I’ve been working on all of my applications for a while now and I’m probably going to be finished with them all pretty soon.
Is it smart to submit applications early or is it better to wait?
I can see an advantage to applying later (closer to the deadline) as I’d have more time to revise my essays if I wanted to, but I’m wondering if there’s any reason why I should apply earlier? For example, does it show interest more or anything like that?
There is no particular advantage (other than just being done) to applying before the deadline. Do so only if you feel your application is in the best shape possible.
Don’t underestimate that ‘just being done’ advantage. I asked this question for my daughter in regard to her signing a Nation letter of Intent. I asked the coach is there was an advantage, and really the only one was being done. She wouldn’t have lost her place on the team by waiting, but there wasn’t going to be more money.
It was a big relief to be DONE. She did get first pick of a uniform number.
One advantage I can see to filing an app early is that if anything goes wrong, you have time to fix it - a lost transcript, a missing LOR. If the school starts reviewing apps in the order received, you’ll be reviewed when the reviewers are ‘fresh.’ They haven’t just read 10 other essays and yours will pop.
Sometimes housing/beds is tied to when your application is received.
Also there are some schools that have earlier deadlines for Honors College and merit $. If it’s done and you are happy, send it. Have one more thing off the “to do” list.
Sending in the application early is one way to demonstrate interest.
But usually not. As mentioned before, the main advantage is getting it off your plate. But that only comes into play if you are happy with your applications and have triple-checked the essays.
Note that for many colleges, sending the application early helps the college - they get to start assembling packets. But it’s unlikely that it will get read any earlier as many AOs are still traveling doing college fairs and the like.
I’ve heard elsewhere on this forum that it helped to get the apps in early to some schools with early action or rolling. I don’t know how close it was to the deadline, however.
Every year there are students posting stories about forgetting the deadline, or computer glitches, or an illness or emergency that sends them into a panic. Sending them early can be a big relief and let you enjoy your senior year without deadlines hanging over your head.