College Applications - Child # 3

Back in the day- (1982) -
College Applications were different than they are now.

You painstakingly wrote letter after letter to the colleges you were interested in.  They would send you some information, and then you would write them a check for $5 or so, and they would send you a giant, thick, catalog of courses and programs of study.  You would look through all of the catalogs, compare, draw checklists on paper, and finally narrow down your college choices.  For each school, you would hand write an application and essay question.  You would then stuff each application in an envelope, and you would enclose a check made out to the school.

Then came the even more fun part - sending in a check on the computer scan form for the SAT request.  Another check accompanied this request.  Then, off to the guidance office at the high school to fill out the transcript request forms.  And THEN - tracking down each teacher that you wanted to write a recommendation letter for you, filling out the stamped envelopes that were pre-addressed to the colleges, along with the reference letter form, where you had already filled out the top portion of each letter.  And then, the wait began, and you hoped that all of the parts and pieces got to your school in a timely manner.

Now- 2014 -
Things are easier - *kind of*
There is the fabulous Common App. 

With one simple account, a student can fill out one application, and write one set of essays.
Through the Common App, teachers can send one recommendation letter to the Common App, and the teacher writes an electronic submission that goes back to the Common App.

The student then track what has and hasn't been submitted via the online system, and submit one application to most of the schools to which they are applying. SAT scores still have to be submitted separately, but you can do that online now, too.  Every student still has an individual account with the College Board, where they track their scores, and submission of scores is one credit card number away.  SAT scores are transmitted almost instantaneously. 

However, every school has their own little quirks of admission.  Some require a separate portfolio.  Some ask for supplementary essays.  Every school has funky little requests for anyone who wants a scholarship.  Keeping track of the "extras" is a little tricky, but not nearly as tricky as keeping track of all of the paperwork that I kept track of back in the day.

The only drawback to this process is the ease with which applications can now be submitted.  When I was in high school, the sheer volume of paperwork kept most of us down to 3-5 schools.  Now, the ease of the paperwork encourages students to apply to many schools.  I've heard of students who are applying to 10 or more schools.  At $40 or more per application per school, those application fees can quickly add up.  When you include the cost of the SAT scores - with a separate fee for every submission - the application process itself can quickly come up to $500.

Why the Ramble?
I'm not sure what this ramble is all about.  I think I'm just appreciating the ease with which students can now apply to college, and wishing that this had been in place when I was in school.  Since we are currently in the midst of daughter's applications to college, I am both frustrated and thrilled with the process.  She's applying to four schools.  I will be able to breathe a sigh of relief when the last application is submitted on Friday.  She is being very methodical in her approach to submitting applications, and the supplementary materials, but I keep worrying that she (or worse, ME) has forgotten something.

The Homepage of the Common Application.