<p>Is there a strategic benefit of turning in applications early? I dont mean early decision vs regular decision. I mean literally, turning an application in way earlier than the due date. For example, if I turned in an application a month before the Nov 1st deadline, would there be an advantage for me as compared to turning my application in the day of? I've heard for some people that the earlier you turn in your application, the sooner it gets evaluated, which means that they'll be able to spend more time/ not feel as rushed or swamped, earning an edge in admissions. I just wanted to know for the regular decision round.
Thanks!</p>
<p>It may depend on several factors – if the school does rolling admission, sure, it would help. But if not a rolling admissions school, it would also depend if your application was “complete” with transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, etc. It will likely not be reviewed until it is complete.</p>
<p>There may be a benefit to the applicant, if you are not rushed and doing things at the last minute there is less chance for careless errors and you could have a better application.</p>
<p>But if it is a highly selective school, I doubt it would make much of a difference, unless you are an applicant who stands out in some positive way. It’s even possible the files they review later might be memorable than ones they review earlier.</p>
<p>I think the best strategy is not to be rushed, to turn it in a little before the deadline to account for last minute glitches, but to allow your application to be complete. My S was still adding accomplishments and awards to his application during the fall, so while he started working on essays and the application early, he didn’t submit it until a few days before the deadline so he could have the application reflect his latest information.</p>
<p>College_query touches all the bases with that answer.</p>
<p>When my daughter was applying to colleges, I told her she should aim to hit the “submit” button 7-10 days before each school’s application deadline. That worked pretty well.</p>
<p>"October 15:</p>
<p>We recommend that you send your application by this date if possible so that we may create and begin processing your file. Our alumni/ae interviewers would appreciate your sending the Common Application/Universal Application by this date to allow them to begin the interviewing process where possible."</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Application Timeline](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/application_process/timeline.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/application_process/timeline.html)</p>
<p>Application is not due until Jan 1. By submitting now, Harvard can schedule you for an interview. If you wait until Jan 1, you may not get an interview.</p>
<p>That is one strategic benefit for one school.</p>
<p>hi i was also curious about this…</p>
<p>So colleges do, in fact, read applications in the order that they were submitted? So the application of the guy who submits at 11:59 will be read at the end?</p>
<p>“So the application of the guy who submits at 11:59 will be read at the end?”</p>
<p>No. The guy whose rec letters and/or transcript creeps in last in order to complete his file – that guy gets read last. Even if his app was turned in on Oct 20. It’s when your file is done – not when you get your stuff in.</p>
<p>To tell the truth, for ED I waited until the day before (well moved back due to Hurricane Sandy) because I wanted to make sure it was perfect. I had it done 5 or so days before, but I wanted to edit my essay, read, reread, rereread, and continue reading the information to make sure it’s all correct, etc. I wouldn’t have waited until a day before, but I wasn’t sure what colleges I was applying to for a while. I’d say there probably is no benefit to applying early unless it’s rolling admission, so I wouldn’t rush to submit it. Start early, finish on time, it makes it a lot less stressful.</p>
<p>@T26E4, does that include financial aid stuff? Or just the common app, supplements, payments, and school forms?</p>