Applications are accepted for at least a month, does it make a difference if you apply early in that time-frame or later? I guess I’m wondering if they wait until all the application period is over before they start accepting freshmen. (The next ACT scores won’t be available until Nov 14.)
Nope. They don’t calculate MCA scores and rank until all applications are in. I’d be confident in saying that they don’t set the cutoff for each major until all apps are in. They plan how many they need to accept to meet their yield goals, but could only know where the MCA cutoff should be after they know all the MCA scores.
I doubt it matters (like eyemgh said). However, AS A PARENT I would encourage you to get your applications out of the way early. Teenage procrastination can be a painful experience for over-thinking parents, such as myself.
Just my two cents…
UCLA is another one of my daughter’s choices and they said that they look at the date the application is opened and the date that it is submitted. They told us in the admissions session that it’s actually a factor they take into consideration, because they’re not impressed with applicants who are getting in just under the wire; they want prepared, organized applicants. Now Cal Poly may not have the same consideration, but IMHO it doesn’t hurt to act as if it does. Better to submit sooner than later. Doesn’t hurt, and then your child isn’t spending Thanksgiving weekend getting applications together.
Sound logic, @Mom2Engineers. Better to be safe than sorry.
Good point, my student has an MCA of 4895 as it stands now. He is thinking of taking the ACT again to better his chances for UCSB or Davis. I’m still learning the ropes in this process… if he submits to CalPoly with his current stats (which I think are pretty good for Biochemistry, do you agree?) he can still submit later to the UC system, right?
Students can apply to the CSU and UC systems any time during the application window. My son skipped applying to UC’s because he didn’t see a good fit as an English major. I’m not sure of the application process. However, the CSU system definitely uses a common application, so he was able to fill out the core information just once and then apply to any of the universities any time during the window. He did not have to choose them all at the same time. He applied to Sac State (local) first and then added three other schools a week later after narrowing his list. Easy-peasy.
Like I said earlier, get started on the application process early in the window. It relieves a lot of anxiety. At least for me it did. My son would have waited until the last week if it had been up to him.