ED/RD Logistics

RTHPRT · 08-23-2006, 12:06 PM

Should I wait for ED result to come before submit to RD schools?

Some schools have early RD deadline, i.e. 12/15, so that maybe too close to wait for ED to come out. Also, if I don't get into ED, then everything has to be done in two weeks (with final exams, holiday etc. that will add to the chaos). What about test scores, recomm., transcript?

SBmom · 08-23-2006, 12:22 PM

You can submit RD apps as early as you like, but if you are admitted ED, you must withdraw those other apps.

JHS · 08-23-2006, 12:56 PM

You have to do most, if not all, of the work on your RD applications before the ED notification. Especially important is getting the paperwork in process at school for recommendations and transcript, etc., since no one is going to work on that the last week of December.

You can wait until the ED notification to pay the application fee.

halopeno2 · 08-23-2006, 01:23 PM

JHS, is that true for all schools?

wsox · 08-23-2006, 01:24 PM

Focus on having absolutely everything done for the RD applications by the ED notification date so you can just mail the checks with the completed RD applications if you receive bad ED news. You should have ample time as most ED schools notify 12/10 to 12/15 and most RD applications are due 1/1. By waiting you can save $60 plus test scores on all your RD schools. With test scores (could be SAT, ACT, SAT2 and APs) and application fees you can delay over $500 until the ED date.

halopeno2 · 08-23-2006, 01:27 PM

That is pretty funny that you are prepared to blow $170,000+ on a private school and go there regardless of what aid they give you, yet you are worried about a few hundred more dollars. Anyway, you shouldn't wait until Dec. 16 to send in the rest of your apps. Schools will see that you probably waited until the last minute and might be offended that you are not really keen on going there. Just send everything in all at once, the sooner the better.

JHS · 08-23-2006, 02:17 PM

halopeno2: No, it's not true for all schools. Some schools have deadlines before December 15 (e.g., UCs), so you can't wait to apply there. And it would be a mistake to wait with rolling admissions schools, too.

But I think you're wrong about "schools will see that you probably waited until the last minute . . . and might be offended . . ." Apart from the fact that "schools" can't see much and are not easily offended, I doubt admissions officers care much, either. Especially at schools with ED/RD, they are not going to be reading many (any?) of the RD applications until January anyway. And, given how the world is, I would guess that 80-90% of RD applications are completed post 12/15. I've never heard so much as a whisper that the postmark affects someone's chances, and I doubt the admissions officers even know when the fee was paid.

calmom · 08-23-2006, 02:23 PM

I think in general its a good idea to get apps in early, but my daughter didn't -- I remember in particular that her NYU and Barnard apps went in pretty close to the school's deadlines -- they were both reach colleges and she was admitted to both. I would have felt lessed stress if she had gotten the apps in earlier, but I knew that midyear grades wouldn't be sent to the college until mid-February and that it was unlikely that the ad coms would be looking at the file before then, so I honestly don't think it makes much of a difference.

halopeno2 · 08-23-2006, 02:54 PM

Still, I think waiting to see whether or not you've had ED sucess before doing the rest of your apps is a bit irresponsible for a pre-college student.

ebeeeee · 08-23-2006, 03:03 PM

My son applied ED to one school and RD to a bunch of others. Still had to do all the RD stuff...especially the GC recommendations and teacher recommendations. You HAVE to get those done in the first part of fall semester...if you cut it too close, teachers and GCs will be busy with grades, etc. and won't want to do recs for you. My advice is do not procrastinate on the recs....so yeah, if you want to wait on actually mailing everything etc..probably can but do not wait on the recs..

Maize&Blue · 08-24-2006, 01:36 PM

One thought that has been talked about before: You might wish to prepare your essay(s) for your RD and rolling apps before you prepare them for your ED app. The time and effort to tweak the essay over time may result in an improved essay(s) for your ED school.

Marian · 08-24-2006, 01:42 PM

Check your high school's rules and deadlines.

This is EXTREMELY important.

At both of the high schools my kids attended, the deadlines for submitting paperwork (transcript requests, guidance counselor recommendation forms, etc.) to the registrar was between four and six weeks before the application deadline (the six weeks applied in November-January because of the holidays). At one of the two schools, applicants were required to enclose their completed application forms as well (the school sent them out with the transcripts and other papers). The other school specifies that students must mail their own applications.

The practical consequence of these rules is that students must decide on their RD schools and submit the necessary paperwork to their high schools before the ED notifications come out. At the school where applications had to be submitted through the high school, the kids actually had to complete all their RD applications before the ED deadline, too.

So be sure to check with your high school and find out what its deadlines and requirements are before deciding whether or not to complete an RD application before the ED notification date.

marite · 08-24-2006, 02:17 PM

I agree with Marian about the need to check rules and deadlines. One of my S's teachers would not take requests for recs after Thanksgiving, for example. It is also important to note that schools close for Xmas, so if one were to wait for ED/EA notification to get the rest of the application done, it would not be enough time. But it does not matter in the least whether an RD application is sent in November or by DEc. 31. The application will not be read until some time in January, if then (lots of schools have EDII to contend with).

S provided GC and teachers with all necessary rec forms with stamped and addressed envelopes but asked them not to send them until S told them the outcome of the SCEA application. S sent one RD application in because it had a Dec. 15 deadline. On Dec. 16, when S learned of his SCEA admission, he notified his GC and teachers so they did not have to proceed with the recs. He also sent them all thank-you notes.

spinner · 08-24-2006, 02:29 PM

Sending in apps at the last minute did not hurt my son.
He was deferred ED and then sent 9 RD apps on 12/31. We had a ceremonial walk to the post office and the clerk said kids had been mailing apps all day long.
He was accepted at all 9 RD schools

, eventually rejected at the ED and had a great freshman year, so all's well that ends well.

It was even fine that the schools received SATs after the new year.

JHS · 08-24-2006, 02:31 PM

If the teachers, etc., are going to write the recommendations before December 15, I don't see what the problem is with having them sent to the RD schools. Either the student will not complete the application (and will get a pro forma rejection letter), or the student will withdraw the completed application. No great tragedy. It may even help the colleges out, USNWR-wise, since they probably include those applications in their application count.