Importance of early application

[bobo101]

Hey guys so I submitted my applications to UCLA, Cal and Stanford at each of the deadlines, while some of my last letters of rec came in at the beggining of january. Does this lower my chances for getting accepted? How much of an advantage is it to submit everything early?

[Forest]

I am also curious about this. Anyone knows?

[sareth]

I don't know if it affects your chances, but I was accepted by three schools well before the deadlines posted on their websites (in one case almost a month before the deadline). I'm guessing it depends on the school and how closely your profile matches what they're looking for this year.

[twb]

I've heard that they look at applications in the order that they get them and it's good to get them in as early as possible...not that you won't get in if you apply the day before the deadline, just that you might have a better chance if your application is read earlier.

Edited January 21, 2012 by twb

[aberrant]

i believe it depends on the program that you apply, where some programs have rolling admission policies. i know that some people submitted their applications just a day before the deadline and they received acceptance/invitation for interviews about a week or two weeks later.

also, some programs have a deadline that includes the submission of your LORs. meaning that late submission of LOR will postpone the review of your application, even if you have submitted your application long before the deadline.