I am applying to about 12 schools, all regular decision. I plan to take the SAT twice in the next two months and plan to use those improved scores. Does it matter if I submit my Common App application for example on Nov 9th but then submit my SAT scores through CollegeBoard on, for example, Jan. 13, if the deadline for regular decision testing submissions is say Jan. 29th? I guess that I am worried that if I do what I just mentioned then they may go through my application earlier than I expect and think I did not submit testing scores at all.
Typical procedure at a college is that the only people that might review an application file before it is deemed “complete” are clerks who assure whatever is submitted is accounted for in the electronic file. The file is deemed complete when all required materials, such as application, test scores, recommendations, essays, and payment of any application fee, are shown as in the file, and only after that will anyone with authority to actually make an admission decision see the file.
You do of course have to get things in on time and for many colleges waiting until Jan 13 to send scores could be late, risking that your application could be denied simply for failure to timely submit required materials.