Has anyone submitted an application RD to a selective college and then received an email from that College saying (basically), “We know the ED deadline has passed but if you would like to switch your application to ED, you may do that by replying to this email to let us know by November 8th at 11:59pm.” (?) We are not in an area affected by extreme weather nor is this college.
RD application was sent end of September. We received this email on November 3rd (ED deadline was November 1st). Anyone ever heard of this?
U Chicago gave this sort of message to one of my daughter’s friends last year. She had applied EA but switched to ED and was admitted. The school must have already looked at your child’s RD application because it was turned in so early and decided they want her.
@Houston1021 , thanks so much for the input. This is my daughter’s top choice so I’m trying not to get hopes up too much but would love if that was true.
My daughter thinks the school probably sent it to all RD applicants who applied before the deadline, but I’m not sure how to know either way (hence this post).
Also, neither person who answered the phone in Admissions knew about this extension when I called to ask for forms, so that was interesting too. My daughter did take them up on the offer so I guess we’ll find out next month if the invitation meant anything.
I don’t know anything about what was going on in the admissions office, but I can tell you that if I worked there, I would send this message to everyone who submitted an RD application this early in the process. There may be a handful of applicants who thought they were applying ED, just based on the date, who were not based on the box they checked. This would catch them. And anyone who applied that early is likely serious about the school, so why not capitalize on the opportunity to lock them in early if they are interested. It really helps the schools manage enrollment.
It feels like a good move by the school. I don’t know if I would read anything into it, though. Many schools do not read RD applications when they are reading ED ones.
Hi @gardenstategal , Thanks for your response. I agree it would be best to send to all RD applicants. Why not lock them in? It was the timing I find funny (two days after ED deadline has passed). Maybe they wanted to increase their ED pool and waited to see how many came in first?
I would love to hear from someone else who had this happen. The only evidence we have that D’s application status is now changed to ED is the mysterious unnamed person on the other end of the email invitation who invited D and then sent a form requesting signatures, then confirmed receipt of the signed forms. (The financial aid office and Admissions office people told us “ED has passed” when I called to ask questions before we submitted the paperwork.) It all felt kind of mysterious.
Anyone else have a school ask if you want to switch to ED after the deadline had passed?
I think you hit the nail on the head OP. I suspect they want to lock in stduents with ED, and your daughter submitted her app so early that they are capitalizing on that as a sign of interest. Plus, she is probably a strong applicant. I suspect they wouldn’t send that kind of email to a stduent they weren’t seriously considering.
@Lindagaf , thank you. I admit that she’s a strong applicant in stats (NMSF, 35 ACT, 4.0 UW) but she definitely has normal ECs, no research experience, no hooks and didn’t take SAT subject tests (we didn’t know they were important until it was kind of too late). So we aren’t banking on acceptance at any selective colleges and she only applied to a few and then matches and safeties. Seems like such a lottery with who they accept, really.
99% of HS students with “research experience” got it because their parents are in a research field or had connections to help them find a project. Colleges know it, too – I don’t think it is as impressive as some students and parents think it is. Just don’t let it worry you.
Don’t switch to ED unless it truly is her first choice (and she has spent enough time on campus to be sure) and also if you don’t need to compare FA packages. Personally I’m a big proponent of EA and RD apps, and accepted student visits at the 3 favorite schools that offer admission.
Great points, @intparent . My daughter’s GC told her that this school rejected someone last year citing “no research experience” and that was one of the scares that made us think ED may be her only chance of acceptance (along with having no SAT subject tests). I like your view of research experience much better and am hoping that the “no research experience” excuse was one that knocked out an otherwise borderline candidate. Wishful thinking?
Yes, it is her top choice and even moreso now that she’s coming to terms with distance not being such a good fit after all (which lowers the other schools in their appeal). We have visited at least three times and she feels it’s her dream school.
With that said, I wish ED never existed. I do think it forces kids to make a decision without being able to compare all options (or else sacrifice what could be their only chance to get in).
@Lindagaf and @intparent , after spending some time the past few days browsing CC, I want to thank you both for the extremely helpful posts and responses to posts on important topics such as essay help, not feeling like you are alone in your feelings as a new college student, what colleges want to see (your personality) when answering prompts, etc. As a parent new to this, I wish I had stumbled upon these forums earlier but I appreciate what you have shared and will keep it in mind with my two younger HS kids. Thank you so much for all of your insight and for taking the time to share it.
I agree it would be best to send to all RD applicants. Why not lock them in? 
It was the timing I find funny (two days after ED deadline has passed). Maybe they wanted to increase their ED pool and waited to see how many came in first?