Some tips on using the LSACD online application tool

• When completing the Common Information:
  • make it picture-perfect before continuing.  Errors will "flow through" to all later apps.
  • Use numeric formats (mm/dd/yy or mm/yy) for all fields that ask for dates.  Longer entries ("January 5, 1994") may seem to fit in the field, but be truncated or rejected later.  
  • Make other entries as brief as possible, for the same reason.  Type schools as "UNC," not "University of North Carolina," for instance, or you'll be doing a lot of retyping.  
  • List all summer jobs as full time, even if they weren't.  You can always delete them, or cut and paste, for schools that break these into two separate fields. If you don't mark them as full time, you'll have to retype them for school that combine the two fields.
• When completing individual apps:
  • Fill in one app completely before beginning any others.  Information "flows through" forward only, not backward, so if you start two or three apps you'll do more retyping than is necessary.
  • The only way to save your work is to exit the app. Do so frequently, for three reasons:
    1. It's always wise to save in case of crashes.
    2. The program often doesn't notify you of a problem until you try to exit.  You may have to retype large chunks of work if you don't exit to save frequently.  (And if you're as bad a typist as I am, that's a real disaster).
    3. Info requested more than once on the same app will "flow through" if you have saved, but not otherwise.
• When you open a later app, you may not see info you know you put in previously.  This is usually because it was previously requested in a slightly different format (e.g., SS# may be requested with or without dashes inserted).  Once you enter it in the new format, it will "flow through" to other apps.  
• Info entered on one form may not flow through to others because of formatting differences.  For instance, the default on multiple-line formats seems to be to auto-wrap if the form is double spaced, but not to auto-wrap on single-spaced forms.  This leaves some info to be retyped.
  • Here's a way around that problem. Enter the info on the single-spaced form even though you can't see it.  Enter it a second time on the next field-line.  It now reprints on both kinds of forms.

More LSACD Tips

In addition to the info I posted earlier, I have a few more tips to offer on using the LSACD.

• Proofread very carefully! Many questions do not ask for exactly the same info from one school to the next, and it seems to be much easier to make mistakes when mass-producing apps.
• Read the catalog instructions for all essays! The catalogs often add info the CD does not include, such as page limits and formats or suggested topics. In addition, the LSACD has the wrong info for at least one “top fifteen” school. (Sorry, the answer to which one is reserved for clients :-) The hint is that if the CD and the catalog disagree about personal statement topics, the catalog is correct.)
• Some spaces, boxes to check, etc., are “missing” -- the school says “check this box,” but no box appears. I recommend adding these items by hand, rather than ignoring them.  If you're submitting electronically, prepare an addendum.  

Make sure to look at Supplemental Forms, complete them and send them as needed.  Supplemental forms do not transmit electronically!  Print them and mail them.