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Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:50 pm
by PotatoMonkey
I was planning on applying to schools as soon as they open admissions; in doing so, I was wondering if I would be able to lighten my class load this year (3 classes a semester instead of 4), since the LSAC would already have my transcript, or is this generally seen as a no-no?

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:13 pm
by Knock
PotatoMonkey wrote:I was planning on applying to schools as soon as they open admissions; in doing so, I was wondering if I would be able to lighten my class load this year (3 classes a semester instead of 4), since the LSAC would already have my transcript, or is this generally seen as a no-no?
Yes, it's fine
Nope, they will auto reject you for taking 1 class less during your senior year, even though they already received your transcript and would have no way of knowing.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:16 pm
by masterthearts
I was also thinking of taking a lighter load, so that I can work on apps.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:18 pm
by vespertiliovir
Knockglock wrote:Yes, it's fine
Nope, they will auto reject you for taking 1 class less during your senior year, even though they already received your transcript and would have no way of knowing.
They will also kill a kitten.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:21 pm
by Knock
masterthearts wrote:I was also thinking of taking a lighter load, so that I can work on apps.
I would say that this is a good idea if you're busy during the summer, or are on a semester system that starts pretty early. But if you're on the quarter system or have time this summer, get everything together. Have your PS and if applicable, DS basically one draft from a finished, same with any addendums; get your transcript(s) sent in, and same with LOR. Actually filling out the applications isn't too bad, I looked at a few and they're like 7 or 8 pages I think? And if you don't have any arrests or anything, aren't bad at all to fill out, just paperwork.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:22 pm
by Knock
vespertiliovir wrote:
Knockglock wrote:Yes, it's fine
Nope, they will auto reject you for taking 1 class less during your senior year, even though they already received your transcript and would have no way of knowing.
They will also kill a kitten.
LSAC is pure evil! :shock:

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:25 pm
by thecilent
PotatoMonkey wrote:I was planning on applying to schools as soon as they open admissions; in doing so, I was wondering if I would be able to lighten my class load this year (3 classes a semester instead of 4), since the LSAC would already have my transcript, or is this generally seen as a no-no?
You only need like 6 classes to graduate I guess?

Knockglock wrote:Yes, it's fine
Nope, they will auto reject you for taking 1 class less during your senior year, even though they already received your transcript and would have no way of knowing.
I wouldn't go this far. Sometimes (especially if you're on the border), schools ask you to send in fall transcripts..

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:26 pm
by Knock
Cilent21 wrote:
PotatoMonkey wrote:I was planning on applying to schools as soon as they open admissions; in doing so, I was wondering if I would be able to lighten my class load this year (3 classes a semester instead of 4), since the LSAC would already have my transcript, or is this generally seen as a no-no?
You only need like 6 classes to graduate I guess?

Knockglock wrote:Yes, it's fine
Nope, they will auto reject you for taking 1 class less during your senior year, even though they already received your transcript and would have no way of knowing.
I wouldn't go this far. Sometimes (especially if you're on the border), schools ask you to send in fall transcripts..
Taking 1 class less isn't going to affect you, even marginally. I qualify this statement only with, it might affect you if you are 1 class short of graduation and have to take summer school to make it to law school on time.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:28 pm
by thecilent
Knockglock wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
PotatoMonkey wrote:I was planning on applying to schools as soon as they open admissions; in doing so, I was wondering if I would be able to lighten my class load this year (3 classes a semester instead of 4), since the LSAC would already have my transcript, or is this generally seen as a no-no?
You only need like 6 classes to graduate I guess?

Knockglock wrote:Yes, it's fine
Nope, they will auto reject you for taking 1 class less during your senior year, even though they already received your transcript and would have no way of knowing.
I wouldn't go this far. Sometimes (especially if you're on the border), schools ask you to send in fall transcripts..
Taking 1 class less isn't going to affect you, even marginally. I qualify this statement only with, it might affect you if you are 1 class short of graduation and have to take summer school to make it to law school on time.
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:44 pm
by masterthearts
yeah, but I can technically graduate in January, but don't want to. I only need 15 credits senior year to graduate. So, I figured I'd take one class less in the fall and work on apps. I will still graduate with more credits than I need

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:46 pm
by Knock
masterthearts wrote:yeah, but I can technically graduate in January, but don't want to. I only need 15 credits senior year to graduate. So, I figured I'd take one class less in the fall and work on apps. I will still graduate with more credits than I need
Then do it. Although i'd recommend flipping it around, and enjoying your last semester at college with a light work load. I don't think applications are that substantial tbh. It's the prepping for them, ie the LSAT prep, writing the PS and DS, sending in the transcripts and waiting to process, as well as LORs that takes a while. That's all stuff you can do over the summer.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:46 pm
by thecilent
masterthearts wrote:yeah, but I can technically graduate in January, but don't want to. I only need 15 credits senior year to graduate. So, I figured I'd take one class less in the fall and work on apps. I will still graduate with more credits than I need
Word. I wish I could grad in January. I'd get a job and chillll until ls

