When you have a question about college application deadlines, how many letters of rec are required, whether or not an interview is offered, etc., the safest, smartest way to get that information is from the colleges themselves.
A parent emailed one of our counselors last week and asked:
“If [a student] takes the SAT or Subject Tests on November 5th, will the results arrive in time for early decision deadlines?”
We know the only way to answer that is to research the individual schools that student is interested in. Penn’s website says yes, but you need to rush the scores (they haven’t updated their dates for fall deadlines yet):
"Early Decision candidates should take these examinations either during the junior year or in the summer before the senior year, but no later than November 2010. Early Decision candidates who opt for November examinations must rush their test scores to us."
But Duke gives a different answer:
"We strongly recommend that Early Decision candidates take either of these sets of standardized tests no later than October of their senior year. We cannot guarantee receipt of November testing for Early Decision candidates, although past experience suggests that November scores typically arrive in time. You do not need to rush-report your scores to us."
Good summer project for senior families: go to the source—the colleges’ websites—and research all their application requirements and deadlines.