The deadline for 3 of my schools are Jan 1 and I’m submitting them tomorrow. However, I’m afraid I won’t be accepted because I’m “too late in the game”. Should I be worried?
No.
Sometimes it can seem that the admissions game is over in December with students receiving early decisions, etc.
But the majority of students apply regular decision, and many, many of them submit applications right before the various deadlines.
Applying before the deadline makes no difference at all. It’s just time stamped, and remember it’s not rolling admissions. They still review all applications at the same time, much after the deadline.
You can submit them on Jan 1st itself for all they care.