I’ve heard he needs to apply early. How long does it take (in minutes) to fill out applications for colleges that don’t require essays? What will he need to have on hand or to send to complete the application? Thanks!
They do not expect it to be immediate. He has plenty of time to look at the application and figure it out. Does the college also accept the common app? If so, all he has to do is add them if all of his information is already entered into the common app.
No one should be completing an application in minutes. It’s not a race. Take your time and make sure all of the information is correct. When people say to “apply early” they are talking about making sure everything is in before the EA deadline.
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The answer to all your questions is “depends on the university.” Unless it’s rolling admissions, there is likely no benefit to applying on the date the application opens.
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Even rolling admission schools don’t necessarily start processing on the first day. I remember attending an admissions Q&A for Pitt in mid August a few years ago, students asked if it was already “late” to submit applications since the app opened August 1, and the AO said that they start processing around Sept 1 and applications submitted in August were all treated pretty much equally.
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Yes, it’s not Ticketmaster at a concert. Jump on an hour b4 sales open.
Even for early schools, November is likely ok. And most rolling schools likely have easy admission standards to begin with.
What does this mean?
@LPH007 when the applications go live, just have your son take the time to look at each of them. One of my kids had a no essay application that also had no LOR. I think it took all of 15 minutes to complete. The only thing after that was to have his transcript sent from the high school. But this was a college specific application before the common application became…common.
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What does it mean - pick your whatever regional, localized school. You apply - a few days later you get in. Sometime, instantaneously. Pitt is what we always talk about but lots of schools having rolling admissions and easy standards - even flagships like Iowa State, Minnesota, Bama. By you - your directionals like CCSU. Many are not hard admits - I’m surmising (don’t know officially) more schools probably have rolling admissions than fixed - at least at the public level. And most don’t have overly rigorous admission standards.
Nonetheless even at Pitt - November is typically plenty early.
The Pitt AO told us that any time in August was good, but after that, the earlier the better to demonstrate interest, and to be considered in the earliest rounds for merit scholarships and highly selective programs.
Perhaps you think of Pitt as relatively “easy admission,” but that is just for admission to the university in general. Pitt has some very competitive programs with limited spaces, and merit scholarships which are doled out incrementally and at some point they run out.
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I says most schools and noted when people talk about rolling that they talk about Pitt but far more schools are rolling.
Pitt is pushing demand - to imply you need to be early. They are using FUUD tactics to get early apps. I know plenty who applied later - on recommendation from others and got in - the next calendar year.
They publicly state Dec 1 for merit consideration.
Incoming first-year students who have a completed application for admission with all required materials by December 1 are automatically considered for University of Pittsburgh academic scholarships.
But you are talking about Pitt. As noted in my comments, I was talking about most schools, not one specifically.
Of course, students can still get in if they apply later, as long as Pitt still has spaces in the program they are applying to. And they can get merit if they apply up to the merit deadline, as long as Pitt still has merit available.
But from what we heard from the AO, it helps to apply early for the most favorable consideration of your application. Part of the message I got was that if you apply later, your application might need to be relatively stronger to receive the same consideration.
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I get it. But Op doesn’t need to rush is the point. And OP didn’t mention a school. But we seem to gravitate to Pitt with this topic.
OP is making it out that they have to be first day, first minute. They don’t even need to be first months (plural) is the point.
Soo… OP is not talking about Pitt AFAIK, so let’s get back to topic. The common app is opening in a few days. DK if the OP’s school is on the CA, but that’s a great place to start. And look at past examples of how to organize EC’s, merit/awards, etc.
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And if the choice is Mississippi State, that is in the CA. IMO better to do applications on the common app than have to redo them multiple times.
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The tour guide literally said that the minutes matter - not as far as whether he will be accepted, but to determine housing priority and this is for a school that doesn’t guarantee housing for all freshmen.
So, that said…I’d still love to know approximately how long it takes to fill out the application for most schools. An hour?
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What is the school? Is it on common app?
Do you have to submit an essay with the CA?
Auburn
Thank you. This is what I needed. 
If it’s Auburn University, here is what they say on their freshman admission web page:
To be considered for an admission decision, you must have a complete application file consisting of the items below:
Traditional Applicants
Submitted Admission Application.
Paid the $50 non-refundable application fee.*
Official ACT/SAT test scores sent from the testing agency.**
Uploaded copy of your high school transcript(s).Test-optional Applicants
Minimum 3.6 cumulative GPA.***
Submitted Admission Application.
Paid the $50 non-refundable application fee.*
Uploaded copy of your high school transcript(s).*In both the Common App and Auburn’s admission application, you will select the fee waiver option if you qualify. Auburn University does not require any additional documentation.
**Starting Fall 2024, Auburn University will accept the ACT Superscore Report. Auburn will calculate a superscore for the SAT and any individual score reports from ACT. Only your best testing result will be used for admissions and scholarship consideration.
***If your GPA is not on a 4-point weighted scale or on a 100-point scale, Auburn will recalculate your GPA. If the recalculated GPA is less than a 3.6 GPA, official test scores will be required to receive an admissions decision.
And here are the requirements for Auburn University on Common App:
It appears that the essay is optional and recommendations are optional. Your student would still want to fill out the activities section.
Your student can create a common app account now, and fill out most of the application in advance (before August 1). The main part of the common app will be preserved on account rollover, but college-specific information won’t be preserved (see the FAQ).
Once the common app rolls over, it shouldn’t take long to finish and submit the application.
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You are correct to listen to the tour guide. Get the app in quickly after the app launches. Auburn does not require any essays, whether he does the Auburn self app or the common app. He can fill out some of the common app questions now, and it will rollover Aug 1 with the new app. I would say max one hour to complete the app.
Has he sent his official test score to Auburn? If no, I would do that now.
ETA: here are the common app sections that will rollover when the new app goes live:
Also cross posted with tamagotchi!
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