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Are you someone who gets a rush from the tie-breaking three-point basket as the buzzer sounds, or the Hail Mary pass into the end-zone as the clock runs out? Do you do your best work at 3:00 am the morning before a paper is due, or have you earned a reputation with your teachers as “that student” who is consistently late with assignments? Do you still have your absentee ballot sitting on the kitchen counter?
Listen, I can procrastinate with the best of them, but when it comes to college admission (and the election), I implore you not to play this game. It is not a good sign if you are already wondering if an early application deadline of November 1 means that all of your application materials must be submitted before that day, or if you have until 11:59 pm on the 1st to click “submit”. Do yourself, your parents, and your school counselor a favor and plan ahead. Waiting until the last minute will create stress for everyone and could lead to a final application that does not represent your best work or self.
For most colleges, the published deadline means that you have until the end of that day to submit your application, but check their website to be sure. Or you can avoid this dilemma altogether but sending it days in advance. Students often wonder if they will get special preference if their application is received well before the deadline. This is rarely the case—unless a school has a “priority deadline”—but even so, submitting in advance is smart for a lot of reasons. Consider the fact that millions of students are applying to college at the same time, the majority of them using one or two application platforms to do so. You can bet that a significant number are cutting it close to the deadline, meaning the online traffic on the day of the deadline is greatly increased. This can lead to that anxiety-producing spinning wheel of waiting as you attempt to complete and send your application. Save yourself the frustration and don’t delay.
Extensions
Many colleges and universities have already pushed back their deadlines for early applications because of the pandemic. This is not an invitation to procrastinate for another two weeks. That being said, if you need some more time to put your best foot forward, take it. Also know that admission leaders understand that this is a challenging time on many fronts. Many students are learning remotely and don’t have access to their teachers, counselors, or reliable internet connection as they might in a typical year. Some applicants are dealing with health issues themselves or with a family member. Others have been significantly impacted by fires, floods, and other disasters. If your unique circumstances are going to prohibit you from applying by the deadline, contact the admission office or your regional representative, explain your challenges, and request an extension. Chances are you will be pleasantly surprised by their flexibility and humanity.
School Materials
Be sure that you communicate with your school counselor and the teachers who are writing letters of recommendation on your behalf. Be clear about when you plan to submit your application and make them aware of your deadlines. It is most important that you have your parts of the application (including test scores if required) in on time. Most colleges will allow a grace period for schools to send your transcript and other materials after the deadline. If a week or two have passed and the college is still not showing receipt of your school materials, tell your counseling office, as sometimes things get lost in transmission. But don’t fear if the day after the deadline, it still shows as incomplete. As soon as you have submitted part of your application to a college, they will likely start sending you emails and letters telling you that your application is incomplete and that they have not received your recommendations or transcripts. Often colleges have a delay in processing the materials because of the high volume of applications, so their websites might still show that your materials are missing, even after they are sent. Be patient but persistent.
Other Deadlines
Students can be so fixated on the application deadline, that they sometimes overlook other important deadlines for admission. If you are applying for financial aid, be sure you know what forms are required and by when they must be submitted. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile (an additional form required by some schools) are available online now, so do not put this off. Talk to your parents/guardians about filing these forms by each college’s deadline. Some schools also have specific due dates for merit scholarships or separate honors college applications. For colleges that offer and/or encourage personal interviews, be aware of the timeline for scheduling these. Some schools stop interviewing in November when they turn to application review, so be sure to plan ahead. Students often find it helpful to create a spreadsheet of the colleges to which they are applying, their requirements, and associated deadlines.
It’s All in the Timing
The take-home message here is to follow directions from each school to which you are applying and DO NOT wait until the last minute. While this approach might work with your history paper or science lab, it is not a recipe for application success. Know the process and the deadlines, and plan accordingly. If you are of voting age, please do the same. If you show up at 7:01 pm on election day and the polls closed at 7:00, it will not count. Take ownership of your future and do not let the clock run down.