<p>When a school says that something is due on say 12/31, do they mean 5:00 PM local time or 11:59 PM?</p>
<p>Some of my institutions mention the time quite specifically. Others don't say anything at all. Is there a system, or is the only way to know to call each individual school and find out?</p>
<p>Usually, if there is no stated time, the application has to be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm, when the submit function is then automatically removed. For hard copies, the application must bear the postmark of that date. To be sure, however, the only way to know is to call, although you should be braced to hear a slightly annoyed person at the other end.</p>
<p>I would strongly advise against waiting until the last (literal) minute since web servers do crash/get overloaded. Although universities experiencing a major problem will often extend the deadline, they won’t do it for you if your power goes off or your ISP goes down.</p>
<p>Oh I don’t intend to wait until the last minute. I am far too paranoid to do so. :p</p>
<p>It was more a matter of curiosity than anything else.</p>
<p>I went to bed with the dreaded thought:
Maybe the due date of 12-15 means it needs to be in BY 12-15.
Of course my rational mind knew it wasn’t true, but the overworked, fevered thought it nonetheless.
And everyone keep in mind time zone differences!</p>
<p>Most of my applications were due 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (even when the school wasn’t on the east coast!).</p>
<p>Yikes! Good to know!</p>