UVA does not allow applicants to pick more than one ethnicity online. They claim that it is due to a lack of technology, which is ridiculous. Well, my father is an African American. I wanted to put down both African American and Caucasian. Now, I am forced to use the paper application so that I can select both ethnicities. Do you think it is worth it to fill out the paper app instead of the online one? Will it make any difference in determining whether I get in or not?
<p>If that is the only issue and your prefer to go online, I would just put down African American. Your ethnicity only matters if you are in the URM category, and the African American will put you in that category. Whatever else you are is not like to be a factor in the decision.</p>
<p>I prefer paper myself, and the counselors at S’s school recommend it as well. One problem my son has had is that sometimes the online apps have limited options and limited space. You can’t squeeze anything in a margin or a space online whereas you can in the paper apps. One thing he noticed is that none of his online apps permitted a 4/5 score for AP exams which is what he has for one of them. Also sticking extra stuff onto the sheet at the very end of the app does not pack the same wallop as putting the extra info on a page write near the question or space, or squeezing it in. I find myself forgetting what the question was by the time I am through an app, and that last sheet looks like jibberish to me. It is a pain to relate that last pick up page to the earlier questions in the app that are continued on that page. Also, you cannot send a nice cover letter with online apps which is a personal touch. Having said all of this, my son did all of his stuff online.</p>