So I’ve decided that I will do EA/ED for some of my schools in an attempt to gain an advantage. My grades have drastically improved in my Junior year (went from 3.7-3.8s to 3.9-4.0s this year) with more rigorous classes, and I plan on taking a more rigorous schedule my senior year. However, my SAT score could be way better (only got a 2050), so I plan on taking the SAT in June to improve my score.
This is really a two part question: First question is can I apply to a school without my SAT score at the moment? Say if I already took one, want to improve my score and plan on taking it again in June, can I still apply to schools before I take the test?
Second question is does it even matter at what point I apply? Will applying later this year in October (most EA/ED applications are due in November) put me at any more of a disadvantage then applying now?
Yes, a lot of schools let you do this. They should have posted on their website the latest test date they will accept for EA/ED. However, especially considering all the problems this past year with sending scores, I think it would be better and less stressful to get them done early.
The only schools where it matters when you apply (as long as you don’t miss the deadline) are schools with rolling admissions.
Keep in mind that the common app doesn’t open until August 1st, so you can’t apply to any common app schools until then. I’m not sure if that’s the case with schools that have their own application… I would guess it varies and they would have that information on their website.
Well if you are applying to Common App colleges, it doesn’t go up until August 1.
There is a theory that applying before the last minute puts you at a slight advantage, b/c readers are still fresh and not snowed under with tons of applications. But applying super early is unlikely to help- not least b/c most likely nobody will even open it until they are ready to start reading applications.
Finally, you know that old saying ‘you only get one chance to make a good first impression’? Why would you not put your best foot forward from the beginning? Take the June SAT and work on your essays over the summer.
You can’t apply now to most schools because applications aren’t open yet. The Common App, for example, opens in August. Colleges will not look at your application until it is complete; so if the SAT is missing, they will wait until it is sent before they review your application. In general it is ok to submit your part of the application before the SAT scores, but the app wont be reviewed until everything is there.
My advice is to spend time this summer getting your essays and activity list as best as you can make them, and apply in September or October with your SATs all completed. What about teacher recommendations? Do you have those lined up?
@ciervo Thanks all for the advice. I completely forgot that common app isn’t open until August #-o .
As for your comments, I plan on waiting for all this testing to be done before I attack my teachers with recommendations. But yeah, I pretty much have an idea on who I’m going to ask recommendations from.
This past year my D’s high school didn’t send out any transcripts until the end of September. Applying earlier than that would have been useless because the college would have still been waiting for the transcript.
