Turn in Apps with first GRE when I'm going to retake it?

[LateAntique]

I took the GRE two weekends ago, so I anticipate getting my scores sometime soon. They were not great, but not terrible (1090) and the rest of my application is pretty stellar. I'm retaking the GRE next Wednesday (the 18th). Should I go ahead and submit my Apps with the first GRE score so that they can go ahead and get there or should I wait until I get the second scores back?

[fuzzylogician]

I took the GRE two weekends ago, so I anticipate getting my scores sometime soon. They were not great, but not terrible (1090) and the rest of my application is pretty stellar. I'm retaking the GRE next Wednesday (the 18th). Should I go ahead and submit my Apps with the first GRE score so that they can go ahead and get there or should I wait until I get the second scores back?

Is there any reason to submit now (like rolling admissions)? If not, why not wait until you have the new scores and submit then?

[LateAntique]

Is there any reason to submit now (like rolling admissions)? If not, why not wait until you have the new scores and submit then?

CUA is the only place to which I'm applying that does rolling admissions and I imagine my score is good enough for them. I suppose I was worried that taking the GRE so late might put me in a crunch for some deadlines (Dec 15 for Duke, Dec 1 for CUA, Dec 15 for Iowa). The CUA one is the one I'm really worried about.

[a fragrant plant]

Please pardon me to sidetrack to another question. May I ask if the programs you apply state "rolling application" on their websites? Mine just say "we strongly recommend you to apply by Dec 15 but the deadline is Jan 1." Does this mean they do rolling application?

Thanks in advance!

Edited November 11, 2009 by peanuttheanthro

[fuzzylogician]

For the rolling admissions school you want to submit as early as possible if you think your current score is good enough, and then write when you have the new scores and ask to update your app. For the others, as long as everything else already filled out and waiting, you can even submit on the last day--it makes no difference as long as it's on time. I think you should have plenty of time for the Dec 15 deadlines.

[fuzzylogician]

Please pardon me to sidetrack to another question. May I ask if the programs you apply state "rolling application" on their websites? Mine just say "we strongly recommend you to apply by Dec 15 but the deadline is Jan 1." Does this mean they do rolling application?

Thanks in advance!

A lot of my schools had that comment and it didn't mean rolling admissions for any of them. For some it meant "if you get the app in before the holidays we might glance at it before christmas (but we'll still wait until after the holidays to really decide)" ; for others it was more that if you do things last minute they are likelier to go wrong - either lost at the post office or at the grad school, or just take longer to get to the department for consideration, because the influx of apps that come in last minute slow down their processing at the grad school. It'll also take longer to notify you if anything is missing; but in my experience, if they're interested in your app they'll let you know if something is missing even if you did turn everything in at 11:59pm on the due date *sigh*.