First impressions do make a difference, and we prefer a typed application so we don't have to interpret the information.

(Applying early or contacting professors) shows interest.

Students forget they can use (the school of their choice) as a reference on how to write the essay.

When reading an essay, it's immediately obvious if the student put a lot of thought into it. It should reveal something about the person to know the student better since we often don't meet them.

For me to get my hands on all that information - that's priceless. Once I've downloaded it, I can listen to what they say again and again.

In this traditional approach, there is no chemical information being transferred in any way.