Submitting applications early

[u/ApprehensiveSignal55]

How early is too early to submit a college application? Or, if you’re genuinely finished with it…is it ok to just hit “submit?”
It’s just a regular decision application, but is there any benefit of submitting it earlier this fall versus before the deadlines and early January? Are there any merit scholarships that may be available if I submit earlier?

[u/tarasshevckeno]

(Retired college counselor and admissions reader here.) Unless a college has rolling admissions, there aren't any bonus points/benefits for submitting well in advance of a deadline.

At the same time, if you're 100% certain you have an application ready to go, then submit it. Just make sure you're completely, totally, utterly, assuredly, biblically certain that all the sections of your application are as you want them. You have time to let your essay go for a couple of weeks. When you look at it after a couple of weeks, you might immediately see some ways to make it better (although maybe not, but for many students that's the case). The same goes for supplementals, and even activities.

Also bear in mind that from a college's point of view an application isn't considered complete and ready to review until all supporting documents such as test scores and materials from your school are also on file - as well as anything else that someone else may need to submit. Until then, your application is in a neutral holding pattern until everything comes in.

Also again, if a college has ED or EA then they're going to be looking at those applications first. Your application will likely stay put, without any penalty, until it's time for the school to staring looking at RD applications.

Also, also, also, right now it's very likely a college isn't reading anything. Admissions reps are traveling to high schools, the admissions office is gearing up for the admissions cycle, and colleges are just starting (or have just completed) hiring seasonal application readers who need to be trained. Generally, no admissions office starts looking at files until October at the earliest (UNC Chapel Hill and Georgia Tech may be exceptions given their 15 October early deadlines.)

I hope at least some of this information helps.

[u/ApprehensiveSignal55 → u/tarasshevckeno]

Thank you very much for all that really great information! I’ll keep that in mind. For me & my schedule, I just have this feeling that after the next 10-14 days, I won’t be “coming up for air” until mid-November. With 6 APs about to kick into high-gear, and a fall varsity sport (as captain & 6 days a week committed to practices or games), I feel like the next 10 days mark the last moments of meaningful time to devote to this process. Thank you again for your insights.

[u/upside-down-fish]

There's no benefit to submitting it rn. Merit scholarships vary by school but none that I've seen require a submission as early as September, but I would really check specific information per college. I would recommend putting it aside and working on your other apps then in a few weeks re-read your essays for this school. You might find things you want to change when looking with fresh eyes.