<p>I don’t have a negative view of students who wait until the last minute to submit their applications. They may have more or less completed them much earlier, and might want to take all the time that is available to catch minor issues, or rewrite small sections. Occasionally, one becomes aware of answers that might be misinterpreted or that look silly, when one takes a break from the application and approaches it with “fresh” eyes. In my opinion, only the lapse of time permits a fresh view.</p>
<p>When I am working on a manuscript for publication, I often catch 10 or 12 minor issues after I have completed what I thought was the “final” proofread.</p>
<p>Taking all the time available can make sense–just not if it makes the student/family tense about submission issues at the very last moment.</p>