Applying for college couldn't be easier with many colleges and universities now accepting a common online application. For students, it means filling out one application and indicating which colleges it should go to.

According to John Latting, Ph.D., director of undergraduate admissions at Johns Hopkins University, the process is easier than traditional methods of filling out an application by hand. Online editing is easier than using a pen and paper or even word processing, which involved physically cutting out and pasting answers onto the form. It's also convenient to save the application online and return to it later without the need for tracking papers.

There's also the fact that the online submission is faster. There's no waiting for the mail and wondering if the envelope arrived at the school. The application administrator sends a pop-up notice when the application is sent to the colleges and sends a confirming e-mail as well. And if you win all-metro honors in football in December or earn induction into the honor society in February, that information can be added to the online application with the click of a mouse.

The Common Application (www.commonapp.com) handled more than 1 million applications for the 2007-8 admissions cycle, more than 50 percent over the previous year. The company was founded in 1975 when it handled common paper applications. Its first online applications were submitted in 1998. Today 320 schools accept the application.

This year another online company emerged, Universal College Application (www.universalcollegeapp.com), and 45 colleges have already signed on. Johns Hopkins subscribes to both services.

The online process benefits the schools, giving them the ability to communicate with students with applications pending. Latting says he can notify students to remind them that the submission deadline is approaching, for instance.

With so many students applying online - last year Hopkins received 10,261 applications (69 percent) through the Common Application and 2,407 (16 percent) through its own online application - how can they set themselves apart?

• Print out the application on nice paper and send it via mail to the university. Be sure to include a note indicating that although the application was filed online, the mailed version is the one you want them to review.

• Give teachers plenty of time to write their letters of recommendation. The best choices are those from the junior year, so you can let them know at the end of the school year indicating it is not needed back until the fall. This usually generates a more thoughtful letter.

• Answer questions succinctly. Some students err on the side of verboseness. Use summaries instead of including all of the details.

• Start the application process early to be sure that you are comfortable with the application and can think through your answers to the essay questions. o

Info: The Common Application www.commonapp.com

The Universal College Application www.universalcollegeapp.com