<p>I'm applying to about eight schools, and only one of them offers Early Action. Should I try to submit all of my applications by mid-November (as my counselor suggests)? Or is there no benefit to submitting an application a couple months prior to the deadline?</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone really knows the right answer to this. With schools that have multiple readers, there is a chance that if you submit early, your app could be placed in an early pile for reading. If you imagine x number of spots for males, x number for females – broken down into other categories too. If half-way through reading, they realize that the readers have accepted far more females, suddenly the kids in the bottom half of the pile, if they are females, may have a harder time getting in. This is totally hypothetical… Reps may be so buried doing high school visits that they don’t even begin reading until January anyway…</p>
<p>There are a few schools where some scholarships are more likely to be awarded to earlier applicants (e.g. some of Howard’s scholarships which are automatic for stats, but on a first come first served basis until the scholarship money runs out). Some other schools have application deadlines for scholarship eligibility that are earlier than the deadlines for admission.</p>
<p>Ok thanks for the info </p>
<p>+1 to ucbalumnus. You really have nothing to <em>lose</em> by applying early, but whether you stand to gain anything is school-dependent. Some schools specifically delay reading any applications until the deadline arrives, others are working them as soon as they come in.</p>
<p>There are some advantages that can be realized in getting those apps out early. FIrst of all they are done. Secondly, any mistakes and fine tuning can be done with the bulk of the project already completed. In terms of getting better chances, though it does depend on whether schools start their readings of apps early, or just hold them all for a certain date, having all your info ready to go means that your app is set aside for missing pieces like that rec letter that hasn’t come yet, etc etc. </p>
<p>If the app gets read early as one of the few ready when the process starts, you could have what I call the “empty room” advantage. It’s human nature when one has an empty room to fill, to be more generous in the beginning when the room needs more people, than when it’s getting crowded and you see the line is still long out there so you can be picky When you don’t have that deluge of apps in a stack, you probably are psychologically more generous about accepting students. Also you are more eager to meet certain categories that the school has requested so that you don’t have to worry about them.</p>
<p>The disadvantage is if you have a later test you want to take or other info that could impact the decision that are not ready to submit. </p>
<p>If you’re satisfied with your current stats and you’re not taking another SAT/ACT/subject test, submitting early takes the college application pressure off. It’s done. I call that a benefit. </p>
<p>If changes arise, then you can always contact the colleges about the changes.</p>
<p>There’s one possible advantage due to the way that some schools process applications, but you have no control over it or have any idea if it applies to the school you’re interested in.</p>
<p>Say you apply to a school that uses the following method - each application gets read by two readers. If both say yes, you go in the accept pile. And schools generally have a rule that once you’re in the accept pile, they don’t take you out except for misconduct or tanking grades. </p>
<p>So say at the beginning, they’re a little looser, or you happen to get a reader who a little less experienced and that lets a few extra through. Maybe you get those two immediate yes votes instead of only one and a move to committee - but later comes the word that too many are getting accepted, tighten it down. Being in early, you are already in the pile, so you gained. But that is a very exact circumstance and one I am sure most colleges try to avoid - ideally they want the first applications reviewed to be exactly the same as the last. That doesn’t happen either, but they try.</p>
<p>In short, try to avoid the last minute, when you just might run into the opposite, overworked and cranky readers. Send it only when you think you can’t improve it any more. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by sending a less than perfect application in early.</p>