[CoCoGirl886]

Hi.. just a quick question. I was wondering if it's better to use Common App or the separate applications for each school. According to a google search..

Question: Do schools prefer their application to the common application if they accept it as long as you fill out the supplement and send them all the information they need?

Answer: They prefer you to fill out and submit their application because it shows your personal interest to that specific college/university instead of them thinking that you just filled out one application and forwarded it to various colleges.

Original Link

^Is that true?? And would it make a big difference which one I use? The following schools that I am thinking/planning to apply to are NYU, Syracuse University, SUNY Binghamton, and maybe more.

Also.. for schools that "prefer online applications" or "highly recommend" it (like Penn State, and University of Michigan), is there a huge advantage for applying online or a disadvantage for not applying online in terms of their likelihood in accepting a student?

[Tamago86]

I'm not sure what you mean, if a school requires the Common Application form then you *will* submit a common application form, there isn't a choice. Many schools also require their own personal essays in addition to the Common APp, or some don't take the common application forms at all and instead have their own. I was not aware that you could substitute individual college's personal applications for the Common Application, and I really wouldn't recommend doing it either. So if a school has it's own essay, you really need to do it.

I don't think applying online or not matters, it all goes to the same Application Processing Center anyways.

[CoCoGirl886]

Some schools accept the common app instead of their own application, but you would need to also submit a supplement, which usually includes a personal statement. I think the supposedly, the colleges are supposed to treat both types of applications equally, but what I'm asking is whether a college will give more credit to someone who used their application because it shows that you're more interested in their school?

[Tamago86]

Ah, I wasn't aware that it was optional. Schools will give you more credit if you fill out their own individual application, it shows that you're interested in attending the school and not just trying to mark it as a safety school. If there were two applications with similar qualifications, and one of them submitted a common app and one did the college's specific application, I'm betting the one with the college-specific application would get picked. For your number 1 school you're attempting to get into I recommend you do the specific applications, and apply Early Decision.

[sweet caroline]

Yea, I know for a fact TCNJ prefers their own over the common app. It can be quite tidious to fill out numerous apps, but I only had 1 common app anyway.

[chibifry]

Hi.. just a quick question. I was wondering if it's better to use Common App or the separate applications for each school. According to a google search..
^Is that true?? And would it make a big difference which one I use? The following schools that I am thinking/planning to apply to are NYU, Syracuse University, SUNY Binghamton, and maybe more.

Also.. for schools that "prefer online applications" or "highly recommend" it (like Penn State, and University of Michigan), is there a huge advantage for applying online or a disadvantage for not applying online in terms of their likelihood in accepting a student?

Wrong
Colleges sign a contract stating they will not be biased against the common app -
I was told by a admis of NYU.

[HoO8MyRiCe]

do you really think they keep their promise? lol, so many people make promises just to make themselves look "good". most of the time theyre lying, intentionally or not itentionally.

[chibifry]

do you really think they keep their promise? lol, so many people make promises just to make themselves look "good". most of the time theyre lying, intentionally or not itentionally.

.....
No they sign a legal , binding contract.
The adcom basically said, no we dont give a crap all we really care is that you apply so we make money.

Colleges might be "evil" but they're not stupid.

[MONICA]

okay do you guys really think it matters? in the end, all of the information is the same taht they receive because you're going to have to do the supplement anyway.

[YellohSwtTart]

like chibifry said, colleges can not give preferential treatment over their own app or the common app.

there is no difference in whether you use the common app, college-specific app, or online/paper app.