Online vs. Paper Applications?

lotf629
Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:58:15 +0000

I apologize if this question is redundant but I couldn’t find any prior threads on the same subject…

I’d prefer to use paper applications exclusively for all of my schools because each of my schools seems to have slightly different policies about applying online, and I’d rather not ask my recommenders to deal with eight different sets of submission instructions. My impression is that most recommenders would prefer to do things the way they’ve been doing them for twenty years: receiving addressed envelopes from students and mailing off hard copies of letters. I also feel as if it would be easier to keep paper applications organized (in the absence of a single clearinghouse site like commonapp.org at the undergraduate level). Pulling together a bunch of different online accounts and then getting my recommenders to hassle with each of them seems like a recipe for frustration.

At the same time, it seems as if everyone is now starting to apply online, and at least one of my programs states clearly on their website that they prefer electronic apps.

Thoughts, anyone? Any informed opinions about whether an all-paper approach is ill-advised? What are you all doing: paper, electronic, or some combination thereof?

Thanks for any feedback you have.