<p>I'm currently applying to a university which states that the deadline for submitting financial statement is Feb.1st. I'm thinking about sending out all my application stuff for all the schools I apply asap before Jan 1st, and then work on the finacial stuff after that. In this way, I can save some time before Jan 1st, and focus more on my application.
So will this affect the speed of the adcom when processing my application? Will they not start viewing my application stuff because my financial statement isn't ready?
I really need help on this!! Thank you!!</p>
<p>Usual situations, don't know which you are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>For most US applicants, the financial statement has nothing to do with admission but instead is only used to decide financial aid that will eventually be given after you are admitted. In fact, the financial info, usually provided on a federal government form called FAFSA, most often goes to a different department at the college and those deciding admission don't even know whether you have applied for it. Thus, waiting until after Jan 1 is fine if the college does not require any finaincial statements until Feb. It sounds like you may be in this group. (Note, however, you mention one school having a Feb deadline but then mention putting off financial statements for all schools to which you are applying -- you MUST check each one carefully to determine due date for your financial info because those dates vary and a number may want something earlier than Feb and some by application deadline.)</p></li>
<li><p>International students may have a different issue. Many colleges, including most public univerisities, do not provide need-based financial aid to internationals and large numbers of colleges require, as a condition to be considered for admission, that international students submit finanical statements that show they can afford the costs of college and those must be submitted as part of the application for admission.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Princess: it's clear that they have staggered deadlines so that they can start evaluating your application without need for FA forms. If they needed both, then they'd only have one deadline -- make sense?</p>