Benefits

• Sending forms through the Common Application system is free for both the school and student. Submitting the forms once allows all colleges within the system to access them. Updating information is fast and easy.
  
  

Drawbacks

• You can't submit online forms for some students and not others. All students who identify you as their counselor access your forms, if you choose to participate in the Common Application system. Students must apply to colleges through the Common Application system for the supporting materials to be electronically transmitted. You can't tailor a recommendation for a particular institution.
  
  

Participation

• If students don't apply for colleges through the system, counselors must send supporting material through the mail. As more colleges join Common Application, the process will become less cumbersome and will speed up the application process for students and counselors.