Trying to get everything in order early for admissions. Forum

[DSD2013]

Hey everyone, Just finished my 3rd year in undergraduate with a 3.8 gpa cumulative. I just made an LSAC account. I would like to get a lot of things done early such as sending in my transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. What should I be doing? I am studying for the September 2014 LSAT and would like to have everything in order so that once I receive my score I could send in my application.

Thanks.

[bk1]

It won't matter.

[WaltGrace83]

The biggest advice I have (which you cannot take it this late anyway but I'll post it for future applicants) is to game your LORs. What I mean is that people often will ask for LORs months or, in most cases, years after they have had the professor. The problem is that the professor will probably not be able to pinpoint the most specific things about you that makes you you.

When I asked for LORs, I asked within days of receiving my grade in that class. I started getting LORs my sophomore year of college and I have all three of my LORs in now, even though I won't even be applying until this upcoming cycle or maybe even later. I was able to sit down with my profs, have all the original drafts of my work with their comments on them, and give them the forms early so they could take as long or as little time to craft my LOR as they wanted to. It was probably nice for them to hear "just get to it when you have some spare time" as I am sure most students wait until the deadlines are approaching to get their LORs. Hopefully, it worked out!

[random number]

The biggest advice I have (which you cannot take it this late anyway but I'll post it for future applicants) is to game your LORs. What I mean is that people often will ask for LORs months or, in most cases, years after they have had the professor. The problem is that the professor will probably not be able to pinpoint the most specific things about you that makes you you.

When I asked for LORs, I asked within days of receiving my grade in that class. I started getting LORs my sophomore year of college and I have all three of my LORs in now, even though I won't even be applying until this upcoming cycle or maybe even later. I was able to sit down with my profs, have all the original drafts of my work with their comments on them, and give them the forms early so they could take as long or as little time to craft my LOR as they wanted to. It was probably nice for them to hear "just get to it when you have some spare time" as I am sure most students wait until the deadlines are approaching to get their LORs. Hopefully, it worked out!

This is definitely credited. The only caveat is that you may end up taking more classes with/doing more work for the professor and therefore want an updated letter. This happened to me, as one of my LOR writers ended up as one of my thesis advisers. If you think that this may be the case, out of courtesy be sure to let the professor know ahead of time that a request for a rewrite may be in the future.

[lilyt93]

The biggest advice I have (which you cannot take it this late anyway but I'll post it for future applicants) is to game your LORs. What I mean is that people often will ask for LORs months or, in most cases, years after they have had the professor. The problem is that the professor will probably not be able to pinpoint the most specific things about you that makes you you.

When I asked for LORs, I asked within days of receiving my grade in that class. I started getting LORs my sophomore year of college and I have all three of my LORs in now, even though I won't even be applying until this upcoming cycle or maybe even later. I was able to sit down with my profs, have all the original drafts of my work with their comments on them, and give them the forms early so they could take as long or as little time to craft my LOR as they wanted to. It was probably nice for them to hear "just get to it when you have some spare time" as I am sure most students wait until the deadlines are approaching to get their LORs. Hopefully, it worked out!

When you say that you have them in, what exactly do you mean by that? I'm also a junior applying this fall, and I just asked two of my professors to write LORs, but I was under the impression (very possibly incorrectly) that I would have to wait until later, maybe August, to get them to LSAC.

[alicepaul]

The biggest advice I have (which you cannot take it this late anyway but I'll post it for future applicants) is to game your LORs. What I mean is that people often will ask for LORs months or, in most cases, years after they have had the professor. The problem is that the professor will probably not be able to pinpoint the most specific things about you that makes you you.

When I asked for LORs, I asked within days of receiving my grade in that class. I started getting LORs my sophomore year of college and I have all three of my LORs in now, even though I won't even be applying until this upcoming cycle or maybe even later. I was able to sit down with my profs, have all the original drafts of my work with their comments on them, and give them the forms early so they could take as long or as little time to craft my LOR as they wanted to. It was probably nice for them to hear "just get to it when you have some spare time" as I am sure most students wait until the deadlines are approaching to get their LORs. Hopefully, it worked out!

When you say that you have them in, what exactly do you mean by that? I'm also a junior applying this fall, and I just asked two of my professors to write LORs, but I was under the impression (very possibly incorrectly) that I would have to wait until later, maybe August, to get them to LSAC.

On LSAC, you will be able to enter their email addresses and they will be able to upload them to LSAC from there- that's what "having them in" means. If they want, they could also do it by mail (you would have to download the form for them) but I doubt that will happen. They can send them in at any time as long as you have an LSAC account. Like what everyone else said, try to get them in as early as possible- Oct. 1 is a good deadline, if not earlier. Don't be like me and be panicking because one of your recommenders hasn't submitted when you have all your other materials done.

[redsox]

The only things you really need to worry about are LORs and a dean's letter if you have character and fitness issues. You can do everything else while you're waiting for your score.

[TLSanders]

The biggest advice I have (which you cannot take it this late anyway but I'll post it for future applicants) is to game your LORs. What I mean is that people often will ask for LORs months or, in most cases, years after they have had the professor. The problem is that the professor will probably not be able to pinpoint the most specific things about you that makes you you.

When I asked for LORs, I asked within days of receiving my grade in that class. I started getting LORs my sophomore year of college and I have all three of my LORs in now, even though I won't even be applying until this upcoming cycle or maybe even later. I was able to sit down with my profs, have all the original drafts of my work with their comments on them, and give them the forms early so they could take as long or as little time to craft my LOR as they wanted to. It was probably nice for them to hear "just get to it when you have some spare time" as I am sure most students wait until the deadlines are approaching to get their LORs. Hopefully, it worked out!

That is an excellent strategy, but all is not lost for those applicants who didn't think to act in the moment. Creating a packet to go along with each recommendation request can make a positive impression on the recommender, make his/her job much easier, help ensure a balance among your recommendations and provide a reminder of key accomplishments, past compliments paid, etc. to refresh the professor's memory as he/she embarks on the letter.

[lilyt93]

On LSAC, you will be able to enter their email addresses and they will be able to upload them to LSAC from there- that's what "having them in" means. If they want, they could also do it by mail (you would have to download the form for them) but I doubt that will happen. They can send them in at any time as long as you have an LSAC account. Like what everyone else said, try to get them in as early as possible- Oct. 1 is a good deadline, if not earlier. Don't be like me and be panicking because one of your recommenders hasn't submitted when you have all your other materials done.

Thanks, Alice! I'm planning to keep in touch with my recommenders over the summer, so late summer is probably a good time to enter the email addresses and make it available for them! I appreciate your help!

[suzige]

I asked profs for my LORs in March for the next cycle. Best thing I did for my apps honestly. I gave them a "deadline" of my graduation to get them in (i was taking a year to work in between LS and undergrad) bc I wanted to have that portion of my apps done while I was still around campus to take care of things in person. Both profs had the letter in by the end of May before I left. It was great to have that done and over with. I say ask earlier than later bc that gives them enough time to write it without you hounding them.

[midwest17]

Working on your PS a bit can't hurt. I found it difficult to write while waiting for my score. Plus, revisions are more effective if you take some time after the initial write, so if you get a draft in decent shape over the summer and revise in September you should be good.