Significance of "priority" app filing at div schools

[phoskaialetheia]

So Harvard and Yale divinity schools both now have a "priority filing" status (now that Harvard decided to extend its deadline). As far as I can tell, both priority and standard applicants both receive decisions mid-March, and I find it hard to believe that other qualifications would be weighed differently or funding changed based on a couple-week-later application that probably isn't even read until much later anyway. Maybe my assessment is off. Can anyone think of any compelling reasons to aim for priority deadlines?

[Thanks4Downvoting]

So Harvard and Yale divinity schools both now have a "priority filing" status (now that Harvard decided to extend its deadline). As far as I can tell, both priority and standard applicants both receive decisions mid-March, and I find it hard to believe that other qualifications would be weighed differently or funding changed based on a couple-week-later application that probably isn't even read until much later anyway. Maybe my assessment is off. Can anyone think of any compelling reasons to aim for priority deadlines?

I'd say that it's more of a money thing. Priority filers save 25 or 50 bucks on the application fees. I wouldn't think they'd receive any more consideration by submitting 2 weeks in advance (unfortunately, since I submitted mine early)

[new mexico]

So Harvard and Yale divinity schools both now have a "priority filing" status (now that Harvard decided to extend its deadline). As far as I can tell, both priority and standard applicants both receive decisions mid-March, and I find it hard to believe that other qualifications would be weighed differently or funding changed based on a couple-week-later application that probably isn't even read until much later anyway. Maybe my assessment is off. Can anyone think of any compelling reasons to aim for priority deadlines?

Priority Filing implies, more times than not, that the school does "rolling admission". Think of a hypothetical situation: 100 applicants apply for 20 seats by the priority filling status--roughly 5 people are competing for each seat. The committee then meets and decides that of the 100 applicants, they like / admit 14. Now, since it's pragmatically rolling admission, they will reconvene two weeks to a month later to decide the remaining 6 slots. Since the priority filling, 60 more people have applied; thus, there are roughly 10 people competing for each seat. If one would have applied before / by the priority filling status, he or she has an increased chance at gaining admission (5:1 as oppose to 10:1). That's the gist of rolling admissions, and it's the same way for medical school, law school, etc.

Hope that helps.

Edited January 18, 2011 by new mexico

[Thanks4Downvoting]

Yeah, but YDS and HDS have given no indication of notifying priority applicants early or any separate consideration for priority filers. They've merely offered a discount. I hope they'll give priority filers more consideration, but I haven't seen anything to make that true.

[new mexico]

Yeah, but YDS and HDS have given no indication of notifying priority applicants early or any separate consideration for priority filers. They've merely offered a discount. I hope they'll give priority filers more consideration, but I haven't seen anything to make that true.

I don't know anything about Harvard or Yale admissions as I didn't apply to these two schools. Now, I just went to the website, and the only thing i see is the following:

Please note that the application deadline for the master of theological studies and the master of divinity has been extended until Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.

Where does it say priority deadline? I know emory has a priority deadline, but does Harvard? I can't see it. This may explain why all decisions are made in March, and we don't see "rolling admissions" -- there's only one deadline.

Edited January 18, 2011 by new mexico

[Thanks4Downvoting]

Via Email:

Thank you for your application to Harvard Divinity School (HDS).I am writing to inform you of our recent decision to extend the application deadline for our master of divinity and master of theological studies to Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

I am grateful that you were able to submit your online application by the January 11 deadline. Please know that your application will now receive priority processing, which is offered only to applicants who submitted their application by this evening's deadline.

Applicants who have online applications in progress now have the choice of taking a few more days to submit their online application paying the current application fee of $75 until Friday, January 14th. Should they choose to take advantage of this extension to a fuller extent and submit their online application between January 14 and February 1, 2011, they will pay an increased application processing fee of $100.

The office of admissions is working to match your transcripts, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation with your application and to verify your materials before forwarding them to the Admissions Committee. Please log on to your online application frequently to review the status of your application. Admissions decisions will be available online in mid-March.

Thank you for your patience as we review your materials and update our system. We look forward to reading your application!

Best regards,

Loida Feliz

Director of Admissions

[new mexico]

Via Email:

oh ha ha. well, they need to update the site then, i suppose. with that info, I think you're right: It's just saving $ in this circumstance.

Edited January 18, 2011 by new mexico

[Thanks4Downvoting]

oh ha ha. well, they need to update the site then, i suppose. with that info, I think you're right: It's just saving $ in this circumstance.

unfortunately

[phoskaialetheia]

oh ha ha. well, they need to update the site then, i suppose. with that info, I think you're right: It's just saving $ in this circumstance.

I suspected as much. The higher odds would have been great, but divinity admissions don't seem to be as much of a raw numbers game as law/medical admissions. So I guess the assurance in Harvard's email that my application "will receive priority processing" just means that I won't have to pay the $25 to get the extra time to polish my app that everyone else is getting. Given the stakes the $25 doesn't seem like a big deal. If I could, I would easily pay it to be able to edit my submitted app for these next two weeks I didn't know I would have.

[phoskaialetheia]

My thinking is that priority processing means that your file will get processed quicker and that it will get into the hands of the evaluators sooner. It's definitely not rolling admissions. I can't imaging YDS or HDS ever having that process. It's not like early decision or early action for undergraduate admissions either. Do any of the schools say that they will give "priority consideration"? That is much different than "priority processing".

No, they don't say anything priority consideration. Hence my initial struggle to see the advantage implied by the "priority processing" designation. Even if an adcom member sees an application sooner, they certainly would not pass over a later, better application in favor of the first one on temporal priority alone. Oh well. The apps are all in now. I'm over it.