<p>Hi parents, I've been PM'd by a few students recently asking when they should apply to the Universities of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington.</p>
<p>The answer: EARLY!</p>
<p>For Michigan and Wisconsin, this means during September/October. For Washington, I believe the Rolling Session 1 deadline was late October. So get those letter of rec forms rolling out, and keep an eye out for apps over the summer.</p>
<p>This year Michigan reported having admitted approximately 80-90% of its class by February, an astounding number considering the app deadline wasn't until Feb. 1st. There are countless times on the UM forum where students admitted to Duke, Cornell, Columbia (even Stanford!) were waitlisted or denied at UM with 2200+ SATs simply because they applied late in the process. Likewise, students with 28ish ACTs were admitted by December, simply because they proved interested in the school and had good GPAs/ECs.</p>
<p>I applied to UW, UM, and Wisconsin by the end of October, and had a decision from Michigan on November 9th, from Wisconsin on Nov. 20th or so, and from Washington in mid-December. It sure felt good to get admitted to some great schools early!</p>
<p>So just a little heads up, since I know deadlines can pass quickly! Oh, and get to know your regional reps...in many cases, they're the ones with the rubber stamp.</p>
<p>I second the advice to apply early. Last fall there was an odd little rumor going around my S's school (started by a teacher) that applying too early could put some students at a disadvantage (huh?). Don't believe it! If your rolling schools require teacher recommendations, get them lined up now. Check the websites of schools you're applying to for the dates their applications go up online (often in August). Finish your applications during September.</p>
<p>Early acceptances will also put your mind at ease. It's great to know you're going somewhere.</p>
<p>Great advice!
True of Penn State too. You can apply as early as mid/late August.
LOTS of kids with great stats were rejected/deferred to other campuses this year. Especially Engineering and Business students. These kids applied in December or even January - thinking PSU's schedule was in line with other application deadlines. NO! Some of these kids were using it as a safety and couldn't believe they didn't get in.
And yes, it's a HUGE benefit to know early that you're in somewhere.
BTW, Honors college is a separate application and it also pays to submit early (decisions are released in February)</p>
<p>Purdue is another school with rolling admissions. Two years ago my son applied the day after Labor Day in September, the earliest allowed, and was accepted on his birthday three weeks later. It was fabulous knowing he had such a great acceptance in-hand so early in the process.</p>
<p>My advice to all students applying to rolling admision schools is apply early! In fact, do EVERYTHING as early as you can (deposit, get on housing lists, etc.) You always want to be the "first" in line for whatever it is!</p>
<p>If a rolling admissions school is on your list, it's great to know you're in somewhere. It makes waiting for those April 1st admissions schools far easier.</p>
<p>agree with the other postings. d took advantage of UMich early response (applic in prior to 10/31). In fact submitted it early Oct, had acceptance letter prior to Thanksgiving</p>
<p>My D is going to attend University of Pittsburgh in the fall. She got all her applications in early October. She head from Pitt by Halloween. While she hadn't yet decided that was where she wanted to go, it was a huge relief to have one acceptance early in the college admissions process. I have a son in 10th and I will definitely have him apply to a few schools with either EA or rolling admissions that he is interested in (maybe not top choice but not a school he has no interest in) just so that he is not sweating it out until March wondering if he will be accepted anywhere. And we certainly found the earlier you applied the better chance of being accepted.</p>
<p>I second (third, fourth?) that advice. My son had his applications submitted in late August/early September for his rolling schools. His first admission came in early October, with others following quickly. What a relief to have it off his plate early on, so he could concentrate on his senior year.</p>
<p>I second that advice, especially for the UW. If you apply by the December 1st priority deadline (required for honors students), then you will hear back relatively quickly and have a great chance of getting in.</p>
<p>Housing is another good reason to apply early to rolling admit schools - sometimes choice housing goes to the early birds, sometimes all available housing goes to early admits.</p>
<p>Scholarship monies and scholarship perks also sometimes get doled out to the early applicants and/or those who attend some scholarship events that you only get invited to if your name is on the mailing list early enough.</p>
<p>My D applied to the Univ of Alabama relatively late, in mid to late October, and did not attend the scholarship events. She received the equivalent of tuition for in state, but got none of the other perks that members of her class with much lower test scores and GPAs qualified for. This was OK for her, because Alabama was a fall back for illness or death in the family or catastrophic financial circumstances, and she was happy her classmates got such great deals, but it would not have been so OK if Alabama had been her first choice safety - get those apps in early, for best pickings.</p>
<p>The Arizona schools have 'scholarships' for OOS kids which helps to cut the tuition to close to in-state rates. But, the money is first come-first served. Apply early, before the budget runs out!</p>
<p>While applying early is a great idea for all students except those who need time to bring up their grades, Wisconsin insists that those who apply just before the deadline are not at a disadvantage. The slots will not all taken, because admissions postpones many marginal candidates, accepting them after the deadline if there is room.</p>
<p>I think this is a general guideline for most rolling schools. PSU changes the criteria for admits as time goes on. I think the first increase in standards is around Nov 1.</p>
This is true, but there's one more thing to consider: the turnaround time for the later applications took a long time this year. My son turned in his Wisconsin application in September and got his acceptance very quickly, while those who applied later had a very long & frustrating wait because there were so many applications for admissions to sort through.</p>
<p>I agree too. The earlier, the better when applying to a rolling admission university, especially if you are treating that as your "safety" application. Get your application in early, and get your news early. Don't let the school fill up before you apply.</p>
<p>Also with many schools there is more merit scholarship money available - so certainly if the school is safety school and then you receive merit scholarship money with your acceptance letter it certainly is an even bigger relief.</p>