Hey!
So I am interested in applying to Rutgers, Upitt, and penn state (among others) and they all have rolling admissions. I really could use the first semester senior grades as a part of my application but I’m guessing all the spots will be filled by that point. So when would be the right time to apply to these colleges where they can maybe see some of my senior year grades?
Penn State: before November 30th (the priority deadline).
For most rolling colleges it is best to apply as soon as possible. This way there are more spots and you hear back sooner. For Penn State it more so matters that you have your application in by the priority deadline because they are modified rolling. It is only rolling after Jan 31. Before Jan 31 it goes more like the kids qualified for Ivies hear back in Nov/Dec, and then randomly throughout January people hear back. Still, definitely apply before the priority deadline.
First check the web sites to see the dates that the colleges suggest. Some times you need to apply before a certain date if you want to be qualified for scholarships etc. One rolling school that my son applied to for example had a priority day by Nov. 1st. Second, my experience is that rolling schools do not rush to deny students that apply early. If your grades are not enough for admissions they usually wait before making the decision. What I see is that if your app looks good they send an acceptance fast sometimes just a few weeks after you apply. If your app is borderline they wait until the very end to see where you fit and look at your senior grades. So two students might apply in November and one might hear by the end of November and the other in February. Again, I see the high stats kids get acceptances really fast and the borderline students wait a bit longer. In my experience I did not see students getting penalized by applying early. If you want, when you get your senior grades (and are good) you can send a quick note to your admission rep. I have seen students applying as soon as late August when the apps go live.
what @am9799 is saying about not being penalized for applying early makes a lot of intuitive sense from the eyes of the adcom. Unless you’re completely sure you’d never take the kid (which if that applies to you, I doubt senior fall grades are going to change it), why not wait until you have as much info as possible?
^Many rolling admissions universities don’t count 12th grade grades at all. Only 9-1 or 10-11. Senior year counts in that course rigor is evaluated, not grades (as long as the student graduates and has at least a C or higher in every class).
Agree with @CathJR. Apply to rolling admissions as soon as possible and by the priority deadlines. For some schools, earlier is better because certain majors fill up.
@MYOS1634 don’t require senior year grades or truly don’t count them? Seems foolish not to use the grades if they are there.
Don’t count them at all. They use senior year course choices to see rigor but as far as grades go, it’s just 10-11 or 9-11.
A rolling school that my son applied to told us that they admitted based on 9-11 and rigor of senior year. They also said that they would review the file and senior grades in the summer (August) and they could rescind if senior grades did not reflect the previous years.