if school has a deadline, do they still review apps and send invites before that

[nature88]

If a school has an application deadline of Dec 1 or whatever. Does it still review and send invites for those people that submitted their apps earlier than the deadline? That seems to be the case for the school I am applying to. Then why don't they just change their deadline to rolling admission? Because otherwise it's not fair to other students who submitted their apps later, but before the deadline. A deadline to me means that as long as you got your app in before a certain date, you have the same chance as others to get in. If they review and send invites before everyone has the chance to get their apps in, then what's the point of having a deadline?

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[diastole]

Maybe they know from past experience that students above a certain threshold will get an interview no matter when they submit the applications. For example, if a student has a 4.0, a 99 PCAT and years of pharmacy experience, the school doesn't really have to wait until after the deadline to know that that person is going to get an interview. Maybe they wait until after the deadline to decide who is getting an invite for the more marginal applicants so your chances really aren't hurt by submitting the application at the deadline.

 

[wolfpackhal]

The deadline is the latest you can send in your app and have it reviewed. Many schools, but not all, do rolling admissions where they will start reviewing apps before their deadline. The rolling admissions status of a particular school is usually found on the school's pharmacy website or PharmCAS. So yes, at some schools there are accepted students before some have even submitted their app. Some schools review all apps after their specified deadline, but it all depends on the school. Also, some that have Feb or March deadlines will usually start rolling their admissions starting in December or January. It is always better to apply as early as possible!