Is there any benefit to applying as early as possible for regular decision? I’ve seen some people say that it’s better to get your application in early so that there are plenty of spots available and so that you get fully considered for financial aid. The problem is, I was hoping to wait until the end of first semester senior year to apply to boost my gpa a little and give time to retake the ACT if necessary. First semester ends in December, though, so it would be cutting it fairly close to applications’ deadlines.
Any advice would be much appreciated
RD usually will review your 1st semester grades – so whether or not you apply in October or Dec 31st, this facet of your application won’t matter. Some schools offer early notification or rolling admissions. You should ask your guid counselor for advice about them. In general, “late” would be in the Jan-Feb timeframe. They have plenty of spots to offer.
So it doesn’t matter when you apply, as long as it’s in the appropriate time for RD? Also, how do colleges get access to first semester grades if you apply before they’re released?
Once your grades are completed, your HS sends them to all the schools you’ve applied. VERY FEW students’ first semester grades are ready before January. This is out of your hands and is the normal process year after year.
Alright, that’s good to know. One more question: I’m taking several courses at a local university via dual enrollment. Will they do the same as my HS and send those grades, too?
Ask your HS guid counselor how dual enrollment courses get recorded. It varies.
Some colleges have rolling admissions, so that early applicants may be more likely to get their first choice of major. Others may have scholarships which have a first come first served component to them. For these colleges, it is desirable to apply early.
For your college courses taken while in high school, you will need to provide those courses and grades as well as your high school courses and grades (either by sending the college transcript as well as your high school transcript or self-reporting with post-matriculation verification, depending on what the school you apply to wants).
I don’t think there is any admissions benefit
I had my daughter apply early, even within the early action period (she submitted October 15) simply because she didn’t want to be bogged down with college stuff during her first semester or during winter break. She wasn’t expecting to hear back so quickly but she had two acceptances by Thanksgiving. That pretty much took the edge off the rest of college application season.