Do they start reading the applications on Nov 1 or before that? It just seems that people who submit their apps early get accepted…does it matter at all?
No
The plural of anecdote is not data.
The only advantage for the applicant is that it gets it off his/her plate. For some colleges, a completed application is required to trigger an interview request, but other than that, the college is the one that benefits from an early submission as they can start assembling the packets. The application readers themselves are likely still out in the field doing college fairs, so it’s not like the application will be read any earlier.
If your application is done, you are happy with the essays, and have triple checked everything, go ahead and send it. If not, wait until you are confident that you can do no more with it.
skieurope I appreciate you always beating me to the correct answers
It could matter if you wait until the last minute and then have technological problems.
I would suggest you make your internal deadline be the day before your application is due, that way if a computer crashes or if something takes longer than expected to download, you won’t be overly stressed about missing the real deadline.
Yes, valid point. Don’t wait until 11:59 p.m. on the due date.