College admissions officers, in large colleges and universities, receive thousands of applications every year, and many of the applications for fFall don't come in until April or May. These dates are well within the deadline, and there is a good reason to apply earlier. In order for students to be considered for financial aid or scholarships, applications need to be received early in the calendar year. Many transfer students don't realize this, and they wait too long, and can't get money they might have been qualified to receive. Early in the year a student might be awarded a grant, later that same student might receive a loan. The difference between the two is significant, the grant is given with no strings attached, the loan must be repaid later.