p>Usually apps ask for the other schools you've applied to anyways. I don't know if the common app online will automatically show the school, but it shouldn't be something to worry about.</p>
<p>Another big plus- easier spell checking.</p>
<p>Here's another option: my son completed the common app online, then printed it out and mailed it in to each college. He was submitting an art portfolio and wanted to send everything together.</p>
<p>I applied to 12 schools on the Common Application. I handwrote each application, including the essays. It was hard work, but I managed to get into most of my reaches. From what I can discern, medium-to-small colleges really appreciate the effort one puts into his/her application. I only had one interview at these schools, but I managed to get into them. I guess it shows your "interest" over other applicants who reduce sending their application to a particular college as just checking another box. I'd guess these colleges would assume that I handwrote my application because I was very very interested and if I HAD applied to more colleges, I would've applied to a total of 3-4 more (you know, something manageable). Little did they know... =)</p>
<p>As for larger colleges or colleges that receive a lot of applications, just submitting it online is fine. Admissions officials are so busy getting through all the applications that they don't care about the little things. I learned this the hard way... Oh well. Best of luck,</p>
<p>TTG</p>
<p>I think I am going to apply to my 1st , 2nd and 3rd choice online </p>
<p>and all the other I will print and send because what can happen is if they see the other schools I am applying to I can get my chances hurt as I am applying to 15-20 schools.</p>
<p>15-20?! Yikes! I couldn't do that many. I'd go insane.</p>
<p>15-20 is too much, you should pick around 6-8 I would say. If you pick a few safeties you know you can get into, and a couple that you have a really good chance at, you're fine. Otherwise, it's too much work to make up for it with quantity.</p>
<p>so handwriting the applications for smaller schools will actually help?</p>
<p>We just got back from a 10 college tour. Most of the ad coms said that they take they have no preference for the type of application or whether it was mailed or sent electronically. The reason that so many schools waive the application fee if you submit on line is that then they don't have to enter all the info themselves into the computer. Think about it - if you mail your application, there is an office assistant at the school who will need to enter all of your application data into a computer anyway. My guess is that the adcoms may not even see the hand printed version. Don't over analyze all of this. Do what is easiest and works best for you. You will not be rejected because you didn't hand write your application.</p>