Submitting College Applications Early Benefits?

I was wondering if there are any benefits to submitting college applications BEFORE the deadline, like maybe a week or two early. Does this give an advantage, or does it not really matter? Has anyone noticed any difference in doing so? Thanks!

There is no direct advantage in terms of your chances of admission by submitting your application a week or two before the deadline. Colleges will generally start reviewing applications after the deadline has passed. However, there are a few practical benefits to submitting early:

1. Avoid technical issues: By submitting early, you reduce the risk of encountering technical difficulties that can happen close to the deadline due to high traffic on application platforms, such as the Common App, Coalition App, or university-specific portals. These difficulties can cause delays and even missed deadlines.

2. Less stress: By finalizing and submitting your application early, you can alleviate some of the stress associated with deadlines and focus on your remaining applications, school work, and other commitments.

3. Time for guidance: If you submit early and have any questions or issues, there will still be enough time for you to contact the college admissions office or consult a high school counselor or teacher for guidance.

4. Quicker financial aid processing: Submitting your application early can lead to an expedited review for financial aid in some cases, as colleges often distribute financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. This can be beneficial if you're seeking need-based financial aid or scholarships from the college.

Remember, submitting early in this context doesn't refer to Early Decision, Early Action, or other special application rounds, which do have separate deadlines and may have different effects on your admissions chances. The benefits mentioned above apply to cases where you submit the application a week or two before the specified deadline for a particular application round (Regular Decision, Rolling Admissions, etc.).