<p>Yet another annoying question here. (For those of you who wonder why I'm asking on behalf of DD, she works all day and almost never gets near the computer, so my contribution to this process (aside from financial) is to ask her questions and report back answers or places to further research.)</p>
<p>Anyway, here's the question: she's worked pretty diligently and has her nine applications and essays done except for the recommendations, and has put together little packets for her GC and recommenders (she asked them last year). She is applying to two EA schools and three rolling schools and is wondering if it's best to wait till closer to the deadline to send in the apps in order to not look desperate, or if she should send them in earlier in the process since she's ready? The EA schools are (I think) November 15. Should she wait till like November 1 or just get it over with by, say, October 1? Sorry to bother you with such a silly question, but we only see each other after midnight and perhaps we're both overthinking.</p>
<p>I don't see anything wrong in sending them as soon as the admissisons offices are up and running. You might check with individual schools to see when they are ready.</p>
<p>Another vote for send them in. Beat the rush. Have peace of mind when everyone else is getting frantic in Nov. It makes it look like she plans ahead, doesn't procrastinate--that couldn't hurt at all.</p>
<p>Kudoes to your D for being so well prepared! Obviously, the ones to send in first are the rolling admissions ones. I would suggest holding off on the EAs until she knows the recs are forthcoming. The chances of misfiling are greater if documents are received far apart (make sure she has her name and DOB on every piece of paper--I told my S to write these down on every page he submitted). </p>
<p>I also suggest she set those essays aside for a while and come back to them in October and take another look at them. With a fresh eye, she might see how she could improve them even more. And if she is happy with the results of her rolling admissions decisions, she won't have to fork over the application fees.</p>
<p>It is always better to get rolling admisison apps in early. The schools will respond much faster early in the cycle, and nothing is better for morale when doing the heavy duty apps than having an admit under the belt. Frequently, standards are also the loosest early on.</p>