<p>As others mentioned, when my S applied ED, he also applied early to a very good rolling admissions school (it wasn't a safety, but a pretty good match, and his second favorite choice). One he was accepted there, he could relax, knowing that he was done whether or not he got into his ED school. (we didn't know; we thought he might apply to a few more, but he'd already decided it was one or the other.)</p>
<p>I believe strongly in getting all the RD applications done, and hopefully in, before the ED/EA notification date. (I can see why some people might decide to hold off submitting for cost reasons, of course.) That way, the ED/EA application is just one of the group, the only difference being that you hear from that one sooner. Also, doing those other apps gives the student an opportunity to get more interested in those schools as well, which will also soften the blow if there is a rejection. In addition, you might really want to consider some of the other schools even if you get into the EA first choice school, and you might just bag it if the apps aren't done.</p>
<p>S1's school now has the same policy as ebeeeee's: If your apps aren't in by 12/1, you're out of luck. They do not guarantee to submit any of the school-generated elements on time, for students who miss that date.</p>
<p>They will make a partial exception for ED applicants - but only if the student completes all the school-generated-element request forms for every other school, AND has submitted at least one RD application (so that the GCs know that the common app has been completed/submitted at least once). </p>
<p>It helps that the policy comes from the school, in S1's case, though we basically enforced a similar policy three years ago with D - everything else had to be ready to go, in case she didn't get the answer she wanted on 12/15. And for S1, we've insisted that he have all essays/supplements uploaded and ready to go.</p>
<p>Several of D's good friends received bad news in the ED/SCEA round that year, and the ones who hadn't completed their essays and other supplements for the rest of their list were really miserable. I'd hate to see a kid try to write an enthusiastic "Why School X?" essay in that frame of mind. </p>
<p>I really like Hunt's point about developing more enthusiasm for the rest of the list, too.</p>
<p>
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I really like Hunt's point about developing more enthusiasm for the rest of the list, too.
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It's really true. I see it happening with my own son--in fact, he will have had a couple of RD interviews before he hears from his early app. Certainly, he'll still be very disappointed if he doesn't get in, but we can already talk about the other schools, too.</p>
<p>Hunt, I would like my D to get all her applications (at least her essays) done in September, preferably before Labor day! Once school gets under way she hardly has any spare time. Fall is particularly busy for both her extracurricular activities. I just don't see how she will have time to work on applications in October and November.</p>
<p>Hunt brings up a good point. By not doing the other apps, too much emphasis is put on putting one's eggs in one basket and all is riding on the ED/EA school. The ED/EA school should simply be one school on the list that you hear from earlier, but with equal attention spent on every application. </p>
<p>Vicariousparent....is this your first child applying to college? I also wondered how in the world my kids would do all their apps all fall given their very intense schedules that had them booked solid every afternoon, every evening and every weekend (huge ECs). But I have now been through it with two kids for undergrad and another for grad school (applied while in college) and ya know, somehow they managed to do it. They are good at time management and it spanned a few months. They could not do it in summer as they went away every summer. I think if you have a time line with a well organized plan, the student keeps an even pace and blocks out some time each week to fit in "college admissions" stuff and doesn't cram it all into a couple of weeks. It can be done. My own kids did it and I work with many other kids who have very full schedules. The most successful are the ones who pace it out and do not cram things in at the last minute.</p>
<p>^^ soozievt: You're right, first (and only). And you're right again. Every time she does something new and challenging I wonder (i.e, worry) how she will be able to pull it off and she always manages it somehow. Thanks for the reassurance.</p>
<p>My daughter is admitted at her rolling safety and waiting on her ED school. She has four other schools where all the school forms have been submitted. They're all common app schools so the main essay is done. If she does not get into the ED school she will be spending Christmas week writing her supplements. Most of those essays/short answer questions are pretty straight-forward and she's a kid who works best under time pressure. I also don't see any reason to submit application fees until she's not accepted at the ED school. It is very nice to have the rolling school in the bag already, she's happy with it and doesn't feel a need to apply to 5 or 10 safety/matches.</p>
