If you apply regular decision earlier, will you get a response earlier?

<p>I applied to a couple schools last weekend when I was applying to SUNY Binghamton for EA. I applied to get the whole process out of the way, but I was wondering, if I apply three months earlier than the deadline, wouldn't they have their decision a lot earlier? I applied to Clarkson and RIT for electrical engineering, if that helps.
Not to sound like a complete idiot, but can someone explain it for me? Logically it makes sense to me that these schools aren't really getting that many applications right now, so they would probably have their decision made by December, but I won't know until March. Has anyone ever thought about it or can explain it?</p>

<p>Doubtful, unless the school has rolling admissions.</p>

<p>You can always call and ask. But you can also assume that if you used the CA, and they didn’t download your materials yet, they aren’t looking at your app yet.</p>

<p>RIT and Clarkson both have ED, so they will likely focus on ED applications only until that process is done. There would be no reason to look at a RD app right now with all the ED apps coming in.</p>

<p>Is there a reason you did not apply ED anywhere, since you seem anxious for a decision?</p>

<p>ED is too much of a commitment, haha. I’m just a little anxious because a lot of my friends are applying to small LACs with rolling admissions, so they know already that they’re going somewhere. </p>

<p>No I was just curious as to why they wait so long, but that does make sense. </p>

<p>Apply somewhere rolling admissions then.</p>

<p>My son applied to an ED school (loves it, we are hoping for the best) but also two EA schools. He will find out within two weeks in December about the decisions.</p>

<p>I’d apply to more SUNYs if you find any you like, because they are sort of rolling based on this:
<a href=“http://www.suny.edu/student/apply_online_faq.cfm#Deadline”>http://www.suny.edu/student/apply_online_faq.cfm#Deadline&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Admissions officers are also recruiters - they are traveling the country trying to get people to apply and attend their school when it’s not reading season. It’s not like they’re sitting around waiting for your application to arrive - they have other duties to perform. Read “The Gatekeepers” if you really want to know how it works.</p>

<p>No, if it’s Regular Admission, not Rolling Admission (the institution may evaluate your candidacy sooner, but will want to retain the option of changing their initial decision based on the “pack” of applications that follow yours). </p>