How Detrimental is it to apply in February? Forum

[Geneva]

So far, applying in Jan/Feb doesn't seem to have had an impact on my cycle. We'll see what happens with my app to Harvard (not holding my breath), but in at several T14 schools with my super late apps. Just saying.

No worries, you wouldn't have gotten in to Harvard anyway.

Just checked your profile on LSN and am relieved to know that you haven't been accepted to any of the places I am considering. You sound like a huge douchebag.

[Mr. Pancakes]

IMO, TLS overstates the importance of applying early. I'm sure it is important, but I feel like it doesn't matter as much as some think it does. If you have the numbers you'll get in. If you are on the bubble then you should try to apply early.

[splitbrain]

So far, applying in Jan/Feb doesn't seem to have had an impact on my cycle. We'll see what happens with my app to Harvard (not holding my breath), but in at several T14 schools with my super late apps. Just saying.

No worries, you wouldn't have gotten in to Harvard anyway.

Really uncalled for...

[20130312]

So far, applying in Jan/Feb doesn't seem to have had an impact on my cycle. We'll see what happens with my app to Harvard (not holding my breath), but in at several T14 schools with my super late apps. Just saying.

No worries, you wouldn't have gotten in to Harvard anyway.

Just checked your profile on LSN and am relieved to know that you haven't been accepted to any of the places I am considering. You sound like a huge douchebag.

Careful, I am retaking and applying next year. I might go to the same school as you out of spite.

[Mr. Pancakes]

So far, applying in Jan/Feb doesn't seem to have had an impact on my cycle. We'll see what happens with my app to Harvard (not holding my breath), but in at several T14 schools with my super late apps. Just saying.

No worries, you wouldn't have gotten in to Harvard anyway.

Really uncalled for...

[Tiago Splitter]

IMO, TLS overstates the importance of applying early. I'm sure it is important, but I feel like it doesn't matter as much as some think it does. If you have the numbers you'll get in. If you are on the bubble then you should try to apply early.

But 170/3.7 is borderline at top schools, so outside of Yale, an earlier application date def. would've been preferable.

[splitbrain]

...

--ImageRemoved--

[SpoonForkSpork]

Anything is possible if you submit on Leap Day.

[n.britt]

I applied last minute (my LORs weren't in until after some deadlines), and so far I've heard back from 3 schools (Wisconsin, UPenn, and NYU) and am in at all 3. I'm still waiting to hear from Northwestern and Harvard. Schools save spots knowing that many strong candidates might not apply until the deadline. I really don't think it's worth waiting a year because of the unsubstantiated idea that your chances are "drastically" reduced by applying later in the cycle. If a school wants you, they'll take you - they don't care when you apply.

[Geneva]

I applied last minute (my LORs weren't in until after some deadlines), and so far I've heard back from 3 schools (Wisconsin, UPenn, and NYU) and am in at all 3. I'm still waiting to hear from Northwestern and Harvard. Schools save spots knowing that many strong candidates might not apply until the deadline. I really don't think it's worth waiting a year because of the unsubstantiated idea that your chances are "drastically" reduced by applying later in the cycle. If a school wants you, they'll take you - they don't care when you apply.

exactly. if you are so borderline that the timing is dispositive, you may not have gotten in to begin with. just saying.

[094320]

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[MichelFoucault]

You might as well wait until the next cycle. Makes no sense to apply this late. I mean, go for it and aim high, but if you get shut out from schools you should be able to get into, well... That'll speak for itself.

I love how everyone on this site automatically just says, "wait for next cycle."

Well, why the fuck would you wait until February and expect to get everything you want? Go get a job for a few months, make some cash, and enjoy life before law school begins to suck what little soul you have left out from the pores of your body.

This. Unless your 25 or older

[NoJob]

Does applying at the deadline or a few weeks before affect your chances?

If so by how much?

Prolly not by much.

They are desperate for applicants as smart people realize law school is a mistake.

[Mr. Pancakes]

Does applying at the deadline or a few weeks before affect your chances?

If so by how much?

Prolly not by much.

They are desperate for applicants as smart people realize law school is a mistake.

are you trying to troll as many threads as you can?

[spleenworship]

You might as well wait until the next cycle. Makes no sense to apply this late. I mean, go for it and aim high, but if you get shut out from schools you should be able to get into, well... That'll speak for itself.

