<p>Question about timimg of applications, test scores, etc. For rolling admissions matches and safeties, should D apply early on, or should she wait until she gets scores back from Sept ACT, or maybe even the December date? Some of these schools have merit money also that have priority deadlines that may slide where once the money is gone, it's gone. I guess the question is wait until she has the score she wants or just get a couple admits in early to take the pressure off? Can she then send in higher ACTs if she gets them? She's not real happy with her junior year ACT, but it's good enough to get into her rolling safety and low matches with ease. Pros or cons?</p>
<p>For the schools where her current score is high enough go ahead and apply earlier - having that acceptance under her belt does take the pressure off. I don't know about all schools but at my daughter's school she was able to send in her higher ACT scores after she had been accepted and given an initial merit award and was awarded higher merit money based on the new ACT.</p>
<p>My D is in the same situation and I've seen some online that some of her potential schools will not accept later scores for merit aid purposes. Her first SAT was in June and her math score pulled her out of the category for the highest awards. Money is a factor so we're waiting until she takes the ACT. You might email the fin aid folks at each college and get their policy in writing if it's not clear from their literature. I haven't seen priority deadlines sooner that December in our case.</p>
<p>Regardless of when she sends in the applications, it would be a good idea to fill out the applications now. Time can get scarce as the school year goes on. Also, line up teachers to get recommendations from in the first week of school, if she hasn't done so already. Good luck.</p>