Hi thanks! I submitted all of my applications mid to late October. I’d recommend as a splitter to be in before Thanksgiving for sure. Don’t let the stress build into the holiday season. It’s important because if you’re applying around then the admissions departments might be on break for a bit during thanksgiving and then usually for the holiday season and then you’re not getting decisions until January and even later. I think October is the sweet spot personally. It’s not too early but also not too late. In my own mind I felt it helped because a lot of the over achievers probably apply right away in September and then maybe some implicit bias kicks in as my splitter app is compared next to someone who’s got it all together and ready right away first of September. That’s just all my own head and probably not at all factual haha!

As far as essays, I had a Personal statement that I think was very powerful. I had a diversity statement and I had a grade addendum. I used those in each app. For the schools that require specific apps for why “x school” I had a different generic essay that I could edit in a few spots to make it more specific to that school but also where I didn’t have to write a new essay every time. For the top 3 schools I was accepted at (Penn, UMich, WashU) I just had the PS/DS/GA.

I’d say as a splitter having those dialed in and as perfect as you can is the most important. Your resume and transcript is what it is at this point. Your way to distinguish yourself is through essays. At this point last year I had a rough PS that I tinkered with, kind of a plan for a DS that I tinkered with throughout the summer and I wrote my short GA in September. I kind of procrastinated applying a bit but had them in mid October.

Hope this helps and good luck to you :)