<p>EA/ED/EASC deadlines are fast approaching, as every parent whose kid is going this route knows. My question is this: What happens to the RD apps that are sent in "early"? It seems to make sense just to send in all the apps to the schools that take the Common App (EA/D and RD) at the same time. Do the RD apps just sit there in the files while the adcoms are madly reading the Early apps? Is there any benefit (other than peace of mind at having them in) to the students? Do colleges (other than those who are rolling admissions or with double early deadlines) ever let students applying RD know of their decision before mid April?</p>
<p>Yes, the RD application just sit there until the EA and ED applications are reviewed and decided upon.</p>
<p>Some schools do send out "early writes" before April 1 to top candidates who've applied RD to let them know that they're going to be accepted. However, I doubt early writes are tied into sending your RD application in early; they're just, as I said, to let top candidates know a bit early.</p>
<p>I would not send RD apps early. There is always the possibility of adding new info, polishing the essay, if the ED/EA apps do not pan out as desired as well as saving the app fee if they do. My S would have used the Common App for RD applications if he had needed to. He actually tweaked it to suit different colleges, keeping the different versions in reserve in case he needed to send them out. In the end, he did not.</p>
<p>Also, while it's a good idea to get the basic RD apps together early, why pay the fees when there is a chance you won't have to submit them i.e. ED acceptances?</p>
<p>Very much agree with marite. DS' GC says that one of the benefits of ED/EA occurs even if you get a "negative" result. No one wants this, but it helps one tweak the list and tweak the apps. I would wait. Even if you are using the Common App, you can't revise what you've already submitted to a given college, but you can *and should *(in some cases) go back in and edit/improve/update before you send to a different college.</p>
<p>Frankly, our thought of doing this was to a) get it out of the way since we will be leaving town from Dec 24 through Jan 1st and b) to de-emphasize the EA school (and it is EASC not ED) so disappointment, if it comes, is not so acute. Also, she already had the teachers and GCs send letters, so would "feel bad" if she didn't submit the rest.</p>
<p>Well, SCEA results come out on Dec. 15 or earlier, so she could send the apps before leaving town. Meanwhile, she would have six more weeks to update and tweak the essays. Are you prepared to pay several hundred dollars more just so that your D will not "feel bad" if she does get good news on Dec. 15? If she is absolutely sure of getting in, there's no reason to send in more apps; if she is not, then there is reason to see if there are ways of improving the app. Usually, that means working on the essays.</p>
<p>Also, she should not feel bad about failing to complete apps if she is in to her ED/SCEA (or even EA) school. Teachers don't expect a kid to apply to schools after acceptance to one they really want. They will be thrilled for her if the additional recs are not "used."</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice. It all makes sense just to have it all ready to send in December, but ready to revise/adjust if needed. Am I mistaken that the deadline for most is Jan 1st?</p>
<p>quiltguru, Jan 1st is a general guideline, but we found last year that there was a range from Dec. 15 or so until Jan. 15 or something like that, so you really need to check explicitly for each school. I had created a spreadsheet which tracked due dates and required documentation per school, so that I could bug S1 about due dates. He's a "just-in-time" kind of kid, and has been since pre-school. It will be interesting to see how he juggles due dates in college!</p>
<p>Our S applied early RD to Clemson as the school stated that apps received by 1 Dec would get an early look, earlier notification (15 Feb) and priority on financial merit aid. In addition, dorm priority is based on the date the application was received, first come first served.</p>
<p>Two of my daughter's prospective schools promised a mid Feb decision if app was in early. In addition, a third school required their merit scholarship applicants to have app in by 11/1.</p>
<p>Some ppl that I know did hear early when they applied early for RD. However, these were not highly competitive schools. Also, I called a school and asked when S could expect to hear after straightening out a problem w the app. They told me that they start "rolling out" decisions in mid December. This is not a rolling decision school. The choices are ED or RD.</p>
<p>For me, even though one of my schools has an earlier deadline, I'm not applying to each school until a few days before the deadline because I know I'll regret not being able to edit my essay, or having new information, and it would just make me very panicky since it kind of extends your waiting time in a way.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, the schools pushing D for her app are not EA schools whose dates are 12/1 to 12/15. They are the RD schools with January or February dates that would like her to play ball for them and in one case , a scholarship bunch who wants her app in early. They continue to suggest that it is beneficial. Are they measuring interest this way?</p>
<p>Stanford's RD deadline is, preferrably Dec. 1, firmly Dec. 15.</p>
<p>It may be interest and it may be the admissions office trying to spread there workload out a bit. I think if I heard 'scholarship' and 'early submission' in the same sentence I would take the hint, however. </p>
<p>The other strategy is to send a very brief update letter or e-mail at the time the midyear grades go out.</p>
<p>quiltguru -
the other date that varies is that for financial aid paperwork - and remember that the CSS Profile has a one-week lag from the time you complete it online till it gets delivered to the colleges! I had a checklist with all the dates on it and I was still late with the Bowdoin paperwork.</p>