<p>does this increase the chance of being admitted, as opposed to one who submits a few days before the deadline?</p>
<p>i've generally heard that this is true, but i want to hear more opinions.</p>
<p>I duno if I asked this before in another thread, but if we submit our apps before the jan deadlines, will we have to mail updated transcripts as well></p>
<p>I don't know if it actually increases the chances of being admitted. I found it really helpful to submit applications before the deadline, because they read applications in the order they come in (and are complete), and my submitted-early apps led to early interview invitations. ;)</p>
<p>Certainly submitting early means you can check that your application is complete -- there's usually a crush of applications at the deadline, and for a while the administrative staff is busy sorting through all the pieces.</p>
<p>bonafide20, not all programs even ask for updated transcripts -- I didn't have to submit a single transcript showing my first semester senior year grades. You should contact the programs to which you are applying for definitive answer.</p>
<p>No, it typically does not increase your chances. Most times the committee meets after the application deadline, so they won't even really know or care when the application was submitted, only that it is complete by the time they meet. It's not like undergrad on a rolling admissions time schedule. </p>
<p>Also (in my experience), the deadline isn't too 'hard' and they will accept scores past the deadline and will work with you if you have a hard time making the deadline. However, I'm also in a small field that pretty much begs for good grad students, so it probably is more hard in larger deparments or more competitive fields.</p>
<p>Edit:</p>
<p>mollie:</p>
<p>For my MS program, all they asked for was a final transcript after I got to school to verify I actually did complete my undergrad degree. For my PhD program they are looking for verification that I got my thesis into the graduate school before the beginning of my second semester. I think they will ask you soon for verification that you completed your program in the near future if they haven't already.</p>
<p>Oh, I had to submit a transcript verifying that I'd completed my degree, but only after I was accepted.</p>
<p>I just meant that, unlike my undergrad apps, I did not have to submit first semester senior year grades in January before decisions came out.</p>
<p>I also found that grad schools were pretty flexible -- one of my recommendation letters got lost in the mail, and I didn't find out until about two weeks after the application deadline, when the department emailed me. They did ask that the letter be submitted by Jan 3, which stressed me out because I was traveling/away from the internet and couldn't check on the status of the letter (which my recommender thankfully faxed immediately). </p>
<p>Moral of the story: Programs will generally cut you some slack, but it's better for your peace of mind to submit your apps early. :)</p>
<p>we had grad students from UC-Irvine coming in for a talk, and they said, if you submit your app's ealier, they'll usually give your application a second look through if time permits (which might help in some cases)</p>
<p>How early is early? My earliest app is due 12/12. I plan on submitting all my apps by 12/5 or so. Most of my deadlines are late December or January.</p>
<p>At the school I visited this weekend, they mentioned that they review portfolios in the order of submission, every week or two once there's a critical mass, and that by simple logic those submitted earlier would probably get a longer look because they would have more time for them. On the other hand, I've heard other schools say that they do not look at anything until the day after the deadline. So I guess it depends on each school's methodology.</p>
<p>Are we talking about just the applications or the full package(scores, letters, etc.)?</p>
<p>
[quote]
does this increase the chance of being admitted, as opposed to one who submits a few days before the deadline?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You might have heard of the 'rolling admissions' system that medical and dental schools (among others) use:
<a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000086.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000086.htm</a></p>
<p>As far as I know, graduate school applications do not use rolling admissions (unless they say so on their website), so there is no advantage (besides peace of mind, as mentioned by previous posters) in submitting early because the admissions committee doesn't convene until after the deadline.</p>
<p>early as in about a month or earlier early</p>
<p>If it is a rolling admission then it can.</p>