Students can submit the application, personal statement and pay the $35-50 fee with a credit card all online.

Cotter said MSU officials encourage students to apply online because the process is faster and easier.

He also said electronic applications are easier for people in admissions because it takes less time, since paper applications are entered into an electronic database anyway.

"It allows a minimal amount of data entry because you don't have to sit down and get the information from a hard copy," Cotter said. "And It cuts down on errors because you don't have to decipher a person's handwriting."

"It allows us to redirect resources to other areas, so it's a valuable asset to the university," Cotter said.

MSU Senior Information Technologist Richard Wiggins said the increase in students applying online might have a lot to do with the kind of access prospective students have to computers.

"The trend is for students to have a computer in the home," Wiggins said. "When I speak to parents of incoming freshmen, I find that well over half of the parents have DSL or a broadband connection."

Students who applied online said they liked the convenience of electronic applications.

"It was just easier. I was busy with work and school my last high school year, so it was really handy," no-preference freshman Matt Kappler said.

Psychology sophomore Sarah Hasan said she also liked the online option.

"Everything I needed to do was right in front of the screen," Hasan said. "I didn't even have to leave the house, it was easy."

Although Cotter said he believes a time might come when all applications will be online, he said admissions will still offer paper copies.

"We in admissions are in a customer service to some degree, so we will still provide hard copies to those who don't have a computer at home, or their comfort level with electronic applications isn't very high," Cotter said.

Staff writer Dave Salisbury contributed to this story.

Source: Jim Cotter, senior associate director of admissions and scholarships