"I've had to reorder typewriters so many timesjust to accommodate students," she says.
With equipment that ranges antique toreconditioned heavy-duty office machines, Silbertsays students have the option of renting thetypewriters by the week for $40 or by the monthfor $60. If, after a month of renting studentsdecide to purchase the machine, Silbert says allof the rent paid can be applied toward thepurchase price, usually about $125 total. Inaddition, Silbert also rents typewriter time inthe store for $ 6 an hour.
Silbert says a number of prominent national andlocal celebrities as well as Faculty havetraditionally frequented her establishment fortheir typing needs.
"A lot of them are just typing their memoirsand a lot of them just prefer their typewriterseven over their computers," she says.
Despite students' familiarity with computers,Silbert notes some still need assistance using themore rudimentary instrument But she says Harvardstudents are quick learners.
"At least with the kids, they might not knowanything about [typewriters], but once you showthem, they how to do it," she says.
Paying By The Rules
Given the choice, Yung says she wishes hermedical school applications could be completedonline or in computer formats.
"If I had the option I would definitely preferthe computer all of the time," she says. "It'smuch more hassle free."
Realistically, however, Yung says she does notforesee scannable applications in the near future.
Given the opportunities available now, OCSadministrators say they recommend students eithertype their applications or cut and paste text froma computer printout before copying theapplication.
"We never suggest students to hand write," saysAdonica Y. Lui, assistant director of fellowships.
Lui says most applications she sees are copiesof originals onto which text has been pasted. Butshe says applications for nationalcompetitions--like the Truman Scholarship--aremost challenging for students because they havethe most restrictive spacing requirements.
But in her experience, students tend to opt forthe cut and paste model.
"I think most people are using their computers,but a few of them are still wrestling withtypewriters," Lui says. But "we don't even knowwhere they can find them.