<p>i'm an international student so we don't get told a lot of information about US applications. I think December 1st is when colleges start reading applications in the order they're received? ... so when should i submit my application?</p>
<p>Generally you should get them in by mid November</p>
<p>rd deadline is usually January 1
ed deadline is november 1</p>
<p>Go to the website for each school where you are applying and check in their admissions/prospective students section. There will be a deadlines link with specific information. The deadlines vary from school to school and there are different dates at each school for early and regular. I don’t know of any deadlines before Nov. 1. Your information about reading apps in the order received sounds like advice for schools with rolling admissions. Most schools are not rolling admission. Getting your apps in well before a deadline generally will not help you at schools that do not have rolling admission. For rolling admissions schools, applying earlier in the process might give an advantage and for those you should generally apply as soon as you can. </p>
<p>Most schools have an admissions person assigned to international recruiting. If you look on the website for each school you can probably figure out who this is and email the individual with your questions.</p>