<p>I am for sending in the applications and the materials, and holding the check until ED results are out.</p>
<p>Okay, I just found out from S that GC will NOT send out their documents without proof of application fee payment. Of course, S did not bother to ask why ("Was I supposed to?") :(</p>
<p>I've noticed that the GC office is extremely protective of the high school's reputation. They've emphasized both to the kids and the parents that an action taken by a student can affect the other students. I suspect they are concerned that if they send their documentation and the student has not paid, this may not reflect well on them. Of course, I am just speculating; I guess I'll have to call tomorrow.</p>
<p>The common app site won't let you submit application without payment of fee either. I guess it's a lot for the schools you are applying to to log in. Often, the payment was cashed weeks after the apps. arrived at office so they probably don't have a mechanism to check which have payed and which haven't. If the Chicago blog is any indication, all parts of app. are separated.</p>
<p>As I said, we waited until we heard. Perhaps you could do triage and send out let's say, three, to ease your anxiety. Make one a safety. Or send any with rolling admissions. Or wait. We had no difficulty with waiting. All materials were received on time.</p>
<p>I think you can indicate you will send a check in the mail for payment on the common app site, but then again, S has yet to submit one, so I'm not sure. Mythmom, it's good to know that the materials were received on time. I'll let him finish all apps, and then we can discuss the issue again.</p>
<p>There is no need to send anything early, there is no benefit. Adcoms won't start seriously look at those apps until a few weeks after deadline. Our GCs told us not to worry about applying to additional schools over xmas break. They could still send their packet in Jan. Your GC is on the money about getting all apps done before ED/EA notification. My daughter and her GC was so sure she was going to get into her ED, she was only half finished when the decision came out. We spent 2 weeks putting 10+ apps together. The secretary in the GC's office was just as surprised to have to put all of those packets together for my daughter. Bless her, she got it done before she left for the holidays. I would make sure it doesn't happen again for our 2nd daughter. I would also strongly suggest to submit common apps electronically, rather than by mail. They will get into schools' database faster, therefore get scheduled interviews earlier.</p>
<p>We submitted apps. electronically on common app. site and arts supplement by priority mail. Included three CD's. That was the biggest job: Burning and labeling ten CD's and labeling ten CD cases. It was a factory. But DS did get into top choice of RD schools and had a "what was I thinking?" moment about his ED school. Someone sure was watching over him.</p>
<p>D didn't complete any of the supplements and just hoped for the best. She would have had a VERY busy Xmas if her ED shc hadn't accepted her.</p>
<p>Momoschki, your son is setting himself up for a miserable Winter Break if he doesn't get at least some of his secondary applications done. I hope your family doesn't have travel plans. </p>
<p>For most kids, the shock of getting deferred or denied by an ED or EA school takes a few days to wear off. Then there are a few days of questioning one's strategy, and rethinking the college list. All of this happens just as the last crunch of homework is due just before Winter Break, of course. The student won't get around to actually filling out the next set of applications until a few days into his vacation. If he has a half-dozen more schools to apply to, well, there isn't much time.</p>
<p>Could the two of you work out an agreement where he has his recommendations and counselor's report taken care of by December 1, and the Common App filled in before the ED notification? It could save a lot of stress later on.</p>
<p>I very much agree with midwesterner. It is best to get all the RD apps out of the way before the EA/ED results come in.</p>
<p>S sat down with H this weekened, discussing the pros and cons of sending apps before ED notification or simply getting them ready and send after if ED does not work out. S & H have very similar personalities - don't care for anxiety, like to get things in order ahead of time, etc. - so they both decided it was wise to send in all apps before ED notification since GC will not send their documents if we do not show proof of app payment. I argued with their decision, but in the end, I agreed when S said, "Having everything in early gives me peace of mind." Senior year has been tough so far on S (being in a play, writing plays, taking very tough courses, college application, etc.) that I felt he did not need the extra anxiety on this issue. A few weeks ago, he was fine with waiting, but after spending time thinking through the whole process, he felt better if the apps were sent early.</p>
<p>My son has several EA and rolling schools, some special programs, scholarships, etc that need to go out early. It's nearly as easy for the teachers and counselor to send the stuff all out now, since they will have all the info on their computers and just have to copy and stuff the envelopes. From what our counselor says, they want their end out as soon as possible because there is always a terrible last minute crunch before the holidays. And if the admissions secretary or counselor or teacher gets sick, or is otherwise unavailable, you may have a problem. If your child is applying to a number of schools and programs, the more stuff he has out there, and check lists saying the stuff has been received, the better off he is going to be, A reason for the apps not to be sent at the time is really for monetary reasons, and also because you may want to change and add things as the semester goes on. My son has some great things to add to his honors and activities now at the end of his first quarter and he has already sent out some of his stuff. He will send an update, but he can add the info to the apps that are not yet sent. The fewer pieces of mail you have out there during the heavy holiday season, the better off you are.</p>
<p>Also, some essays could use tweaking, or changes. If you get feedback from early schools that have not accepted you, that can also be done. So the app can be held for several reasons.</p>