I’m grateful for this thread. I had no idea they began interviewing so early. Does applying later affect odds of being offered an interview? I had two references that waited until the very last minute to complete their letter’s of recommendation (I set early deadlines and they kept asking for more time. I pushed it back 3x.) They shared glowing recommendations but I feared/fear the impact that delayed timeline could have had on getting into the program. I’m still praying that I hear something soon.