<p>It seems like most people who do apply somewhere EA submit their RD apps before EA results actually come out. Would it be dumb of me to wait until December 15 before deciding whether or not I apply to some schools RD? I'm interested in 13 schools right now, 1 of which I'll be applying to EA, 4 of which I like as much as my EA school, and 8 of which I still like but not as much as my EA choice. If I am admitted EA (slim chances, but you never know!), applying to colleges I wouldn't choose over my EA school doesn't help anybody. I'd like to apply to as few places as I can. </p>
<p>December 15 to January 1st is pretty much only two weeks, though. Most of these are common app schools, so I wouldn't mind having the application + supplement ready by Dec 15 and then choosing whether or not to submit and pay. My main concern is that I don't want to be rude and demanding to my teachers and counselors. Essentially I'd have to request recs & paperwork from them early fall but simultaneously inform them that I may be applying to an additional 8 schools pending on my EA decision come December. I'd have all the forms and envelopes ready for them ASAP, and I assume they'd just have to make some copies of the recs, but still... Is it just rude and a bad idea? It feels pretty ehhh to me right now but so does applying to too many schools.</p>
<p>Any help or insights would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch.</p>
<p>you know, you could just give them everything and not tell them that you might not end up applying there. but if you don't want to be rude...</p>
<p>i'd explain the situation. if all they are doing is copying a rec, then theyll understand. its better you have them send it early. teachers can be forgetful, and letters can get lost in the mail and what not. don't wait until the last minute.</p>
<p>I applied to MIT and Caltech EA. Knew my college list would shorten considerably if I got into one or the other EA. Applied to UC Berkeley because the deadline was Nov. 30. Got into MIT and Caltech. Scratched off a ton of colleges from my list. Applied to Harvard on like December 27th probably. </p>
<p>So, in the end, I saved a lot of money, time, and stress. My suggestion: just wait. I mean, do the applications ahead of time if they're long/stressful; don't be unprepared, but definitely don't waste money applying places you don't have to.</p>
<p>Your recommenders can send their recommendations in before you send your app. Give them the stamped envelopes for your full list and let them send them in as they choose. (At my d's school, GCs wouldn't even entertain the suggestion of sending stuff after Dec. 15.)</p>
<p>If you don't get into your EA school, you will be in no frame of mind to write other applications during that two week period. After you send in your EA applications, forget about those school. Assume you won't get in, and write the best applications you can for the remainder of the schools. Have them completed, totally - no final editing necessary, no nothing - and ready to go. That way, if you don't get in EA, you will be able just to push a button, type in a credit card number, and you're done. (Someone else could even do it for you.)</p>
<p>A sample schedule:
Apply to your 1 EA school AND your 4 other favorite schools AND 2 safe matches/safeties.</p>
<p>By then, you'll probably have all the essays you're gunna reuse.
2 weeks is enough for 6 of your other schools. See, I did 12 in a week. Then again I got so many rejections, it's sad..</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I am admitted EA (slim chances, but you never know!), applying to colleges I wouldn't choose over my EA school doesn't help anybody. I'd like to apply to as few places as I can.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This only works if you can be certain you can afford the college. If you need FinAid and get a crummy package, you may wish you had applied at some other schools. DS's wanted to stop pursuing other schools after being admitted EA at his top choice. I wouldn't let him do that and as it turned out the FA package was about $25K worse (over 4 years) than the other schools, even after negotiating a better deal. I left the decision up to him and he turned down his top pick because he didn't want to take on that much debt.</p>