<p>I receive my early decision notification on December 15. The other applications (for some of the ivies) are due January 1. Would I be at a disadvantage if I turn them in after I receive the decision (assuming I get rejected)?</p>
<p>The applications that you should file now, are to places where filing earlier will qualify you for better scholarship money. Check each website and see if there is a cut-off date for that.</p>
<p>^^^
I don’t think the Ivies offer merit money, at least not based on submitting an RD application earlier than the normal RD deadline. And filing earlier than the normal RD deadline shouldn’t make a bit of difference as far as need-based aid is concerned.</p>
<p>So, to answer the OP’s question: no, you shouldn’t be at a disadvantage if you submit your RD applications after you receive a hypothetical ED rejection, as long as you meet all deadlines.</p>
<p>Definitely make sure that you check the specifics on each school on your list. Some schools that might be targets or likelies for you could offer significant merit aid but have earlier deadlines in order to qualify for this – Tulane is one of these, I believe; Kenyon is another. If the school does not offer merit aid or other scholarship monies, then no, there is no problem waiting. I will tell you though, that I gave my daughter and son a bit of different advice. For their #2-4 schools and their top safety school, I convinced them to go ahead and send in their applications before the typical ED decisions are announced. I had them do this as a strategic move – this way the colleges might recognize that the kids had strong intentions in wanting to go there (versus waiting until Dec 15th when the colleges realize that the student may have been rejected by their first choice). It also forced the kids to get those applications done early rather than waiting too late…</p>