<p>My son was disappointed when he was deferred (SCEA) but it worked out fine in the end. Over the holidays, he finished up some additional apps, including the combined med program he currently attends. If he had been accepted to Yale initially, I don't think he would have applied to this program (although he always intended to apply to the school itself as a regular pre-med). At that point, he was willing to throw in one more app. When he got accepted to both schools in April, he surprised us by turning down what was initially his "first choice." So, since he is content with his school and his program, I'd say that deferral was actually a blessing.</p>
<p>I will say there was a sense of relief over the holidays because my son received a likely letter from UNC in mid December. He liked UNC so he wasn't really worried anymore. From that point on, it was more of "it can only get better".</p>
<p>One other point about essays...if your kid writes funny essays, they will probably be funnier now than after receiving a rejection.</p>
<p>My son applied ED and was pretty emotionally spent after that process. He has since worked on another supplement or two with a good deal of effort, but the rest seem to lack sincerity and so I honestly wonder what the point is when he basically has to redo them. I think he understands that his chances of getting in ED are pretty slim since he is 1) not a recruited athlete, 2) not a legacy 3) doesn't have perfect scores and 4) is not "of color." However I do think he is underestimating how bummed he's going to be. If he is rejected, the line stops there and will crush him, if only because his grades and scores are heads and tails above the recruit AND the legacy (also applying ED). If he is deferred, the odds honestly don't seem much better.</p>
<p>My issue is what am I to say that will keep his confidence up, recognize the inherent unfairness without contributing further to his disappointment??? I am dreading it. PLUS finals start the week of the 15th. Part of me feels like I should have booked the appointment with a therapist a month ago!</p>
<p>S was notified last night that he has been admitted ED by his dream school! Whew! NOW, I'm ready to enjoy the holidays!</p>
<p>Congrats Darius...</p>
<p>happy dances in your house. Now you can have the big shredding party!!</p>
<p>congrats Darius!</p>
<p>Okay- I am going to post because you all may be the only ones who can feel my pain- I have 2 boys (twins) very different but both great students, blah, blah, blah. They have always planned on going to school together even though they have different interests. So they have applied to all the same schools- and I have been sick with worry/anticipation as to the results of their Early application. I don't care if they are deferred, denied, laughed at, thrown out as long as both get the same answer! I know (as eveyone has told me) that I shouldn't feel this way and come March I don't care who gets accepted where...but I just can't imagine how I can make it through the holidays if one gets in and the other doesn't. How can you rejoice for one and cry for the other at the same time? They have been at each other for the last week so I know they are feeling it too. Ugh...I wish I would have thought this out- I had convinced myself that this wouldn't happen but now I am dizzy with anxiety. And please....don't lecture me about how they have to split up sometime and blah, blah....I know all that... between mid-terms next week and the holidays- I would definatley do it differently if I had a "do-over"!!!</p>
<p>2by2--stop beating yourself up. They are no doubt more resiliant that we are (!). Maybe have a small private talk about it with each. Just a pep talk and an acknowledment that it might be hard and the one not accepted will feel embarrassed so the other needs to be careful...sort of thing. The loss of pride is the big thing with males this age. I am so sorry you have to go through this and hopefully it will not even be an issue!</p>
<p>Agreed - have a conversation out in the open NOW about any results that could occur. Maybe that will help get rid of some of the anxiety/expectations before the letters arrive..</p>
<p>a friend of mine last year put all her effort into an ED application to a very selective dream school. when she was deferred (and later rejected) she hadn't started on most of her other applications. she was waitlisted or rejected from schools she should have easily gotten accepted to, but i get the impression that those schools could sense the lack of enthusiasm or effort in her essays.
on a lighter note,the only thing on my christmas list was a sweatshirt from my ED school, which my parents obviously couldn't order until 10 days before christmas when i actually got in. =P</p>
<p>Of course, being rejected on EA round will give you the opportunity to look at your essays with a jaundiced eye and the time to make adjustments for those last essays that haven't been sent off yet.</p>
<p>I'm a hs senior, but yeah, definitely FORCE your kids to do their supplements/essays before hearing from EA/ED. Right now, I know of a girl who just got deferred from Dartmouth-and she hasn't done a single essay other than her main commonapp! With tests/projects at the end of term and the holidays, December isn't a good time even if one is in the best state of mind</p>