Will law schools see my fall grades before admission?

[LawurmStudent]

I am graduating after the fall semester of next year. If I apply with October LSAT and get everything in right after will they likely not admit me until seeing fall semester grades?

Was hoping I could make this work to my benefit by allowing me to raise my GPA a little more.

[Rigo]

Depends on how borderline you are, but tons of people get admitted without fall grades. If your GPA maintains or rises, definitely send the schools your fall grades when you get them.

[tskela]

On a related note: would it be more effective to apply early or wait until fall grades are available? (beginning of December in my case)

And slightly unrelated, when is the best time to apply if you take the September LSAT?

[Rigo]

On a related note: would it be more effective to apply early or wait until fall grades are available? (beginning of December in my case)
And slightly unrelated, when is the best time to apply if you take the September LSAT?

It's unlikely your GPA would skyrocket enough to truly justify waiting, so I just apply ASAP and then update the schools on your fall semester when you get grades.

[tskela]

On a related note: would it be more effective to apply early or wait until fall grades are available? (beginning of December in my case)
And slightly unrelated, when is the best time to apply if you take the September LSAT?

It's unlikely your GPA would skyrocket enough to truly justify waiting, so I just apply ASAP and then update the schools on your fall semester when you get grades.

Thanks, I hadn't realized applying early made that much of a difference. What deadline should I be aiming for? Is submitting in September better than October or are both those months considered pretty early?

[Rigo]

I would say anything before Thanksgiving is early and anything before MLK Jr. Day in January is on time. Defintiely no rush or reason to submit apps before you have a LSAT score.

[tskela]

I would say anything before Thanksgiving is early and anything before MLK Jr. Day in January is on time. Defintiely no rush or reason to submit apps before you have a LSAT score.

Gotcha, thanks. Last question I promise: in your opinion, applying with a 3.65 by Thanksgiving would be more beneficial than applying with a 3.70 by MLK Jr. Day, right? (Have a 171 from last February if that helps, re-taking in September)

[Rigo]

I would say anything before Thanksgiving is early and anything before MLK Jr. Day in January is on time. Defintiely no rush or reason to submit apps before you have a LSAT score.

Gotcha, thanks. Last question I promise: in your opinion, applying with a 3.65 by Thanksgiving would be more beneficial than applying with a 3.70 by MLK Jr. Day, right? (Have a 171 from last February if that helps, re-taking in September)

Yes. I would get the ball rolling with the 3.65/171 and then update your app with your new stats as needed.

[tskela]

I would say anything before Thanksgiving is early and anything before MLK Jr. Day in January is on time. Defintiely no rush or reason to submit apps before you have a LSAT score.

Gotcha, thanks. Last question I promise: in your opinion, applying with a 3.65 by Thanksgiving would be more beneficial than applying with a 3.70 by MLK Jr. Day, right? (Have a 171 from last February if that helps, re-taking in September)

Yes. I would get the ball rolling with the 3.65/171 and then update your app with your new stats as needed.

Makes sense, thanks for your help

[Mack.Hambleton]

some schools will request them eg columbia

[PeanutsNJam]

OP, in your case, apply as early as you humanly can with your 171. Assuming you get even 1 more point on a retake, you're a strong splitter app, and splitters have much better cycles when they apply really damn early. They won't review your application until your retake score is in if you ask them not to.

Whatever you do, make sure apps are in before Thanksgiving for the best possible cycle.