<p>Any opinions about sequencing applications? S will of course do EA first, but I'm wondering if I should suggest he send the CA in for those two only and then wait on the 8 others in case he wants to do more work on it (CA). And then, does it make more sense to do the most complicated, time-consuming supplements first (swallowing the frog) or maybe getting a few of the easier ones done first, to get a sense of making progress? Of course it will be S's decision, but if others have guidance on this I'd appreciate it.</p>
<p>How about doing the apps in order of most desired school(s) first, then working down the list- that way if he gets burnt out he won't mess up on the school he really wants to go to (and can get into)? There may be a mix of easy/hard apps. The short, easy essay et al can be sloppily done if rushed at the deadline, hurting his chances just as much as at the complex app schools.</p>
<p>He doesn't want to rank them until he knows where he's accepted, so he won't end up feeling he's going to somewhere "second rate" (none of them are).</p>
<p>DD decided on completing them in "deadline" order, i.e. (1) rolling apps first (love those early acceptances!) (2) common app schools in order of deadline date. She's completed the common app and submitted it to the school with a Dec. 1st deadline. Next is the Jan. 1st deadline and on to the Feb. 1st, etc.</p>
<p>My son is doing them in deadline order. EA first. Dec 15 second. RPI's special application third which basically has a deadline of the end of first marking period, as they won't look at it without first quarter grades. Finally all the rest - Jan 1. Who came up with that nasty date anyway?</p>
<p>Don't do the top choice school(s) first. Choose maybe some schools from the middle. The reason why is that the apps get better as you go along. Kid gets more experienced in filling them out and responding to short answer prompts, and the big essay evolves and gets polished a little bit more. My D's later apps were significantly stronger than her first efforts. But I also wouldn't save the top schools for the very end. I'd suggest doing them about half or two thirds of the way through. Save the "maybe I'll apply there" schools for the very end.</p>
<p>I agree in theory that applications might get better as you go along, but the top choice school had early action. Since the safeties have common aps for which he's going to use the essays he's already written, I'm not sure there would have been any improvement.</p>