Do schools start accepting applications before their deadline?

[bettafish293]

This may be a really dumb question, so bare with me.. I'm just wondering if anyone knows whether schools start accepting applications before their deadlines? Most of the schools I'm looking at have application deadlines in January, and I'm hoping to be able to send my applications in December after I get my final grades from this semester so they can bump up my GPA a smidge. I'm just worried if waiting too long/pushing it too close to the deadline would put me at a disadvantage because other applicants would already be getting accepted/waitlisted/etc. 

[pdxslp]

Schools do not start accepting applicants before the deadline. I don’t know of any slp grad programs that do this. Some schools even tell you what day they will start reviewing applications. From the schools that have specified a date, it’s usually a few days to a few weeks after the deadline before they even look at them.

You should check out the results page here on gradcafe. I use the search term “speech” or add part of the name of the school like “speech Idaho” to see when other people from previous years heard back. You’ll see that no one was getting accepted early (I think) and it gives you an idea of when you can expect an answer.

[bettafish293]

@pdxslp Thank you so much!

[samiamslp]

They definitely don't start accepting people before the deadline, but some programs have rolling admissions, so they'll give higher preference to those who sent in their applications earlier in the cycle. Check the school websites, but also calling is helpful! I just signed up to visit a school which didn't say it was rolling on the website, but the admissions guy on the phone told me I'll have a much chance if I get my application in by December- definitely planning to do that now!

[AlwaysaFalcon]

Some schools have rolling admissions but from my personal experience programs will wait till after the deadline has passed to look and categorize applicants.