<p>My daughter has her heart set on attending Cornell. She has great scores, grades, and extra-curriculars, so my questions pertain more to the process. 1) One admissions rep said that she should submit her ED application as close to the 9/1 start date as possible. I was also told that if she is planned to retake her ACT in October, she shouldn't wait for the scores to arrive before applying (even tho she'd get them before the 11/1 application deadline); that she'd be better off applying earlier on in the process, listing the future test date of October on the app without the scores, and following up by having the scores sent directly to Cornell. Contrary to this, one of the deans I spoke with asked me why we'd even try to get our app in before the deadline (this was related to another question) and alluded to me that they wouldn't start looking at apps until after 11/1 anyway. So, my question is basically, who is right, the rep or the dean? IOW, is there really any advantage to submitting an application earlier in the ED process? 2) My daughter wants to apply to two colleges. She would truly be happy at either college and feels equally about them. Even though Cornell states that the alternate college only reviews the app if the applicant is not accepted at the primary college and that the alternate college does not penalize the applicant in their review process because they are 2nd in line (as far as the applicant's choice of college), I am a bit dubious about this and am worried that applying to two colleges could work against her. Can anyone weigh in on whether my concern is valid?</p>
<p>I think she should definitely wait until the deadline, admissions - especially because it is not rolling unless we’re talking about the Hotel school (…I don’t know about ED though) won’t even start looking at apps until after November 1st so definitely edit and improve your app for as long as possible!</p>
<p>Do not worry about getting the application in by 9/1. Just make sure you get it in by the deadline. The apps are not looked at first in, first out. And as mentioned above, they probably don’t start even reviewing the applications until the deadline time.</p>
<p>Each Cornell school is looking for fit. Make sure your daughter articulates that fit in the application. No, schools are not supposed to hold it against the applicant for being the secondary choice, but if you’re articulating the fit for one school, make sure what’s said in the second essay is in line with the first. I’m also not particularly sure, but I don’t ever remember hearing anyone in the ED round getting accepted to their secondary choice, but when they’re deferred to RD (and just because you applied to a secondary choice doesn’t mean you’ll even be considered by a secondary choice).</p>
<p>Even though it might be the case, no one here actually knows if they start looking at the apps until that date or not. Only the people who read them know.
With that said, if you can get the app in earlier than the deadline, it will not hurt and the benefits if they do read them first come first serve are obviously worth it.
I applied ED to a primary and secondary college. Got in to my primary (CoE) so I cannot say anything about that… Good luck, though.</p>
<p>I submitted my ED application at 10:30pm on Nov 1st or Oct 31st so I really don’t think it makes a difference when you submit it.</p>