REA Princeton App Submitted 2 mins past deadline--still considered???

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

Hi all,

I was quadruple-checking my common app for errors until late last night (11/1), but clicked “submitt” on my Single-Choice Early Action a good five to ten minutes before midnight. Everything seemed to go through smoothly, but when I went back to my dashboard, it said that my application was submitted just after midnight on 11/2…

Has this happened to anyone else before, especially with a school similar to Princeton? There is a green check-mark next to my REA application checklist box–it didn’t say “error” or anything like that.

I thought about calling the Princeton admissions office, but am worried that they will think I am lying about submitting my application BEFORE midnight, or worse, just put an X over my name for my lack of organization.

If it makes any difference, I have a hand-written letter of recommendation from a Princeton alum either already in my file or on its way…

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

2

you’re fine. You know that Princeton is HAPPY you applied, right? They WANT to admit you if at all possible. Don’t forget that.

3

Thank you so much! But do you know how strict their deadline policy is about the Early Action pool? Might I end up being shuffled into the deck of Regular Decision applicants, even though my application is for Early?

4

Princeton is HAPPY you applied SCEA and they WANT to admit you under SCEA if at all possible.

If you visit CC around Jan 1st or 2nd, you’ll see about 8,000 posts where kids missed it by 5 minutes or so and are having freak outs. Happens every single year.

There used to be freak outs about whether a document rec’d a postmark on time – but that’s mostly passed.

This happens:

Every

Single

Year

It’s not in any college’s best interest to be harsh about deadlines. Many other items trickle in. They WANT to review applications. It’s not as if there were tons of people sitting in NJ at midnight handing out files to be evaluated. You’re fine

5

Thanks a bunch! I’m stressing a lot less now :slight_smile:

6

@T26E4 is right. This panic occurs every year and the colleges understand that things can get delayed a bit. Of course they’d prefer if everyone submitted well before the deadline, but they’re human too, and generally very understanding.

7

Agree with the above but if you apply to schools for the RD round, don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to push your luck because anything can happen.

8

Thanks, @Falcon1. You’re absolutely right. It’s very atypical of me to do that, but I decided to seriously load up on courses this year, and I had a crazy number of assessments leading up to the Princeton deadline. Luckily, all of my RD apps are due during my winter break, so I should be able to collect myself and be more organized. I’m so glad I didn’t 100% screw myself over for EA, though!

9

What about your supplement? Did you submit that?

10

The writing supplements and the short questions? I did indeed, at the same time as the common app.

11

If it makes you feel better, I was admitted to Princeton after submitting the writing supplement 5 weeks after the deadline. They honestly don’t care.

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