<p>I am taking SATs tomorrow and applying to Cornell ED (I am going to be applying next week). </p>
<ol>
<li>What do colleges do with our applications when they receive them? Do colleges start reviewing students as soon as they receive all their documents?</li>
<li>If so, how would colleges know if a student took SATs in October and that they need to wait to receive his/her SAT scores?</li>
<li>Or colleges start reviewing students right after the ED deadline to simplify the process?</li>
<li>Or colleges somehow know those students who took October SATs and put their app on the bottom of a pile of other applications? -- if so, how is this fair to those who applied earlier but were put on hold because they didn't have their SAT scores at the time they were applying?</li>
</ol>
<p>If someone could explain the process of how colleges deal with those students who take October SATs and apply Early Decision, I would appreciate that.</p>
<p>No file gets reviewed by any persons who actually make admissions decisions until it is complete, meaning all required materials, including test scores are in. As to exactly when they start reviewing and making decisions for complete files it varies and most really don’t say but likely about a week after the app deadline for many but earlier for others (e.g., Yale has actually mentioned that they will start even before the EA deadline for complete files).</p>
<p>They don’t know until the score shows up. Cornell accepts Oct and Nov test scores for ED. It does not matter that they show up after the app deadline.</p>
<p>but I have taken the SAT test 2 times (and one today). How would they know when to start reviewing? The test scores are coming out on October 28th, so are you saying that Cornell starts reviewing after ED deadline?</p>
<p>Cornell also requires two SAT IIs. I am assuming you mean you have already (a) applied including any supplemental app, and (b) have sent SAT and two SAT II scores, high school transcript and recommendation letters. In other words, that your application is already complete. In that case there is no guarantee your file won’t be reviewed and decision made before the new score shows up although likely you won’t get reviewed until second or third week of Nov by which time Oct score should be there if you listed Cornell as a school to automatically receive your score when it is released.</p>
<p>OP, if you don’t mind, I want to ask a question of my own - itll probably help you too :D</p>
<p>1) If I want to wait till 28th to see if I need to make use of score choice, and i’m applying EA November 1st, and I send the scores on the 29th will it reach on time?
2) Should I rush my scores then ? I’ve heard colleges don’t accept/like that.
3) If we live in the 21st century, why in living hell should it take more than 5 minutes to send scores to an institution electronically ? *** e-mail takes barely a second. [i’m sure there’s some reasonable-ish reason]</p>
<p>Most colleges don’t take rushed scores. Colleges with Nov 1 app deadlines accept Oct scores for ED and EA although they may arrive after app dealine date so you can send as soon as they come out. In fact, majority of colleges with EA/ED and Nov 1 app deadlines accept the Nov test scores for EA/ED. </p>
<p>Electronic sending can take a week or two weeks and really depends on the college. If you order score automatically sent before you get score, CB will actually stick it in the college’s on-line folder the day test scores are released to you or even a day or two before that. Receipt by college then really depends on it. Most will download scores from their CB account once a week or every other week. If you wait to order on day score comes out, it can take CB a few business days to process that request (it gets thousands of like requests at same time) and thus it can take up to two weeks for school to get score (because its next download date might not be until two weeks after that score goes into its folder with CB)</p>
<p>I met with a Cornell representative on Sunday, she told me that Cornell starts reviewing apps in December because they know that students take SATs in October and November. Just wanted to let everyone know…</p>