<p>Does applying as soon as common apps are available give you a bigger pool of scholarship money? Does it really matter?</p>
<p>No. But many schools have the merit scholarships only for EA/ED applicants as they have the same deadline line. So not as soon as CA is available but before EA/ED deadline may be crucial.</p>
<p>Well…sort of. Many schools have early application submission deadlines for certain merit aid awards. You need to check each school. </p>
<p>What is MORE important…if you are applying for need based aid, get those applications done accurately ASSP after they become available. There are some need based awards that have limited funding per college campus, and the early bird gets the worm (assuming you qualify for these).</p>
<p>My biggest concern is SAT scores. I am taking the May and June dates (May - Subject Tests). I was just wondering that if a possible retake in October/November would affect my chances at scholarships. </p>
<p>It can make a difference for schools that give merit on a rolling basis. </p>
<p>An example is Pitt, from what I’ve seen, the bar gets higher as time goes on and fewer scholarship slots are available. For Pitt, applying/new test scores in Nov/Dec would be towards the late side for merit aid consideration.</p>
<p>That is exactly what I am worried about. Very helpful post! Would appreciate any other thoughts.</p>
<p>^For the schools you’re concerned about, go to the individual college forum here on CC and do a Search for the name of the scholarship, there are likely to be past threads that will give you some idea of when they start to give them out, student stats, etc.</p>