Hey everyone. I plan on applying to my top school ED, and the decision will go out by mid-December. That being said, all my other colleges have a deadline of January 1 or 2, so that’s a half a month’s difference. Do people normally apply to all colleges even before getting the ED decision, or do they wait and save the hundreds of dollars in application fees? If I were to wait and submit the other applications only if after I was denied from my ED school, would applying to close to the deadline it hurt my chances at all? Obviously I’ll write all the supplemental essays and complete all the applications so that if I only had 16 days, I would be able to send them all immediately, but I just want to know if it’s a good idea. Thanks!!
Save the money
If you are ready to go with your other applications you are generally fine. I would wait on applying to any RD schools. However, I would apply now to the following:
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Any rolling admission schools where I would always apply as soon as possible (unless forbidden by the ED school). Waiting can hurt your chances for rolling admission schools.
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You might also apply to a couple of other schools non-binding non-restricted EA if that is an available option.
This way even if you don’t get into your ED school you might have one or two other acceptances in hand by December which is a nice thing.
As an addition to @happy1 advice, which is very good, you might consider applying early (whether it is early action or you just get your app in early) to a school that has an earlier deadline for merit aid.
The issues you have inlcude those above about scholarship dates and rolling admissions, but here are some other considerations that may lean toward your applying earlier:
- Colleges typically require high school transcripts as part of your application. Will your high school still be open after you get that ED decison so you can order a transcript to go to other colleges or will it be closed for the holidays? Also, how long does your school take to process such requests and actually send a transcript?
- Coleges require offical test scores and thus you have to order those sent also. Again, you need the time for that to be accomplished by the applicaiton deadline if it is one of those colleges that requires test scores to be in its hands by the application deadline.
- Many colleges require teacher or counselor recommendations or both. Unless you can uise the same ones (via Common App) that you used for your ED college, you will have to get and supply rec letters. You do not want to wait to get such rec letters until after you get your ED decision -- the people you need to supply those may be away for the holiday and unreachable.
In other words, a delay until after your ED decison could result in your submitting untimely applications and needed materials to the other colleges so in weighing whether you should delay, you need to consider and know for a fact whether you can get all things needed to the colleges in a timely manner if you delay.
You were all very helpful, thank you!! 