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So I need some perspective advice, insights, and maybe encouragement.

I am a URM (Black Male) and a current fourth-year senior at a Top-25 program. I am entering my final semester of undergad. this fall with a 3.85 LSAC GPA (3.82 Degree) and I am hoping to apply to law school this fall. Hopefully, after my final fall semester I can muster up a 3.89 LSAC GPA (3.86 Degree) if I manage a 4.00

I have one major concern. My entire application won't be submitted until December 11th. I am aiming for schools like UMich, Boalt, Duke, Columbia, maybe HLS and SLS.

I am registered to take the LSAT in December along with a Testmasters course. Additionally, I am talking to my profs. in the fall and will ask them to write my letters of rec. before Thanksgiving. Lastly, law schools won't get my final transcripts until after the fall semester (post-December 5th). I feel like everything with my application won't come together until mid-December. What should I do?

Should I still apply? Won't it be late thou? I want to maximize my probability of admissions and I am wondering if I should apply next year, with everything done and ready on the first day the cycle opens.

So far as timing is concerned, you are in pretty much the same position as thousands of other applicants. Applying earlier would be to your advantage, but if you can't, you can't. Don't worry about it.

So far as credentials are concerned, your excellent GPA puts you in good shape. Just apply this year and see what happens. Don't wait a year just so you can submit your apps in October instead of December unless there's something you really want to do with that year.

What will really matter for you is your LSAT score. If you find that you're not ready for the LSAT by December, that would be a reason to wait a year.

I doubt Dec scores will release much earlier than really late Dec or early Jan. The test is on 12/11 and I think they usually take about 20 days to release. (official release date is 1/10, but they always come out at least a few days early)

Even still I think you are fine going complete then if you get an acceptable score.

If you score above a 165 you should be getting ready for Harvard.

You'll be fine with a good score.

move your timeline up and stop stressing

You're stressing about sending in apps late in the game, but you really haven't given reasons as to why you need to hit the submit button in December and why you will get LORs by Thanksgiving. It is now July. You should already be requesting LORs from profressors. Unless you feel horribly unprepared you should be looking to take the October LSAT. Is it too late to change your Testmasters registration? Have October LSAT classes already started? Also, candidates can send in their apps before the LSAT score is even released by LSAC and if you're concerned that adcomms won't like your 3.85 GPA prior to your final fall semester transcript, you're wrong. Send in your apps by late October and send your updated grades to LSAC once its available.

You're an AA male with a 3.8+ GPA...score in the mid 160s and you're golden

GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:You're stressing about sending in apps late in the game, but you really haven't given reasons as to why you need to hit the submit button in December and why you will get LORs by Thanksgiving. It is now July. You should already be requesting LORs from profressors. Unless you feel horribly unprepared you should be looking to take the October LSAT. Is it too late to change your Testmasters registration? Have October LSAT classes already started? Also, candidates can send in their apps before the LSAT score is even released by LSAC and if you're concerned that adcomms won't like your 3.85 GPA prior to your final fall semester transcript, you're wrong. Send in your apps by late October and send your updated grades to LSAC once its available.

You're an AA male with a 3.8+ GPA...score in the mid 160s and you're golden

TITCR. All of this. There is probably no hard and fast reason why you cannot take the test earlier and get everything done by OCT/NOV. That being said, DEC/JAN submission is not going to kill you. Do well on the test and you can go wherever you want.