She blew my nose and then she blew my mind

Application packet is in the mail and three letters of recommendation have been confirmed mailed out as of three o'clock this afternoon. Commence with the four-times-a-day checking of the mailbox from now until the end of February.

Does anyone have an estimation on how fast graduate school applications are turned around? The hard deadline for admission applications is February 15th -- I'm ten days ahead of schedule. Does this mean that they won't begin to process my application until after the due date? Or will I be rewarded for neurotic over-punctuality? It's highly possible that it varies by institution, too. I just want to know. I know that waiting is going to be torture. I'm that wonderful sort of nervous/excited; the kind that breeds butterflies in the stomach, then breeds badgers to chase those butterflies.

...I promise I won't use lame metaphors like that when I'm a seasoned professional. Unless I'm poor and have to freelance.