<p>A few emails have turned up in my daughter's in-basket that have offered free applications to schools that would normally charge $50 or more to apply...they also have slightly reduced essay requirments than a normal app might have (for instance, in lieu of an essay, turn in one of your graded papers)</p>
<p>They also state 'priority' consideration for scholarships.</p>
<p>What is your experience with this, if any, and are there disadvantages?</p>
<p>D plans on taking SATs again in early October, but her current scores are in the high range for these schools. </p>
<p>She was planning on applying to these schools anyway,and they are not applications for early decision, so they are non-binding.</p>
<p>Everyone has told me--the earlier you get your apps in, the better. You can always send additional grades/scores in later, as a supplement. That's the plan son is using.</p>
<p>It worked well for S. He didn't worry about the application, because it felt so low-key. He filled it out online, and typed out a concise reply to the short answer question. </p>
<p>The only downside was that it was hard for him to concentrate on doing well during senior year, since he was accepted in mid-October.</p>
<p>According to my daughter, Tulane promised a decision in four weeks (probably not great timing right now) and asked her to check EA or RD on the application. Does that mean RD applicants would also hear early?</p>
<p>Holymama, son got the same - I assumed it didn't matter which box you checked, as they promised a decision in 4 weeks. However, given the Hugo scene, it didn't really appeal....Tulane students were evacuated today.</p>
<p>It worked out great for my daughter. Just be sure to double check if you need to write the extra essays for the scholarship consideration. We thought "priority scholarshp consideration" meant d didn;t need to write all the extra essays, and at one institution this wrong. But all worked out well in the end.</p>
<p>The priority applications are great in the sense that an early answer comes and if accepted, you know that you have at the worst a "fallback" position. My daughter did this with Tulane this past year. Initial decision reagrding scholarship $ came with the decision. However, the full tuition scholarship at Tulane requires a separate application form, due around Nov-Dec1- I don't recall exactly-check this. </p>
<p>The only downside is that you will be bombarded with emails inviting you to make your decision early, come to various and sundry campus visits, etc. </p>
<p>The max scholarship offer that comes with the admission decision is around 24K/year, which is still less that half the COA. The temptation to apply for the full tuition scholarship is great, but the competition is very stiff.</p>
<p>Mathson did the priority application for RPI, they let him know he was in before Thanksgiving and that he would be getting a merit award. It was nice to have one in the bag so early.</p>
<p>These early apps that are sent to the students unrequested can be a benefit for the student to have a fallback position.</p>
<p>What concerns me is, I have to wonder if sending these apps to students increases the college's yield. There is no guarantee that the student will get in - odds are good that they will, but what benefit does the college have in sending out apps to students in this way? Perhaps it is a cynical view - but I wonder if they are trying to get their names out there with students. </p>
<p>This year a college in a neighboring state seemed to send these snap apps out to virtually every senior who was college bound in my son's grade. Several of my students also received them, but hadn't heard of the college before these applications came. A few of the students applied, sent test scores and so on, even though they hadn't visited campuses or even intended to go there. They felt it was good to have a backup school, just in case their top schools didn't happen for them. </p>
<p>As I would tell any student, I would hope that they apply only to colleges that they would attend. Otherwise it is a waste of money for the applicant's family!</p>
<p>S only applied to colleges that he was interested in, although he got invited to be a 'priority applicant' at several others. </p>
<p>As I recall, the application fees were waived, so no money would have been wasted. But he didn't want to waste the time in applying just to have some backup choices.</p>
<p>My older daughter received a bunch of the priority applications and my younger daughter is now receiving even more. Since many of them waive a long essay and the fee I'm encouraging her to apply for them. She had previously been interested in a couple of them so why not. </p>
<p>I haven't seen a lot of them from public universities. She's only received one from a public university. </p>
<p>Tulane had sent my older daughter one in September 2005. It took them more than the promised time period to return their acceptance reply because of Katrina. Yesterday my younger daughter was filling out applications -- she hasn't received one from Tulane yet though -- and as we were watching storm coverage we remember that this was exactly what we were doing 3 years earlier. I hope and pray that Gustav is kinder to the people of New Orleans than Katrina.</p>
<p>Could we get a list going of those schools offering priority applications? I know from my older son that sometimes all it takes is an e-mail expressing interest to get one.</p>
<p>Some are letters that simply indicate that if you apply before a certain date it's free. These, I'm sure are available to everyone. A few of the others have passwords. </p>
<p>In PA
UPitt Honors College
Duquesne
Ursinus
University of the Sciences (Philadelphia)
Drexel University</p>
<p>In NJ
Drew University</p>
<p>In NY
St. Johns (NY)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute</p>
<p>Others that my older daughter received in 2005:</p>
<p>Tulane - LA
Fordham - NY
Rochester Institute of Technology - NY</p>
<p>Some she had expressed an interest in but others she had not. If I remember correctly from 2005 -- some of the priority applications didn't arrive until October. I know that my daughter received the Fordham one in October.</p>
<p>Washington College - Chestertown MD
Ursinus</p>
<p>I think my D has been deleting quite a bit of email and not reading it. It's possible that more were sent that she simply sent to the little trashcan. Once she understood how easy they were making this, and how early she would hear back, she was pretty excited. (and not much about this process has excited her!) </p>
<p>The idea of getting a few done very early, with slimmed down paperwork and no application fee, is quite appealing. </p>
<p>Thanks for all of your replies...I didn't know schools did this. I also wanted to know if there was a down side.</p>
<p>Just looked at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Candidate's Choice Application again and I don't think it is a fee waiver...which is too bad because it's $70.</p>
<p>My daughter received a letter or email from Ursinus but I think the fee waiver is available to all. Look at the link. They waive the fee for online applications!</p>
<p>Another advantage to priority application is if you are accepted, you will probably get top choice in dorm housing if you decide to go. Housing is so tight at our state flagship school that the college counselor is telling our kids to apply for housing NOW, and she told them in August!</p>
<p>Quick question, don't really wanna hijack the thread, But I recieved priority apps from a few colleges the only two that I was interested in were UPitt Honors and Drexel (hopefully good scholarship money). I sent in my app to Drexel already and I'm gonna get my counselor recommendation next week.</p>
<p>So the question is, I got a 2040 on my first sitting of the SAT and am retaking in October. Should I just send that score to Drexel and update them later or should I just wait until October. </p>