As you tick boxes on the application, type rating, disabled, M/F etc etc you earn points. If you're registered disabled you earn 10000 points and are eligible for an interview - some European ruling thing!! So the higher the points the closer to the top of the pile you are. The recruiter then goes into the application and reads through your essay answer and grades them is several piles: Suitable for BA, Review, Reject.
Only after all these filters have been applied you'll get your email to invite or PFO. No news is either good news or a PFO will follow in due course. The date you applied will have NO relevance!