Benefits to early admission?

[hola2288]

Hi all, 

A few of the Masters programs in IR that I plan to apply to have early admission options. Is there any benefit to hustling to turn in the application two months earlier than necessary? Will it have an impact on financial aid? 

Thanks! 

[datik]

It depends on the school. I know that in Chicago Harris they have 3 rounds and its much more likely you will get aid if you apply to the first one

[hola2288]

That's interesting to hear. Any insight on SIPA and Fletcher?

[yellina122]

So I don't know from personal experience (though I'm planning to apply early to SIPA this year!) but SIPA Admissions claims the benefit to early admission is basically just knowing whether you're in much sooner. For SIPA, it's by the first week of January, but I've heard anecdotally they release decisions more like mid-December.

It also stands to reason that if you're one of the first applications an admissions rep sees in the season, your chances will be better simply because the applicant pool is still small and the person reading your application doesn't have admissions fatigue yet.