Integral
Can't you hear it?
I would add to that:
Some colleges offer early admission or early action. It's worth applying to a couple of schools which will let you know as early as December whether they accept you, but be aware: this may be binding. Make sure you know if you are telling the schools that if accepted, you will attend. Unless it's the school you really want to go to (and even if it is!), you might want to have some more time to think it over in the event that they accept you. Plans can and do change between application and acceptance.
I did this non-binding early application and knew I was accepted to my top two schools before the application deadlines at any others. Saved me the hassle and expense of applying to any others, and had I not been accepted, it would have let me know that my application needed some work.
Fair point. I didn't do early action, because I was still taking SAT II's in November (and December!). I think the general rule of thumb is, if you don't think your profile will change from November 15 to December 30, do early action; if you think it will, maybe hold off until the profile is as strong as it can be.
Early action usually involves applying by November 30th; the great part is, you know by December 15th if the college accepted you. The downside is, as Irish Ceaser said, it is usually binding.
Integral