<p>When do I send in my application? When is the best time?</p>
<p>Good question. I would also like to know the answer.</p>
<p>For schools that employ the rolling admissions process (such as U Michigan), it is best to apply as early as you can (for that school early September is the earliest) to boost your chances of admission and merit-based scholarships, as rolling admissions is dependent on how many open slots that they have left and merit-based scholarships is dependent on how much the college has left in their fund reserved for scholarships. Typically, as the admission year drags on, slots fill up and it becomes harder to get admitted, much less to earn a merit-based scholarship because funds will dry up.</p>
<p>For schools that employ the EA/ED/RD processes, it does not matter when you submit your application, as long as it comes in by the deadline. Some people have also said that some schools process applications even if they are late by a day or two (those by mail), but I personally wouldn’t risk doing that. Typically, EA/ED deadlines are in late October or early November, and RD deadlines are in early January (some LACs have it in mid-January). Really, deadlines depend on a school.</p>
<p>It is a myth that submitting applications early helps you get into a school (I knew someone who got into Brown who submitted her app an hour before deadline via Common App’s website), though it does help the college’s admissions office process files more efficiently and more on time. But you should spend as much time fine-tuning your app and your essays. Your essays are one of the most important components of the application and allows the ADCOM to understand you more on a personal level and how you will fit on campus.</p>