Fandangoya

Big differences? I mean, if you have the choice, is it better to apply online or just print an application and send it? How do teacher recs work with this?

???? I don't understand, please explain.

iney0126

Definitely apply online. It is sooo much easier and its easier to keep track of things. Plus, most colleges prefer that you apply online because it's easier for them to keep track of things too. But you do have to send your teacher recs by mail.

LisaG

I personally feel it's better to apply online. A school won't hold either online or paper applications against you, but they typically prefer you to apply online, since it makes the process a little easier on them.

If you're using the Common App, the website is really easy to use, and the entire application and school-specific supplements are right there. It's convenient just to go to the website and knock some of it out at your leisure. It makes less paperwork for you, and you can submit applications to as many schools as you want simultaneously. Some colleges even waive the application fee if you apply online.

Even for schools that don't use the Common App (I applied to 12, 2 didn't), applying online was still a lot easier for many of the same reasons.

As far as teacher recs and such go, you print out the required forms and mail them in separately. My guidance counselor made 12 copies of everything (transcript, recs, resume, etc.) and we sent an envelope out to each school.

Pygmalion

The only thing that I find apply online a little bit inconcenvient is the essay part. It just allows a certain number of words and if you exceed the limit, your essay will be truncated, which is a huge disadvantage.

happyjanezhang

So if you exceed the word limit in the paper version it doesn't matter?
Also do schools give discounts for applying online?

sybbie719

Yes, many school give discounts for applying on-line.

attached is a thread from the parent's forum that has a list of schools that have free applications

Free college applications

amdgmom

S's schools indicated they had no preference for paper vs. on-line. HS GC said schoools would rather receive info on-line (or maybe that was her preference.)

One caveat: even if you submit on-line, print a hard copy of the app. Print a hard copy of their acknowledgement. Print a hard copy of everything. S submitted 7 apps, and had only one minor glitch at one school re: complete file. I don't know if that's typical, but I was glad we had the hard copies.

klf1120

Schools prefer the online application to the paper application. It saves them a lot of paper work. Just send in additional materials by snail mail.