<p>I have a question about early decision and regular decision. Rice University is my top-choice, so I will be applying early decision there (deadline is Nov 1). Does this mean that I should wait to hear my admission decision from Rice and then apply to other colleges regular decision, or just send all my applications at the same time?</p>
<p>Another question--does it make a difference in my decision if I apply really early, ie August 1 or relatively late, ie October 29? My parents are really getting nervous about the whole admissions process, and are trying to make me apply very early while I'm trying to calm them down.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, this is something that has really been confusing me.</p>
<p>Just get your stuff in before the deadline, I don't think there is any advantage to getting it in way before the deadline (except rolling admissions but that isn't the case here). </p>
<p>Also make sure you have your other applications close to ready to go if ED doesn't work out. You can end up saving hundreds of dollars on application fees if you just wait to hear your ED decision and then sending out your other apps.</p>
<p>supertramp: when you send in your materials, a file will be opened for you. However, the file won't be completed (nor likely even read) unless your other materials are submitted (teacher and GC recs, transcripts, scores). The recs will be written for you in the Fall, right? </p>
<p>Common or uncommon, the only advantage seems to be for you -- to get it done. I highly doubt it adds any iota of advantage.</p>
<p>So today my father called the Rice admissions office. According to him, I am advised to submit all the applications together with my Rice ED application. Should I be accepted by Rice, all my other applications are rescinded. This seems a little suspicious to me since that could potentially be a waste of a lot of money compared to waiting for my ED decision and then applying to my RD colleges. Plus, this means that my ED and RD applications would look exactly the same--I thought you're supposed to make your RD application look better than the ED app.</p>
<p>Consequently, I'm a bit wary of what my father said since he might have misunderstood the lady over the phone, so could somebody please verify this? Thanks.</p>
<p>There is no reason to submit applications to any of your other colleges while you wait for Rice's verdict unless ...</p>
<p>**1) You are applying to Rolling Admission colleges. In that case, it's wise to not wait</p>
<p>2) You are applying to any college that has a "priority deadline" for financial aid or, especially, merit aid. Some colleges only consider students for merit awards who have applied by an early deadline. </p>
<p>3) You are interested in a college with a non-binding Early Action option. Assuming that this college doesn't have "Single-Choice Early Action" (which means that you can't apply to an ED school, too), then it's fine to apply to EA colleges while you wait for your ED results. You just have to understand that, if admitted to your ED school (in this case, Rice), you are committed to attend. (Unless you've applied for financial aid, and your package is so out of whack with what your EFC suggests you can afford, that you can't realistically matriculate.)</p>
<p>4) You are applying to RD colleges that have no application fee, and you want to get some of your applications checked off of your to-do list while you wait.**</p>
<p>But, otherwise, it doesn't make sense to submit your RD applications--and pay the fees--while you wait for Rice. Just make sure that you're organized and have them ready to go--or almost ready--by the time you hear from Rice, in case you are deferred or denied.</p>