How do colleges process applications after the submission deadline?

I'm wondering if colleges wait until after the deadline to start reading applications or if they begin reviewing them as they come in. Does it vary by school? Trying to figure this out for my early decision applications.

Reviewing college applications is a complex and meticulous process, and each college can approach this process differently depending on their own internal practices and the number of applications they receive.

Some colleges may start reviewing applications as soon as they arrive, while others wait until after the official deadline to start the process. For early decision applications, due to the binding nature of this choice, colleges generally wait until after the early decision deadline to thoroughly review these applications, as they are strongly considering this pool of students for admission.

There is typically an initial review to ensure completeness and compliance with the application requirements. This includes checking transcripts, test scores, essays, recommendation letters, and other application materials. Incomplete or non-compliant applications can be put on hold until the missing or correct information is received.

After this initial verification, applications are typically read by an admissions officer or a committee who will carefully consider all academic and extracurricular information, along with any additional materials the applicant may have included.

It's important to know that in selective schools, applications often undergo multiple reviews. In some cases, there might be a first review focusing on the academic qualifications of the applicant (transcripts, standardized test scores, and course rigor), while a second review might focus more on qualitative aspects (essays, extracurriculars, and recommendation letters).

Regarding your early decision applications: these are usually reviewed and decided upon a few weeks after the respective early decision deadline. The exact timeline can vary by institution, so you might want to check the specific dates provided by the colleges to which you're applying. And remember, it's always key to ensure that you've provided all required information by the deadline to ensure your application can be considered.