<p>My mom is literally convinced that if I don't submit my college applications by the end of August I'm not going to get in anywhere. I haven't even taken the SAT or ACT or Subject Tests over! Is there an advantage to submitting RD applications early? I thought they just read them all at once in January, which makes more sense...</p>
<p>No, there really is not advantage except that you can be rid of college apps earlier. I am pretty sure that if you are RD, they will wait to read your app.</p>
<p>IB student ? I can understand if your going crazy. I’m in the same boat. Anyway, it makes very less sense to send in your application without any SAT scores or SAT 2 scores, since they are required at most top univs/colls… although if your applying to a univ/coll which doesnt need SAT then I guess its okay… why is your mom convinced you have to apply SO EARLY ?</p>
<p>Btw, applying earlier will make a big difference if you apply to a school with rolling admissions</p>
<p>As a Mom, I understand her thinking. </p>
<p>I agree with you that it will not be read/reviewed until all SAT/ACT etc are received, but from a Mom’s view, getting the application done in August helps you with time management. It frees up time to concentrate on re-taking tests, staying focused on 12th grade academics and applying for scholarships, honors colleges or whatever other essay/apps are required.</p>
<p>I personally believe EVERY student should apply to a rolling school or EA just to get the timeline kicked into gear and at least 1 or 2 apps completed. </p>
<p>Do you have a history of waiting til the last minute?</p>
<p>Are you applying to any rolling schools? They are well-known (though I don’t know if fact based or just heresay) for tougher standards late in the process.</p>
<p>Maybe you can compromise and get at least one app out by next week.</p>
<p>It can make a difference if there is an early cut-off for a particular scholarship application.</p>
<p>Some schools read applications as they come in, most do not. Some places (ex. U Rochester) tell you that if you want a good shot at admission you should submit RD by mid-December. Many colleges don’t have their applications up at this time, so it is false to assume that you’ll get rejected if you don’t have them in this early.</p>
<p>I don’t think there is anything wrong with submitting an app on the last day. I did IB as well, and it was the only way for me to ensure that I had done my damndest with each app by taking as much time as I had. Sending them off simply for the sake of having it done runs the risk of submitting an app which is not your best.</p>
<p>Working on early apps now is highly advisable, however, especially for an IB senior. With the EE, IAs, and an even higher workload than before, 1st semester senior year was the toughest one for me in IB. I also had to manage early college apps (3 of them, including my in-state safety and one of the schools at the top of my list) as well as football season. Each of those took my full energy and attention, and by the end, I was experiencing profound mental and emotional exhaustion which left me really worse for wear. I cannot imagine how much worse it would have been if I was starting all of my college stuff in October.</p>
<p>Even though moms are always right, in this case there could possibly be a misunderstanding somewhere. 
It’s ok to submit near the deadline.[ul][<em>]Get started last month and keep working, [</em>]don’t submit until you’re ready, [<em>]NEVER plan to submit on the last day - computer problems, colds, and surprise tests happen.[</em>]EA and rolling admissions are your best friend[/ul]</p>
<p>I am not someone who does stuff late, I tend to get all of my homework done early. I’m almost done with my EE by the way, but I know that senior year is going to be really stressful first semester. I’m only applying to about 6 schools at this point though, and for my essays, I’m recycling things from scholarship essays I’ve written in the past…</p>
<p>Plan ahead. I’d block out a Saturday or Sunday to just write–it took me a while to get over the initial writer’s block, then to find a topic that “fit” right, then to move into a period of flow where writing came easily. After that initial start, I’ve been able to write/revise essays in 45 minute blocks of time, which aren’t too difficult to squeeze into a day if you’re good at time management.</p>
<p>Good luck! We IB seniors have it rough (and I am nowhere near finished with my EE).</p>
<p>Unless the school says they have rolling admission (i.e. Cornell), then applying early for RD won’t boost your chances.
My parents also want me to get my applications in super early, even though my teacher recs and testing will not be all done by then. But our parents are right to push us to finish apps early, so we can actually enjoy our senior year of high school.</p>