<p>My Guidance Counselor told me that I should send in ALL my applications no later than early November because colleges start looking at applications before the deadline (I mean I know Harvard starts looking in December but she says that even now, in late September colleges - and by colleges I'm not talking about ones with rolling admissions - are looking at applications). She made it seem like not getting in my applications earlier would decrease my chance of acceptance. I think this is ridiculous. Are college admissions officers really reviewing applications this moment and saying "Oh boy, why did he even bother applying?" If I do submit them early, she said, then I would stand out from the pile but if I submit in late November early December (for various reasons (e.g. trying to make sure that any new EC's in senior year actually count or any awards pending I will know he final outcome or SAT scores for Nov test, etc)) then I'll just be another app in a pile of like 3,000 apps. I doubt this is true. Some colleges even make it a point that applying earlier will not boost chances of admission.
What have you guys heard regarding this issue?</p>
<p>It makes no difference.</p>
<p>She is most likely lying to you in an attempt to lighten her workload.</p>
<p>Sounds like she's serving you a pile of b.s.</p>
<p>The only reason why my GC wants me to have everything in before Thanksgiving break is because she can not guarantee that everything (transcripts etc) will arrive in time if after the break.</p>
<p>^You don't have to have your application in for your school to send a transcript.</p>
<p>Yes, but she wants to review most of my applications and go over my essays etc.</p>
<p>HAHAHA your counselor is nuts. That's all. I bet some admissions officers might still be marketing their school early November. They are probably NOT reviewing applications... and even if they are, it's not going to give you an advantage. Why would they CARE if you submitted it earlier? You're still an RD applicant. Not ED or SCEA or whatever that might give you an advantage.</p>
<p>Look at it this way - while your application probably won't be preceived any more favorably than one that arrives later, all your pieces will arrive ahead of "the flood" and may have less chance of being misplaced.</p>
<p>It NEVER hurts to be early. Why Not?? She might just know a little more than you.</p>
<p>If you're applying to schools with rolling admissions, you do want to apply as early as possible. Sometimes certain programs or majors fill long before the application "deadline". Certain scholarships might be decided before the "deadline". And, for schools that base priority for residence halls on admission or deposit date, you might not get into your preferred residence hall if you apply "too late". At the university I worked for until last year, students who deposited after late November could not get into the 2 newest residence halls on campus! (and the application "deadline" was March 1)</p>