I love how everyone on this site automatically just says, "wait for next cycle."

Well, why the fuck would you wait until February and expect to get everything you want? Go get a job for a few months, make some cash, and enjoy life before law school begins to suck what little soul you have left out from the pores of your body.

This. Unless your 25 or older

Meh. I was above 25 and wish I had waited a year and retook, in retrospect. Prolly could've gotten NU. Oh well, life moves on.

ETA: though I do think TLS tells too many people to retake. Most of them won't do significantly better, IMO, and then will have wasted a year. You gotta look at each individual on a case by case basis.

[Geneva]

Prolly not by much.

They are desperate for applicants as smart people realize law school is a mistake.

are you trying to troll as many threads as you can?[/quote]

I really think TLS overestimates the importance of applying early. so far, i don't think it has had an impact on my cycle. i've gotten in pretty much everywhere that i expected to. the schools i'm still waiting on are reaches and my harvard app probs would have just been held if i applied early.

[r6_philly]

I really think TLS overestimates the importance of applying early. so far, i don't think it has had an impact on my cycle. i've gotten in pretty much everywhere that i expected to. the schools i'm still waiting on are reaches and my harvard app probs would have just been held if i applied early.

How do you know the alternate results? There are many people who applied 2 cycles and had drastically different results. Me included.

[094320]

..

[Tiago Splitter]

Meh. I was above 25 and wish I had waited a year and retook, in retrospect. Prolly could've gotten NU. Oh well, life moves on.

ETA: though I do think TLS tells too many people to retake. Most of them won't do significantly better, IMO, and then will have wasted a year. You gotta look at each individual on a case by case basis.

I was over 25 when I waited and retook. Best decision I ever made. Also,

1) A lot of the retake advice occurs during the same cycle. TLS tells people year round to retake, and many of those retakes could occur without forcing people to wait an extra year.

2) You don't have to do significantly better to make a retake worthwhile. Even a 1-2 point improvement can have a drastic impact on a cycle.

3) A year away from law school does not automatically mean a person "wasted" a year.

[r6_philly]

I didn't even retake and it was well worth reapplying.

[JDizzle2015]

FWIW, I'm super borderline and I'm convinced that applying early gave my cycle a boost.

[RachaelRachelle]

I applied to all my schools in February and still am applying for some this week (with fee waivers). So far I've gotten into all of them, so I think people are overstating how much it matters. Probably matters more for financial aid.

[Geneva]

I really think TLS overestimates the importance of applying early. so far, i don't think it has had an impact on my cycle. i've gotten in pretty much everywhere that i expected to. the schools i'm still waiting on are reaches and my harvard app probs would have just been held if i applied early.

How do you know the alternate results? There are many people who applied 2 cycles and had drastically different results. Me included.

Valid point. On the other hand, I have been accepted to a bunch of T14s that TLS wisdom suggests I shouldn't have bc of the tardiness of my applications. E.g. I applied to Berkeley right before deadline and was accepted despite being out of state and having less than stellar numbers. People on TLS said that it wasn't worth the application fee to apply at that point, and yet...in. Incidents like these make me question the importants of timing.

[Tiago Splitter]

I applied to all my schools in February and still am applying for some this week (with fee waivers). So far I've gotten into all of them, so I think people are overstating how much it matters. Probably matters more for financial aid.

LOL at this being just a throwaway consideration.

[r6_philly]

Valid point. On the other hand, I have been accepted to a bunch of T14s that TLS wisdom suggests I shouldn't have bc of the tardiness of my applications. E.g. I applied to Berkeley right before deadline and was accepted despite being out of state and having less than stellar numbers. People on TLS said that it wasn't worth the application fee to apply at that point, and yet...in. Incidents like these make me question the importants of timing.

If you buy a powerball ticket and win the jackpot, does that mean it's easier to win the lottery than what other people say? If you place 1 bid on a biglaw firm at OCI and get an offer, does it mean it's easier to land a biglaw job than people say? If you don't study for torts at all and score a A+, does it mean it's eaiser to score a A+ than other people say?

People are not making arbitrary conclusions. The schools themselves explain how "rolling admissions" relate to timing of the application. Your counterexample illustrate exceptions to the general understanding of how the admission process works.

You can search the threads or browse school website FAQs to see how the timing affects candidate chances.