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i have gotten mixed feedback when I ask my friends about whether or not to apply online or on paper. i thought online would be 5 times easier/convenient/safe. but some say a paper application would seem more personal. what do you guys think? sorry for beating this topic to death again as im sure this has been asked many times.

how do u guys plan to apply? i mean, of course colleges will say that online and paper aplications will be viewed equally. but me personally, id probably curry favor with a well written and neat paper application causde it shows that they are willing to put a little more effort into it.

By Jimjunior (Jimjunior) on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 10:02 pm: Edit

Stanford today told us that they wanted online

By Momofsenior (Momofsenior) on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 10:57 am: Edit

Many schools are encouraging online applications. I believe that if the school offers it they either prefer it or do not have a preference. My daughter thinks it is much easier.

By Drusba (Drusba) on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 03:07 pm: Edit

At this time, for most colleges offering on-line application, it will not make a difference to admission one way or the other whether you apply on-line or by paper app. However, on-line is fast becoming the standard. It saves the college costs -- your data is immediately placed into a database from which it can be retrieved for review; with paper application someone at an hourly rate has to take your app and put all the information you submit into a database for the school's electronic records. In fact, some colleges even waive the application fee if you submit on-line. In other words, colleges, which view the application process as one involving costs are quickly coming to favor the method that minimizes their costs. Thus, your feeling that a college is going to view your paper application as more personal miscontrues how college administrators think. They are more and more viewing paper applications as a pain in the bottom-line butt to be done away with.

By Winterfresh (Winterfresh) on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 04:25 pm: Edit

Do it online. It's faster and more efficient.

By Neo (Neo) on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 09:14 pm: Edit

Amen, Winterfresh.

Amen.

By Nautical_2000 (Nautical_2000) on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 09:23 pm: Edit

Unless you're applying to Rice or something similar that has unique portions to the app, it's a great way to do it online. I believe it's easier for the college, and as Winterfresh said, it's faster and more efficent.

If you really want to do paper app though (so that everything's together) fill out the PDF, then print it out. Some ppl say that handwriting gives it a personal tough, but personally, I'd rather read something typed.

By Studiousvegetar (Studiousvegetar) on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 08:03 pm: Edit

Online
Schools like it better b/c they won't have to scan in all your stuff. It's also neater and faster.

By Attitudica (Attitudica) on Saturday, September 27, 2003 - 03:07 am: Edit

Hey online thing is crap, from what I find. You still would have to send Teachers Reccomendations and Transcripts through mail. So why not organize it one pack, and send it all together rather than making it so complicated.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Saturday, September 27, 2003 - 01:33 pm: Edit

Because the on-line is more legible. Think about it...if someone is reading 30 or more files a day, which is going to be easier to read?

Also, it's not a good idea to wait until you have the whole package anyway (in most cases). You want to get the Part I in ASAP so that they can open a file on you, set up for interviews if required or recommended, etc.

By Mattistotle (Mattistotle) on Saturday, September 27, 2003 - 02:22 pm: Edit

my handwriting is udder crap, woot online apps!