if you don't want to fill out an application, just join one of the FCs that don't recruit like that.
I used to be quite wary of applications too, until I actually went and 'bit the bullet' in SW:TOR.
the result is astonishing:
I've been in this (the TOR) guild for almost 2 years now, made lots of friends - even met a couple of them in person even though we're on a US server and I'm from Europe. I love these people.
why they/we have an application process? so we know people fit in with us. we care exactly .zero. how good you are. we'll help you get better and if you never do that's also ok! we expect that you are dedicated to the guild and that your goals are the same as ours. our app helps us to 'filter out' the elitist douchebags and still make sure people don't join us just because they saw our tag in a random warzone...

it's one of the reasons I haven't joined a FC in this game yet. I'm not sure if I want a 'casual' FC, an 'endgame' FC, or an FC that is like my SWTOR guild :P