Master's programs with late deadlines

[svent]

For example, Florida has a 5/31 deadline, Northwestern 5/1, and UIC 5/15. Some other reasonably high ranking schools have late deadlines for MS, too. UIC does mention apply by mid-Feb for a shot at TAships, but the others don't say this as far as I can tell. Are you putting yourself at a real disadvantage by applying late, essentially as a safety school if you don't get in elsewhere? Or do schools like this do Ph.D. stuff up until April, and not even look at MS until after that?

It would obviously be easier to apply to, say, 8 schools and another 4 if you don't get in anywhere by early April, say, than 12 schools right off the bat.

[ace589]

My perception is that it all depends on the schools strategy.  Some have 12 or less Phd slots at any time and a position may not be open until someone quits or finishes or they hire new faculty.  For MS some schools have a limit others heavily rely upon MS for funding and will have over 100 MS students at any time.  

Schools without a deadline or with rolling admissions for Phd dont expect to admit or maybe only a couple but will fill a position if it becomes available.  Others may offer a position without funding.

[svent]

I'm not sure what I was hoping to accomplish with this topic. I should just email individual schools and see if I can get some info on their process, then decide which risks to take on "late" applications.

[ace589]

Remember the earlier you apply the better your chances.  The late deadline is probably due to the sheer number of applications they receive.  But it sounds like you already guessed that.