Thinking of R2

I'll be applying in R2 as well.

Something I noticed as I was reading about the admissions process was that they would be using a 3rd party to verify my work history and the subsequent expense is something that I'd be liable to pay for. Now, I have no intention of falsifying my work experience in my application but I was wondering about this process and specifically how much I will be charged for it. The application process can be expensive and I was hoping the expenses would be limited to the application itself and the interview process. Is this practice common among all top American programs (or international programs for that matter)? Also, is there anyway I can provide them with employment records or some other form of verification in order to bypass this expense if it is material? Thanks in advance

Planning to apply in R1 or R2. Need some advice. This is my first app ever. And I have just gotten started. I have about two weeks to go till Oct 10th. Am I cutting it too fine or not doing justice to my application by applying in such a short period of time? And should I consider R2? A quick reply would be greatly appreciated.