<p>In this scenario:</p>
<p>Say a student applies for a college WAYY before the deadline, while another student applies for the same college really close to the deadline.</p>
<p>Does the first student have a higher chance of getting in? Or are they both the same? Also, do colleges have a limited number of students they accept each year? Do colleges correct applications on a First Come First Served Basis?</p>
<p>Yes, colleges admit a fixed number of students each year. They will not accept more than they have space for.</p>
<p>Most colleges have a specific deadline for application. So long as you send your application in by that deadline it does not matter whether yours is the first received or the last. However, some colleges have a rolling admissions policy. These schools do evaluate applications and make decisions as they come in so it is important to not dawdle for these schools. Each college’s admissions website should make it clear what their policy is.</p>
<p>So then in what order do colleges (not rolling decision ones) correct applications? If colleges have a restricted number of seats then how do they decide who to allow and who to not?</p>
<p>I would assume that they make very few, if any, decisions to admit on the first read. They probably sort them into highly qualified applicants, borderline applicants and under-qualified applicants, and take it from there.</p>
<p>"If colleges have a restricted number of seats then how do they decide who to allow and who to not? "</p>
<p>You’re kidding right?</p>
<p>Unless you see schools that have 100% automatic acceptance (think your local community college), then colleges develop their criteria. Most of the discussion on CC is kids trying to figure it out…</p>