<p>when is the earliest we should send our applications?
1 month before the deadline?
2 weeks?</p>
<p>im getting paranoid :]</p>
<p>Whenever you're satisfied with the application? Personally I'd say aim to be done the app at least 1 week before the real deadline; that will give you a bit of a cushion in case something unexpected happens.</p>
<p>Avoid submitting day of; this past application season, there were all sorts of stories about slow servers, and people "missing" the deadline by minutes, etc.</p>
<p>Some schools have specific dates they recommend. For example, Harvard has a day on which they start accepting applications, and would rather see people send them in. It doesn't affect admissions, but at least it shows you care and are on top of things.</p>