Applying to schools before you know the decision for Early Admission?

<p>I'm applying early this November.... but I will not know the result until december 15h. Should I pay the application fees for the other schools beforehand, or wait until december 15th to give the recs to my teachers and start applying to the 6 other schools?</p>

<p>You should move along with your other applications. You don't have to send them, but at least half should be ready to go by mid-December. If you do get a rejection from your EA school, it could set you back quite a bit while you wrestle with the emotional shock. I've seen kids freeze up and question their whole strategy to the point where they could not continue with their applications. And you don't want to spend your whole Christmas vacation doing applications, do you?</p>

<p>that would make for a bad christmas.... especially since i will be in mourning over my EA school. Is it worth the $400 though? and, more importantly, will 2 weeks be enough time for my teachers to send out my recs (if they have already written me a rec to my first choice school)? Thanks</p>

<p>bump..................</p>

<p>can't you get the process started, by getting your recs and essays, and most of the application done, but wait until your EA decisions come in to actually send the apps. and pay the $400 dollars of fees?</p>

<p>Well if you're doing EA I think you should go ahead and do the other applications anyway since you're not required to go there....unless it's your absolute first choice. You might change your mind or whatever.</p>

<p>If you're doing ED, that's a different story. I'd have them ready to send off unless the due date is before december 15 (i.e. UC system apps are due november 30) and mail them off if you get rejected. If you get in, however, drop everything and burn your applications and go party or something. You deserve it.</p>

<p>Let your teachers know what your schedule is. They may want to do the recs in advance since they will have a lot of other things to do in mid-December. My sons' school has a December 1st deadline for all requests for recs, which I think is a good idea. You don't want a recommendation thrown together at the last minute by an overstressed teacher, do you?</p>

<p>Anyway, I'd hold off on mailing the applications until after December 15, if you can. That way you won't pay the extra fees.</p>

<p>Yup, do the recs and hold off on the mailing. Almost all schools have deadlines for asking teachers for recs and you are not likely to find a teacher in mid Dec. who is around and willing to deal with your recommendation.</p>

<p>i see..... but what happens if the teachers send in your recomendations before you start an admissions file for the RD schools?</p>

<p>Doesn't matter. The school will open a file when they get the recommendation. In fact, you can have your entire file complete except for the application itself.</p>

<p>If you are applying for financial aid, you might want to apply to other schools, so that you can compare the financial aid/merit aid packages. I assume cost is a concern if you are worried about $400 in application fees.</p>