rolling (deadline) beginning January 15 and ending April 1?

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I'm looking into applying to a program and their application deadline makes me a little curious. Here is how it reads on the website: 

 

• Master’s: For fall semester (starts in late August): rolling, beginning January 15 until April 1; For spring semester (starts in January): November 1. 

I'm wondering if students who apply closer to the beginning of the Fall deadline (January 15) have a better chance of acceptance than students who apply closer to the end of the Fall deadline (April 1). Do you think they notify all students of acceptance/rejection after the deadline closes on April 1, or they notify students depending on when they apply? This would mean they might be full already if you wait too late to apply, wouldn't it? Also, since they accept students for the Spring, I would think that if you apply too late for the Fall deadline they might accept you into their Spring class. What do you guys/girls think? Better to apply early or it doesn't matter? 

[beyondaboundary]

I applied late on rolling admissions in the last cycle. The result? Admission, no funding. So back on the wheel again. Be guided, but just my experience.

[TakeruK]

In my opinion, there is no real advantage to applying after January 15? Compared to many other programs, Jan 15 is pretty late so it's not like waiting until April 1 would likely improve your application, so I would feel like it's in my best interests to apply at the beginning. I would guess that rolling admissions would work like Canadian graduate programs (including my Masters institution), where applications are forwarded to faculty members as they come in. So, if a strong applicant submits something, it's a good chance that a prof would offer them admission sooner rather than later. Intermediate applications might be held onto until the deadline approaches and the prof doesn't think they will get someone better (or if someone better declined the offer and open up room). 

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

In my opinion, there is no real advantage to applying after January 15? Compared to many other programs, Jan 15 is pretty late so it's not like waiting until April 1 would likely improve your application, so I would feel like it's in my best interests to apply at the beginning. I would guess that rolling admissions would work like Canadian graduate programs (including my Masters institution), where applications are forwarded to faculty members as they come in. So, if a strong applicant submits something, it's a good chance that a prof would offer them admission sooner rather than later. Intermediate applications might be held onto until the deadline approaches and the prof doesn't think they will get someone better (or if someone better declined the offer and open up room). 

That what I was thinking. You wait too long and it gets filled up. All my other schools are from December 2 to January 15 anyway, so I'm just gonna apply as soon as they open up admissions. The only thing I'm concerned about is, since it doesn't end until April 1, that I'll have to wait 4-5 months to hear word back. 

[TakeruK]

Yeah you might have to wait until April 1 but you might have to wait that long anyways (one of my schools last year with non-rolling deadlines had a deadline of Dec 1 and gave me their decision on like March 25). Also, most schools might give you the April 15th deadline thingy so you can probably hold onto other offers until you hear back from this one.

[Eigen]

Rolling admissions usually means they process and send out acceptances as they get admissions, rather than doing them in batches. 

 

Granted, a few years ago, but schools I applied to with rolling admissions notified me of acceptance right after I submitted- 2 days for one school, 3 hours (!) for another. 

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

Rolling admissions usually means they process and send out acceptances as they get admissions, rather than doing them in batches. 

 

Granted, a few years ago, but schools I applied to with rolling admissions notified me of acceptance right after I submitted- 2 days for one school, 3 hours (!) for another.

3 hours? What the... I wait longer for general email replies.

[Eigen]

Haha, I was very surprised. Submitted it at 7 am one morning before class, and had an e-mail from the department chair right after my 10-11 class. They said they passed the file around between classes. 

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

Haha, I was very surprised. Submitted it at 7 am one morning before class, and had an e-mail from the department chair right after my 10-11 class. They said they passed the file around between classes.

I hope the news was good.

[Eigen]

Yeah, acceptance with fellowship. 

 

I just put the anecdote out there because everyone worries about the downside of rolling admissions (finding out late), but there are upsides as well. 

 

You can find out very quickly and decisively, and then move on. Everywhere I applied ended up doing rolling admissions, and I had all my decisions and offers by October, and was able to schedule visits over winter break.