<p>Exactly the point I was trying to convey, bluemath. High five! :)</p>
<p>Look at this -> <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/CommonAppDemo.aspx?src=S[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/CommonAppDemo.aspx?src=S</a></p>
<p>Handwriting is a burden to admissions officers. By submitting the applications online, they can read straight from their computer. If you have to send in things, it looks SO unprofessional to handwrite something, regardless of your handwriting and calligraphy skills. Would you ever hand in a written document for a final exam paper, or lab report, or research paper? I think not.</p>
<p>Type it up, and if you’re going to mail it in, I would recommend you purchase some stationary or paper with a nice letterhead. If you’re looking to stand out while being professional, that’s the way to do it. Don’t be the kid who hands in a piece of looseleaf with blue ballpoint ben handwriting. College applications are a great way to show professionalism. Be formal, neat, and clean.</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, Common App mandates that you do not print out your application and send it in. Although you may think you stand out by doing so, you just create another hassle to the admissions officer reading your application, making your chances of rejection a lot higher. If you want to be original and stand out, let your writing and r</p>
<p>For recs and transcript you can give your teachers and your counselor stamped addressed envelopes (along with your written request explaining what you want and a resume for their reference) and they can send those items directly to the school. Why don’t you trust them to do this?</p>
<p>i meant if you don’t want to use the common app online submission procedure, you can still do it with envelopes. I’m not sure what your concern is about not trusting your school to do this but the common app online submission allows you to track whether they’ve actually done it for each school.</p>
<p>griffen</p>
<p>In grade 10, non of my club activities were mentioned on my report card. I had to spend the first month of the 11th grade trying to convince the counselor, that I had actually participated in all those activities. </p>
<p>That’s why I don’t trust the school at all in this case. If my transcript and recs don’t reach the colleges, then its doom. I don’t want to risk my college education</p>
<p>But yeah, I have decided to type the essays, and submit the application online.</p>
<p>But if I submit it online, then do the recs & transcript have to be mailed to the colleges by the counselor?</p>
<p>if you are using the common app, you can request counselor and teacher recs online on the common app site. although you could instead have them mail those directly, doing it online through the common app site gives you the ability to double check the status of everything. The common app shows the date when they start the recommendations for you for each school and the date when they submit them. If you get close to deadlines and recs aren’t in, you will be able to see that and follow up with the individuals you’ve requested.</p>
<p>Save the trees! Anyway, if you were to do it on paper, pen is more professional (I like blue, but black would work, too. Don’t do pink or glittery or anything like that).</p>