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I'm in undergrad expecting to graduate spring 2013, and i'll be applying to law schools for fall of the same year. Since my plan is to send out all my applications some time in Nov. 2012, how do schools generally look at apps with incomplete undergrad transcripts? I'm curious because i currently have a 4.0 GPA (LSDAS is 4+), and i know maintaining it may be imperative if i am to entertain thoughts of being accepted to certain elite schools.

Do law schools generally waitlist applicants pending updated transcripts?

The thing is, with a 166 [and if i don't retake in Oct.], i would be relying heavily on my GPA as a bargaining chip for some schools, and maybe admissions will want to know if i'll be able to complete my last 2 semesters as strongly, before they make a decision. It's kind of a big 'if' because i'll be doing 18 credits in each of these semesters, all upper level courses. I've only done one other semester of 18 credits before, and these were all lower level courses.

Please note: a year off is not an option (too damn old already ), oh and AA URM FWIW.

they won't care, enjoy harvard. and 25 is not old.

If you're unsure, send them out as fast as possible. November is late to apply. If you already have taken the LSAT and are happy with your score, (which by the way given your URM status and awesome GPA you don't need to retake) Some schools have early September application dates. I personally appled mid-October, which is when everyone applies as they get their LSAT scores. In your case I would send out my app as soon as possible to flaunt that GPA. Apply to HYS and Columbia through Gtown very soon after they open up for applications. This way you can secure an admission before your fall grades come out in I assume January. If you bomb your grades in the Fall of 2012, you will already have offers on the table that will not be retracted.

roaringeagle wrote:If you're unsure, send them out as fast as possible. November is late to apply. If you already have taken the LSAT and are happy with your score, (which by the way given your URM status and awesome GPA you don't need to retake) Some schools have early September application dates. I personally appled mid-October, which is when everyone applies as they get their LSAT scores. In your case I would send out my app as soon as possible to flaunt that GPA. Apply to HYS and Columbia through Gtown very soon after they open up for applications. This way you can secure an admission before your fall grades come out in I assume January. If you bomb your grades in the Fall of 2012, you will already have offers on the table that will not be retracted.

This is exactly what i thought during my own analysis. I hope we're right. I would hate it if the pressure of back to back 18 credit semesters of upper level courses caused me to lose out.

To the best of my knowledge, nearly everyone applies before they have a completed transcript unless they took some time off after undergrad.

I know this, but since [by browsing lawschoolnumbers] it seems like more than half of all applicants don't apply right out of undergrad, I wanted to hear from people who did, and whether or not they think it matters.

marlo45 wrote:I know this, but since [by browsing lawschoolnumbers] it seems like more than half of all applicants don't apply right out of undergrad, I wanted to hear from people who did, and whether or not they think it matters.

Ok. Well I applied before I had a completed transcript and it didn't negatively affect me at all.

cutecarmel wrote:

marlo45 wrote:I know this, but since [by browsing lawschoolnumbers] it seems like more than half of all applicants don't apply right out of undergrad, I wanted to hear from people who did, and whether or not they think it matters.

Ok. Well I applied before I had a completed transcript and it didn't negatively affect me at all.

I thought so. I made the thread so that people like you could confirm or deny my presumption. Thanks.

Doesn't matter at all.

marlo45 wrote:I'm in undergrad expecting to graduate spring 2013, and i'll be applying to law schools for fall of the same year. Since my plan is to send out all my applications some time in Nov. 2012, how do schools generally look at apps with incomplete undergrad transcripts? I'm curious because i currently have a 4.0 GPA (LSDAS is 4+), and i know maintaining it may be imperative if i am to entertain thoughts of being accepted to certain elite schools.

Do law schools generally waitlist applicants pending updated transcripts?

The thing is, with a 166 [and if i don't retake in Oct.], i would be relying heavily on my GPA as a bargaining chip for some schools, and maybe admissions will want to know if i'll be able to complete my last 2 semesters as strongly, before they make a decision. It's kind of a big 'if' because i'll be doing 18 credits in each of these semesters, all upper level courses. I've only done one other semester of 18 credits before, and these were all lower level courses.

Please note: a year off is not an option (too damn old already ), oh and AA URM FWIW.

Enjoy Harvard, I'd even toss an app at Stanford and Yale. Jealous of your URM status.

roaringeagle wrote:If you're unsure, send them out as fast as possible. November is late to apply. If you already have taken the LSAT and are happy with your score, (which by the way given your URM status and awesome gpa you don't need to retake) Some schools have early September application dates. I personally appled mid-October, which is when everyone applies as they get their LSAT scores. In your case I would send out my app as soon as possible to flaunt that GPA. Apply to HYS and Columbia through Gtown very soon after they open up for applications. This way you can secure an admission before your fall grades come out in I assume January. If you bomb your grades in the Fall of 2012, you will already have offers on the table that will not be retracted.

I would second this opinion. With such a good GPA & URM, why should you wait till nov? Make the thing work quickly. Don't wait for it, just go and get it. All the best!

nekha123 wrote:

roaringeagle wrote:If you're unsure, send them out as fast as possible. November is late to apply. If you already have taken the LSAT and are happy with your score, (which by the way given your URM status and awesome gpa you don't need to retake) Some schools have early September application dates. I personally appled mid-October, which is when everyone applies as they get their LSAT scores. In your case I would send out my app as soon as possible to flaunt that GPA. Apply to HYS and Columbia through Gtown very soon after they open up for applications. This way you can secure an admission before your fall grades come out in I assume January. If you bomb your grades in the Fall of 2012, you will already have offers on the table that will not be retracted.

I would second this opinion. With such a good GPA & URM, why should you wait till nov? Make the thing work quickly. Don't wait for it, just go and get it. All the best!

Definitely. Thanks.

First off, Congrats! I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but if you're worried about trying to get excellent grades while taking 18 credit hours than you really need to step up your game for Harvard Law. Your GPA indicates that you shouldn't have a problem doing that!

ams212 wrote:First off, Congrats! I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but if you're worried about trying to get excellent grades while taking 18 credit hours than you really need to step up your game for Harvard Law. Your GPA indicates that you shouldn't have a problem doing that!

Thank you. You don't sound like a jerk for saying that; i know i'll have to step up my game a lot, wherever i get in. I'm not worried about bombing my last 2 semesters, but i wanted to know that it wouldn't be a big deal if i got, say, a couple Bs or so. I'm sure a 4.x looks better than a 3.x, and now that it has been confirmed that my last 2 semesters' grades wont be considered after i apply without them, i wont feel as pressured to maintain a 4.0.