how late is late

Graduate School
1

<p>A school says its application deadline is 1 Jan and the review process starts in Dec. Also, "Late applications will be considered on a space- available basis".</p>

<p>Does it mean that I'll be at disadvantage if I apply like 30 Dec, comparing to someone with similar stats that apply early Dec?</p>

<p>Also, I'm thinking that they even haven't started interviewing their applicants in Jan. How is it possible that space is not available? Or the 'late' actually means like April, May? </p>

<p>thanks for all the replies in advance!</p>

2

<p>If your entire application package is in by Dec. 30 (including transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.), you shouldn’t be at a disadvantage.</p>

<p>But after the cutoff date, your application would go in a separate pile, not to be looked at until all of the on-time applications have been considered. If they fill their incoming class with candidates who applied on time, your application would get filed in the recycling bin.</p>

3

<p>I think by “late” applications they mean ones that come after 1 January, since that’s the deadline. They probably consider all the on-time ones first and then if they have space left over, consider the ones that came after 1 January. If you apply on 30 December, then you aren’t late.</p>

<p>So basically what polarscribe said.</p>

4

<p>I thought it was something like rolling admission in undergrad. thanks for the clarification!</p>