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Hey everyone. I'm applying to Harvard this coming month and I was wondering about my application. I will be printing my application from my computer and I would like to know if you think the type of paper I print it on is important. Told you you'd think I'm crazy lol. For example, will it be more favorable if I use resume or heavy paper as opposed to xerox paper?
Thanks

By Hsimpson2k4 (Hsimpson2k4) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 07:27 pm: Edit

I don't think your crazy. Go for the thick paper, it'll get you in ;)

By Dancer (Dancer) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:37 pm: Edit

Definitely, thick paper. I hate that thin-all-purpose copy paper.

By Momof2 (Momof2) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:10 pm: Edit

You're not insane at all. My S submitted all of his essays and cover letters on good bond paper. It just looked and felt so much crisper. One plus - a box will last you for years.

By Pistolpete (Pistolpete) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 10:38 pm: Edit

yea, it's all about the thick paper. You don't want the adcom ppl thinking somebody's sucking up by sending them a gift of tp.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 10:47 pm: Edit

Thick paper get the fat envelopes

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 12:42 am: Edit

Every Ivy we sent a thick paper application to resulted in an acceptance. The thin paper application we sent to the local community college was flatly rejected. As a matter of fact, the rejection letter consisted of one sentence: "No way!"

By Thedad (Thedad) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 02:38 am: Edit

For best results, use 24-lb. Arctic White *Linen*, not *Laid*, preferably produced on a Thursday by a shift of workers dominated by left-handed men.

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 08:42 am: Edit

It should be noted that the Monday night swing shift paper achieved nearly the same optimal results among "near-Ivy" applicants.

While "true-Ivy" applicants are served best served by the highly acclaimed Thursday shift paper, recent double blind testing by Mead Westvaco lead to the conclusion that 9-lb Onion Skin is the paper of choice among AdComs of Big-10 colleges.

Industry analysts predict that individual colleges will be marketing their own preferred brands of admission paper before the end of the decade. Toilet paper suppliers: Take note!

By Thedad (Thedad) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 12:50 pm: Edit

Who'd want to go to a college where onion skin was preferred? Yuck.

By Massdad (Massdad) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 01:08 pm: Edit

As a serious aside, I always chuckle about the effort Job applicants use to prepare resumes with the right paper, font etc. We employers then take that wonderful starting product and fax it, copy it with copiers that have not been cleaned in decades, scan it and otherwise mutulate it to the point where it can barely be read. Then we put our lunch on it and add coffee stains.

After having read the "inside story" admissions books, I wonder what apps look like after the first reviewer is done?

Now, back to the original posting;

- are you also asking for financial aid? If so, good paper is out. If you can afford good paper, you can afford full tuition.

- will you pledge a fraternity? If so, good paper is a must. You never know how connected your prospective house is. Heck, they probably have someone working in the admissions office....

- are you a legacy? Good paper is a must, preferably with a custom water mark, properly oriented, of course. A family crest letterhead will probably not hurt either - anything that says $$$ to the development office, the real reason for legacy preferences.

Geesh, what folks will do for an edge!

By Jayv85 (Jayv85) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 03:58 pm: Edit

Um, I'm printing out my essay on regular paper, along with any applications I get off the internet. I don't have money for thick paper.

By Momof2 (Momof2) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 04:34 pm: Edit

Believe it or not, when I was in high school, we were required to turn in all research and term papers on bond paper. Only the non-erasable kind - back in the day of typewriters and formatting all your own footnotes. Several of us usually got together and split a box.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 04:45 pm: Edit

Use regular paper. They'll probably be making copies anyway. Don't waste your $ on paper. What's written on the paper, not the paper itself is what counts.

By Aparent (Aparent) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 04:52 pm: Edit

Several of them say they prefer the online app. No paper at all!

By Thedad (Thedad) on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 06:11 pm: Edit

Not *quite* true...they print it out on *their* paper, the most cost-effective solution for the applicant.

By Cornell00 (Cornell00) on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 05:11 pm: Edit

what do you guys mean by thick paper?? is it the normal kind? or the shiny one???

By Momof2 (Momof2) on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 06:17 pm: Edit

We are talking about good old fashioned bond paper, which is still used in many businesses. Smaller boxes are often sold in office supply stores as Resume Paper. I use 25% cotton, 16 or 20 lb. weight. And yes, I will have to admit I AM old fashioned about this!

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 06:46 pm: Edit

Each and every one of us have received letters. Some of those letters have been printed on thin copy paper. Other letters have been written on thicker bond paper.

If you have noticed no difference in how YOU FEEL about receiving letters on one kind or the other, then pay no attention to what you write your letters on.

If, however, you have taken notice of receiving letters written on obviously higher quality paper as a sign that the writer has cared enough about you to choose his paper wisely, then you should do likewise when writing to people you care about.