Is applying to college in late december/early january too late?

Applying to College
1

<p>I REALLY need to send this semester's grades in to my colleges, but my counselors told me that they will not be actually sent when I apply until christmas break. This gives me an extremely narrow time to apply; most of my colleges' deadlines are january 15, one is january 1st. I am worried what will happen if I send off my application the 27 of december or something. Will it hurt my chances because everyone is so busy?</p>

<p>Does applying so late really play a big decision in whether you get accepted or not? Please help me out, I am very stressed about this.</p>

2

<p>If the grades are going to be sent by your counselor, what is preventing you from applying now? Even if you do wait until the last minute, it will have no bearing on the decision you receive. </p>

3

<p>You can apply now. They will open a file and collect the materials as they come in. No problem.</p>

4

<p>Yes but I want them to see my GPA AFTER this semester’s grades have been weighted with it. I know that I can send it now, but they will see my GPA before any of these semester’s classes are weighted, which can strongly affect my chances. Or am I incorrect?</p>

5

<p>If your counselor is waiting until your grades come out and will report them, don’t worry. Don’t worry about sending your application. Schools will look for reasons to admit, not deny, you, so they will use whatever puts you in the best light. If you expect your first semester grades to help that much, maybe indicate this in the additional info section on the CA.</p>

6

<p>No one’s GPA moves that much in senior year, there’s just too much that’s already been taken to move it. Try calculating your GPA as if you got all A’s - notice that it just doesn’t move much. </p>

<p>Second, if you’re applying to RD schools, they’re going to wait for your 1st semester grades anyway. You’re safe applying now, they don’t do anything until January anyway, and then only once they get everything. If it’s rolling admission, you might want to wait, as you don’t want it processed until those new grades are in.</p>

7

<p>What MrMom says is true. For example I am predicting straight A’s this semester as a senior. Something I’ve never done before. I calculated my UW gpa will raise from a 3.68 to a 3.71. Doubt that would make a big difference in admissions at all.</p>