<p>I am a bit confused with rolling admissions. I have completed my first year of college (30 credits). I am getting started on all of my applications that have rolling admissions right now. Does it make any difference if I am applying now or later in the school year? My course loads have always been quite tough but this semester and the one after will be even harder so I would like them to see those grades also. Some schools say they want students with 60+ credits, does this mean before I start or when I am applying? I plan to have over 60 credits by the end of the year and also a higher GPA. I guess I thought I understood the whole process but jeeze, it just seems like less of a hassle dealing with colleges with a deadline instead of rolling apps.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am a bit confused with rolling admissions. I have completed my first year of college (30 credits). I am getting started on all of my applications that have rolling admissions right now. Does it make any difference if I am applying now or later in the school year? My course loads have always been quite tough but this semester and the one after will be even harder so I would like them to see those grades also. Some schools say they want students with 60+ credits, does this mean before I start or when I am applying? I plan to have over 60 credits by the end of the year and also a higher GPA. I guess I thought I understood the whole process but jeeze, it just seems like less of a hassle dealing with colleges with a deadline instead of rolling apps.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It makes a difference. Rolling admission only says that a college will look at your application when they receive it. The thing is, they will consider most things like if you're on the fence now, and they'd like to see more grades, they will put your application to the side and decide later, or if you're just not a right fit for them, then they will either deny you, even if you have a lot of grades / classes coming in.</p>
<p>Schools say they want more than 60+ credits because it'd make you a junior transfer, and that is generally what colleges give preference to. It makes that when you actually transfer (physically move from school to school), you should have around 60 credits, give or take some.</p>
<p>I feel that I am competitive with about all of the schools i'm applying to with rolling admissions, I just wonder for a bit of my reach schools if I am better off waiting until after Fall semester (University of michigan, I am a michigan resident). Is it in most cases best to apply early?</p>
<p>If you're talking about rolling, it is like 99.9% better to apply early. The only time I could see where it could be bad is if you have a mark on your record that's so bad, and you are in the process of getting it taken away... for you to actually wait on rolling. If you're waiting for grades, just apply early. U-M people have been doing this for years, they know when to wait and when not to. </p>
<p>I also suggest contacting their admissions office to get a more official reply, in case they've changed the way they've done their admissions. I applied last year so hopefully not too much has changed.</p>