I very recently decided to apply to University of Maryland and I’d like to apply early action because of its low(er) acceptance rate, but I saw that I have to report my official test scores before the deadline and I’m pretty certain that they won’t send in time. I know, I should have planned ahead better, but UMD was just an unexpected add. My question is, if I risk sending in my scores now, will it look bad as an early action application, or will it just be moved to the RD pile? Should I still go ahead with the application or should I switch to RD?
As long as you have the application in by the required date, I think that they’ll allow the test scores to arrive a bit later. Just send it now, and request the scores to be sent asap. Don’t forget transcript, recommendations, too.
When my D applied to UMD a few cycles ago, they were the most rigid of any school on her list (and were only using coalition app which was a total PIA). She had a friend who had a delayed recommendation who got bumped to RD.
My daughter graduated from UMD in 2020, and she was a Maryland Images campus tour guide her Freshman year. I remember her telling me that around 85% of admitted applicants applied EA. Based on that, if I were you, I would apply without scores by Nov 1, rather than apply regular decision with scores.