This is kind of a stupid question but you know…I just want to apply as early as possible to get things out of the way.
You can apply as soon as the application opens If you are 100% sure, go for it.
As long as you are pretty certain that you want to apply to a particularly school, go for it as soon as the applications are being accepted. Applying early IMHO is a good idea partly for the reason that you state: Get it done and over with (and out of the way before your current classes get seriously into assigning homework). This might also make the point that you are very interested in the school. I don’t see any downside as long as you have had enough time to think through your essay responses.
^also could be good for merit aid and admissions to be one of the first.
The adcoms actually prefer you to submit early. They download the applications in batches and entered into their system. They would like to spready out the effort instead of having most applications arrived at the last minute. In addition, submitting early (at least 2 weeks before deadline) would allow you to track the delivery of test score and transcript in the portal and give you time to take action in case something is missing. As it get closer to the deadline, the information in portal may take longer to update due to the volume of new application. If it is submitted a few days before deadline, there is not enough time to do anything even if the portal is updated efficiently. My D’s high school actually has a 2 weeks advance notice for transcriptand GC report. They will only process the request after the student has submitted the application. So all students are ahead of schedule.
Remember however, if you are applying for financial aid, the FAFSA for 2017-2018 (using 2016 income and current assets) is not available until October 1. At schools using the CSS profile, that is usually not available until October.
SO yes, get your applications organized and apply early especially to rolling admission schools. However, make sure that you paying close attention to financial aid and scholarship deadlines
Make sure transcript and SAT scores are ordered to be sent weeks ahead of the deadline, since they can take a while, especially in October, as Nov 1 can be a common EA deadline.
Do NOT wait until the deadline. Submit your early action and rolling admission…and even regular decision applications as soon as they become available for submission.
Submit your financial aid applications as close to October 1 as you can.
You will be happy to have a senior year of HS without having these application hanging over your head to do.
Unless you have a counselor who writes recommendations over the summer , no one is writing recommendations in the first couple of weeks of school.
There are too many other things going on in the school that take precedence over sending recommendations (may not be what you want to hear, but it is the truth).
The first few days of class are spent graduating and discharging students who finished school over the summer, setting up your mandated counseling schedule, making sure that you do your first attendance of your mandated counseling students, reviewing programs, dealing with programming issues, equalizing classes, dealing with over the counter students who have been admitted to your school, making sure that you are in compliance when it comes to your students with disabilities, ESL students, etc.
I am willing to bet $$ that no one is getting a recommendation or a transcript sent on the first day of school no matter how soon the kid sent in the application over the summer
The student can submit THEIR part of the application at any time. The counselor recommendation can follow later.
But you know that!
I’m suggesting that the student complete their portion of the application ASAP. Then make the requests for the school based things asap…transcripts, letters, etc.
But getting the student portion out of the way is a good idea.
And this student should NOT wait until the November 1 EA deadline to do so.