Regular decision — does it matter when application is sent?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering if my dd is applying regular decision to a school that only offers regular and early decision, does it matter if she app,it’s September 15 versus close to last day of deadline? Is there a boost to acceptance for date of application? When in the process are applications reviewed?

This comes up obviously since the common app opened last night and my dd had a couple of schools that sent her codes to apply fee free this week so we wondered if there was any benefit decision wise to do them all super early. The benefit to me seems like it would get rid of the pressure of senior year stuff to know she’s done.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering if my dd is applying regular decision to a school that only offers regular and early decision, does it matter if she app,it’s September 15 versus close to last day of deadline? Is there a boost to acceptance for date of application? When in the process are applications reviewed?

This comes up obviously since the common app opened last night and my dd had a couple of schools that sent her codes to apply fee free this week so we wondered if there was any benefit decision wise to do them all super early. The benefit to me seems like it would get rid of the pressure of senior year stuff to know she’s done.

Thanks.

Definitely check if any of the schools have "priority deadlines" for things like merit aid, in which case before that deadline is better. And if the school has rolling admissions there may be definite benefits to getting an application in early. I sense that there are some benefits to being in the queue earlier (as opposed to submitting right before midnight on the night it's due).

However, I'd also take into account how quickly transcripts/letters or recommendation will get there. (Some of this may be school-specific, in terms of application procedures, but also specific to the teachers who may still be writing recommendation letters now before the new school year!) And on a more subjective note, I'd consider that the earliest applications submitted may be a little more rough than the later ones, since students can revisit their essay, etc., and make changes over the course of the application season. So I'd steer my own kid toward submitting some easier or less consequential applications first.

[Anonymous]

I’ve read that schools might interpret an earlier application as a sign of interest while a late application would be the opposite.

That said, I worry a very application shows you could have applied ED but didn’t. Do schools ever ask early RD (as opposed to EA) applicants to switch to ED2?

[Anonymous]

This is one of those questions where the answer is different for every school. Have to do some searching on school websites or calling to see if they see early submission as interest.

[Anonymous]

many schools take a large percentage of their class from the early round.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but do you ever hear back before the notfication date even if a school isn't technically "rolling admission"? I know this happens with graduate programs and it's better to apply early as a result.

[Anonymous]

Our college consultant recommended to apply everywhere before the ED deadline. If a student applies later, a college will think of them as “damaged goods” - someone who applied ED elsewhere and wasn’t accepted.

[Anonymous]

If it's a school that wants students to interview, try to get it in on the early side so you have more flexibility with scheduling.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t matter whether you apply on earlier side or on last day for RD. Applications are not looked at any earlier. But why would you focus on applying early to an RD school instead of focusing on ED schools? If you get in, then you don’t even have to bother with RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t matter whether you apply on earlier side or on last day for RD. Applications are not looked at any earlier. But why would you focus on applying early to an RD school instead of focusing on ED schools? If you get in, then you don’t even have to bother with RD.

What you say would make perfect sense were these not such irrational times. Most schools use LTE (likelihood to enroll) software, and I can only assume that RD application date would be one of (dozens?) of variables entering into the algorithms to predict yield. Having said that, it is most important you do a good job on your application and tailor it to the specific school — irrespective of when the application is submitted.

[Anonymous]

Bad advice above. If your child is applying RD to a school that receives a large number of applicants, think University of Michigan or Northeastern University, better to submit early, when only a few thousand applications have been received than later when 70,000 have been received. And yes the admissions officers read then as soon as submitted/as soon as they can. With 70,000 plus to read they are NOT waiting until the deadline to start.