If I send in my application now, won’t that mean that I will not be able to add other extracurriculars that I may do this fall? Wouldn’t that put me at a disadvantage? Should I wait to apply until it’s nearer to the deadline?
Are you a senior? Are you applying to public or private universities? Are they highly competitive?
I am a senior and am applying to a mixture of public, private, competitive, and noncompetitive schools.
I don’t see how that relates to the question.
Depending on what you plan on joining this fall, something you’ve only done for a short time may not be as impressive as something you’ve been doing for a while. We don’t know what the activities are so it’s hard to give specific recommendations.
If any of the schools have rolling admissions, it would be better to apply soon, even if you aren’t able to add more activities to your app.
Well, for instance, my grades will probably be better later in this year. I also intend on taking on a few more projects in the clubs I’m in and have been in. I’ll probably also log some more volunteer hours…
Would colleges take into considering the fact that I’ve not been able to include these things because I applied so early?
Because it won’t really matter for your public or not highly competitive choices anyway if your ECs are exactly perfect. If the deadline is Nov. 1st you could wait until a week before if you really think things will change but last minute senior year adds won’t have a big impact.
You could always send a update if you think it is critical but colleges understand these are activities that continue. Unless your grades are lacking, it is better to apply early.
I’m applying to some highly competitive schools along with noncompetitive ones. Princeton and WashU are my reach schools, and I need to maximize my chances of getting into these. For instance, my grade in English right now is a B, but I’ll probably get this up before some of these schools’ deadline in January. Also, in one club I’m in, I think I’ve a good chance of being elected president this year. These small changes could severely affect my chances for those two schools mentioned above.
Now isn’t early, often on CC the focus on ECs is for the high stats kids looking at highly selective schools. For the rest of the normal kids (like mine), some EC you haven’t done by now will not be of consequence.
Earlier is better for highly competitive schools. They start filling seats with ED and then there are less seats and it gets even more competitive. Students who get in ED wouldn’t always get in RD. It’s a game of musical chairs. Less seats available. And if you want merit money, there is sometimes limited money so the early bird gets the worm.
What about colleges that don’t have rolling admissions or a priority application option? Would it make any difference if I applied early for these colleges?
Give me an example you are thinking of
I’m out of time so I’ll give you an example. UMass Amherst has an Early Action deadline of Nov. 1. I would submit at least two weeks before. Better chance for admission into competitive majors, better chance for honor college acceptable and more merit money. IME
I’m not doing early action or early decision at any school.
There are some schools which have a “priority deadline” which is basically early action but you get your letter of acceptance/rejection at the same time everyone else does. However, what I’m asking about are schools which don’t have this priority deadline. For instance, with UC Boulder, I just need to have applied by their January 15 deadline (I also think they don’t do rolling admissions.). What about something like this?
UC Boulder has a November 15 Early Action date. I would submit by November 1. I don’t know why you would wait. Better chance for merit money likely also.
I think for ECs that you have been doing for a while and expect to continue, it is fine to put 9-12 or whatever in the grades you participated. Things like captaincy of a team – if you haven’t been officially named, you can’t put it down.
You can send an update after the app goes in if it makes sense. My kid sent an email listing a couple of significant accomplishments before she got back her decisions (I think sent first week of Feb for schools not sending decisions until March).
Your app won’t be considered until it is complete – so that means recommendations and transcripts, too. I personally would apply early to any public university. Most seem to get pickier as the application year goes on. And I’d meet the priority deadline if one exists (schools like students who are organized and interested enough to meet those deadlines). And if there is an EA round and you can apply EA without violating any other agreement, try to do that.