Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Yes, you have a year after the original mac purchase date to extend it.
 
Is it the same price everywhere or does someone sell it cheaper?

And I have up to a year to buy it, right?
J&R Electronics also offers discounts.

You do have a year from the original purchase date, however, if you're having it shipped to you, you need to make sure it has time to get to you and then you need time for the AppleCare registration to process in case there are any issues while registering it.

My recommendation is getting AppleCare no later than 2 months before your warranty expires. And at the absolute latest no later than 1 month before it expires.
 
It took all of five minutes to have it applied to my Mac Pro after calling Apple to register it.

Same for applying to my MacBook Pro online. An e-mail confirmation for enrollment came a day or two later, followed no more than two weeks after that by a paper copy sent via snail mail.
 
It took all of five minutes to have it applied to my Mac Pro after calling Apple to register it.
For most people, there is no issue. I'd hate to be one of those people who did have an issue and a problem registering AppleCare. And there is the time it takes to get the AppleCare from the store you buy it from before you can register it. Delays in shipping do happen.
 
For most people, there is no issue. I'd hate to be one of those people who did have an issue and a problem registering AppleCare.

When there are issues, 99.999% of them can be easily resolved by either visiting an Apple store or calling the main AppleCare number. Someone I know bought an open-box MBP from Best Buy and AppleCare later on. When registering AC, there was an issue doing it online. One phone call sorted it, and the representative was nice enough to move-up the "in-service" date to when he bought the notebook, not when it was purchased originally. We simply scanned and e-mailed a copy of the purchase receipt. Easy-peasy.

And there is the time it takes to get the AppleCare from the store you buy it from before you can register it. Delays in shipping do happen.

The same process of scanning and e-mailing a purchase receipt to Apple or taking it in to a retail store could work here as well. As long as the invoice has a date that's before your original warranty expires, there should be no problem.

While I agree one should not be a complete numpty and wait until the last minute, a "drop-dead" time of one month beforehand is a bit excessive.
 
To the OP...the first two suggestions are good ones. I use B&H often, and for $244 on the rMBP insurance...you'll save $105 on your coverage from an excellent vendor.
 
Hmm

Just get it through Apple.com's educational store, just say you go to some random college, it's like 183.

I don't think the 15" EDU AC is that cheap, close to the 244$ that other retailers charge..
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.