<p>So let's say you apply to a school early decision. Will the results come to you before regular applications are due? Well before it? That would suck to be accepted and then have all that work applying elsewhere go to waste, or to be rejected and suddenly need to rush everything. Thanks.</p>
<p>You'll probably find out a little bit before the regular deadlines.</p>
<p>It varies. For the most part, you find out in mid December, and regular apps are due at the beginning of January. </p>
<p>Some schools, I believe Stanford and Middlebury are examples, have their RD apps due December 15th, so you kind of have to go through the work anyway, for those schools.</p>
<p>Half a month should be enough to finish your apps...I think most kids do their stuff in the second half of December whether they applied somewhere ED or not...lol.</p>
<p>I have to agree with pinnipotto. One of my friends started his app for Princeton the on December 31 and still got in!</p>
<p>It's a dangerous tactic to wait until you get the decision to start your other apps. If you don't get in, do you really think you'll feel like looking at other schools? It'll take a while to get over the rejection/deferral. And you probably won't do your best work on the other apps.</p>
<p>You'll be better off if you file ED/EA, then forget about it and concentrate on the rest of your applications. If you get into your early school, you won't care that you wasted some time; if you don't, you'll be happy that you got the work done.</p>
<p>For every kid like karen's friend, there are two or more who end up going to their last-choice safety because they were too bummed to work on other apps.</p>
<p>My D and S found the hardest thing about applying ED was getting motivated to work on the other 7 aps, many due on Jan. 1 or latest Jan. 15, meanwhile waiting to hear for a Dec. 15 ED outcome. If you wait it all until Dec. 15 and don't get in, you'll also be involved in some h.s. exams. As for Christmas break, fuggetaboutit. And it's hard to concentrate then, if you travel or have relatives around.
So, Chedva is l00% right. File your ED, and then pretend you won't get in, and get to work on all the other apps. If you're lucky, you'll be like my D who was literally working on one of the other essays when the happy letter came in, and she read it and happily pushed "Exit" on her app essay for the other place.
My S, who didn't get into his ED place, did have to deal with the disappointment for some days before he could get back into it all. But he learned and actually wrote better essays as he went along, and his outcome was very happy in the spring.
Some advice on ED: it's good if you're very sure it's your first choice, or if you want to improve your chances for a "reach" school, or if financial aid won't be a big factor in deciding where to attend.
Good luck!</p>