College Applications Go High-tech

October 26, 1994|By KELLY ALEXANDER

The college applications are piling up on your desk. Tons of questions to answer, tons of essays to write. You ask yourself: Isn't there an easier way?

The answer: There might be - if you have a computer.

Nationwide, many colleges and universities are subscribing to computer application services, such as CollegeLink and ExPAN.

CollegeLink, for example, will send computer disks - formatted for either Macintosh or IBM compatible computers - to students interested in applying by computer. Those students can use the disk to apply to as many colleges as they wish, as long as the schools are CollegeLink members. In Florida, 23 public and private universities are hooked up to the service.

"Applying by computer is becoming mainstream," said Jerry Paxton, president of CollegeLink. "Now almost all schools are looking at how to accommodate students who want to apply this way."

Paxton said using a college application program is easy.

Here's how it works: Once students receive the disks, they follow instructions that appear on their computer screen. First, they type in general information (such as name, school, grade point average and test scores) and then they write a college essay.

When the basic questions are answered, students pick schools that interest them and answer questions specific to that university.

The disk then goes back to CollegeLink, which makes printouts for each school and sends those back to the students. It's up to the student to send in the applications.

There is a price for this convenience. CollegeLink charges students $35 to process applications for up to eight schools. Regular application fees still must be paid.

ExPAN, the College Board's application service, sends applications on-line to schools. The service is free to students as long as their school has the software.

Tom Huddleston, who oversees enrollment at the University of Central Florida, said few students have used the service.

If the school needs more information than is presented on the computerized application, Huddleston said UCF would write the student and request it.

Students can call 1-800-394-0404 for information on CollegeLink or 1-800-223-9726 for details on ExPAN. Kelly Alexander is a high school correspondent for The Orlando Sentinel.

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