Anyone knows how maryland set their app deadline?

[pkukitty]

I found on their website

To facilitate the processing of applications, the Graduate School requests that you submit the Online Graduate Application by the Graduate School's priority processing date for Fall 2010 admissions, which is December 1, 2009. The official online application deadline for the Ph.D. program in Economics is midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on January 15, 2010. This is the final deadline for international and domestic applicants. All completed applications received by the January 15, 2010 deadline will be reviewed, and admissions decisions will be made without regard to the date of submission of the application.


If all applications completed before 2010.1.15 (the official online application deadline) are all viewed equally, what's the benefit of completing the application before 2009.12.1 (the priority processing date)?

[Gecko]

maybe the later ones don't get so much funding~

[tm_guru]

You get reviewed first, before adcom apathy sets in?

[One on One]

I am applying to Maryland and they have a 2-part application. The first part is pretty basic biographical stuff which I believe they are saying is due for 12/1/09. After you submit that, you get access to the 2nd part which is where you submit the statement of purpose, LORs, etc. So, I think that is what they mean.