<p>For RD with early Jan deadlines and decisions made in March/April, it does not make much difference whether you submit early Dec or late Dec. Note, that the fact you want to add more test scores from Dec also does not mean applying early Dec makes a difference. You can always send those tests after you apply and they will be considered for admission and thus applying in early Dec won’t hurt you. Supplements can arrive after the main app and thus if you want to wait for music supplements that is no excuse for wating to send the main app. Moreover you better know exactly what the supplements require, e.g., sometimes at the end of those a form pops up that you need to have printed and signed and sent by your counselor or someone else before the deadline. The main reason to apply early: the world of applications is full of students who wait to the last minute and end up blowing the deadline date. Often it is because they will be sitting there on Dec 30 and discover they don’t have something that must be postmarked by Jan 1 and the only place they can get it is from their high school which is closed or their high school counselor who has disappeared on vacation during the break.</p>
<p>Schools that require mid-term reports require that they be submitted after the semester is over which is usually after the application deadline and thus after you have applied so that is also not a reason to wait. Many do not require or want mid-year reports because they base decisons on grades through junior year and sending a mid-year is useless for those because it will be ingnored.</p>
<p>Next, a number of schools have rolling admission – they make decisons as apps and all supporting materials are received. Even though those have Jan 1 app deadlines it is better to apply early because you can actually face the possibility of rejection if you wait to the very end simply because they may have already admitted all they are going to for the particular program to which you are applying.</p>
<p>Thank you for your words, drusba.
My counselor’s main argument is that if I send my app earlier, then the adcoms will take an extra time to look at my application, since they aren’t filled with apps.</p>
<p>I am planning to finish everything by Dec. 17-18th, I just think it looks way nicer on the commonapp with multiple test scores and a firm set of midterm grades.</p>
<p>After they look at my application, they will see that 2 subject tests are missing (I already fulfilled the requirement, however), then it might not have this grand, intended effect of impressing them. I am also worried that they might not even consider my application after this.</p>
<p>This is the only reason why I am waiting before I have my Dec. test scores.</p>
<p>One advantage to submitting in December before your school shuts down for winter break is that if there are any last minute details that you missed, your counselor is there to help out. If you wait until December 31st you are out of luck in terms of recommendations, transcripts, etc. until school resumes in January - *after *your deadlines.</p>