How does GA Tech tell the difference? The college board says that the deadline is 11:59 local time, but that all applications are displayed in ET time. How can Tech tell the difference in when my application is submitted?
I will think that would be the time zone of the school you are applying to.
Interesting, I would have thought the same as @billcsho, but GT says this: “All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. in your time zone.”
I guess that would depend on the schools.
@suzy100 Is correct for GA Tech. For other colleges, the answer is “it depends.”
For example, the Common App says:
https://appsupport.commonapp.org/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=35&hitOffset=&docID=1479
So a couple of points:
• When in doubt, ask the school in question
• Most schools (but you cannot assume that this is the case with all) will give a few hours grace period. Colleges want your application, so they are unlike to automatically throw an application in the trash just because it comes in a few minutes late. After all, nobody is sitting in the admissions office at 11:59 waiting for your application.
• having said that, don’t tempt fate and don’t wait until the last minute to submit; at the end of the day, your computer problems are not the college’s problems.
The common sense answer is just don’t cut it so close.
I agree with @happy1, don’t cut it that close.
I had one case when I was in Hawaii on the last day that my credit card was valid and it was supposed to be valid until midnight. However, at dinner well before midnight Hawaiian time but after midnight in New York the card was declined. Fortunately I had another card which worked fine (and found the replacement card in the mail when arriving home a few days later). I would think that the same problem might occur if you try to apply to a university within an hour or two of the deadline. It will probably work close to the deadline, but you shouldn’t have to count on it.
Some times the application system goes down, especially under a heavy load. Or I’ve heard of snafus where a credit card isn’t accepted for the payment and blocks the submission. My advice is always shoot for a couple days ahead of the deadline to submit, and go for Thursday if it is due on a weekend so you have a weekday to call for help if needed.
I actually told my kids to submit 2 weeks before deadline. That way, you have as chance to check the portal if any document is missing before the deadline and still have time to take action.