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:47 pm
by Cleareyes
Cilent21 wrote:
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:49 pm
by thecilent
Cleareyes wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.
What is made up? I'm not saying this will hurt him; I know they will not request fall grades from almost everyone. But def have heard them doing it for some people, and if they did, I was just saying it might seem weird to only be taking 3 classes.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:50 pm
by Knock
Cleareyes wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.
Noooooo way. If you have a complete number/soft twin, they still would be able to break it on basis of PS or LOR's. I seriously doubt they ever go beyond that to break ties. Although the idea of having a complete soft twin is kind of hard to believe. I guarantee they would find a way to break the tie on the basis of something more substantial than taking 1 less class one semester, or they might just admit both.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:51 pm
by thecilent
Also: knockglock, I didn;t want to post in the other thread because I already put up my numbers, but I think you will get 1 of HYS

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:51 pm
by Knock
Cilent21 wrote:
Cleareyes wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.
What is made up? I'm not saying this will hurt him; I know they will not request fall grades from almost everyone. But def have heard them doing it for some people, and if they did, I was just saying it might seem weird to only be taking 3 classes.
They do that for GPA basis i'm fairly certain, not to see that you take 3 classes instead of 4.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:52 pm
by Cleareyes
Knockglock wrote:
Cleareyes wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.
I lump PS and LOR in with softs.

And yes there is a very low chance of having an effective softs twin.

And for Client21, this won't be the first time they've seen someone with a light courseload and they won't say WTF. They'll say Meh.

Noooooo way. If you have a complete number/soft twin, they still would be able to break it on basis of PS or LOR's. I seriously doubt they ever go beyond that to break ties. Although the idea of having a complete soft twin is kind of hard to believe. I guarantee they would find a way to break the tie on the basis of something more substantial than taking 1 less class one semester, or they might just admit both.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:54 pm
by Knock
I lump PS and LOR in with softs.

And yes there is a very low chance of having an effective softs twin.

And for Client21, this won't be the first time they've seen someone with a light courseload and they won't say WTF. They'll say Meh.
No doubt. And there could be hundreds of valid, legitimate, and acceptable reasons why someone might want to take a slightly less intensive course-load.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:54 pm
by thecilent
Knockglock wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Cleareyes wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Who only takes 4 classes a semester to begin with anyway? I think if a law school requested to see your fall grades and only saw three classes they'd be like wtf?

And the whole one class short thing is an obvi wtf are you thinking

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.
What is made up? I'm not saying this will hurt him; I know they will not request fall grades from almost everyone. But def have heard them doing it for some people, and if they did, I was just saying it might seem weird to only be taking 3 classes.
They do that for GPA basis i'm fairly certain, not to see that you take 3 classes instead of 4.
I am not saying they will ask for fall grades to break ties with twins. But if they do request fall grades (even if it's not to check how many classes) they will SEE how many classes, and that's where I was saying it might be weird to them

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:56 pm
by thecilent
Knockglock wrote:
I lump PS and LOR in with softs.

And yes there is a very low chance of having an effective softs twin.

And for Client21, this won't be the first time they've seen someone with a light courseload and they won't say WTF. They'll say Meh.
No doubt. And there could be hundreds of valid, legitimate, and acceptable reasons why someone might want to take a slightly less intensive course-load.
Yeah, including slacking off bc they sent in their apps

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:56 pm
by Knock
Cilent21 wrote:
Knockglock wrote:
Cilent21 wrote:
Cleareyes wrote:

This seems totally made up. Considering that law schools look at someone who graduated with a 3.6 in Sociology from Fairleigh Dickinson as having had a better college career than someone who graduates with a 3.3 in physics from MIT, it seems entirely implausible that they'd care about one semester's courseload.

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE if you were a total numbers/softs twin with someone else who had taken the extra class and the two of you were jockeying for the last slot in the class it might matter a tiny bit, but the chances of that are so small as to be unworthy of consideration.
What is made up? I'm not saying this will hurt him; I know they will not request fall grades from almost everyone. But def have heard them doing it for some people, and if they did, I was just saying it might seem weird to only be taking 3 classes.
They do that for GPA basis i'm fairly certain, not to see that you take 3 classes instead of 4.
I am not saying they will ask for fall grades to break ties with twins. But if they do request fall grades (even if it's not to check how many classes) they will SEE how many classes, and that's where I was saying it might be weird to them
I'm not really familiar with the semester system. Is 3 classes dropping down less than a full-time student or something? As long as he graduates on time I can't see how they could fault him.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:57 pm
by Knock
Cilent21 wrote:
Knockglock wrote:
I lump PS and LOR in with softs.

And yes there is a very low chance of having an effective softs twin.

And for Client21, this won't be the first time they've seen someone with a light courseload and they won't say WTF. They'll say Meh.
No doubt. And there could be hundreds of valid, legitimate, and acceptable reasons why someone might want to take a slightly less intensive course-load.
Yeah, including slacking off bc they sent in their apps
Yeah, among hundreds of other options. I doubt they would use an unwarranted assumption to make a significant decision concerning the applicant.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:58 pm
by PotatoMonkey
Thanks for the advice! I only need the four classes plus one credit, so I was just hoping to really enjoy my senior year.

Re: Senior Year Class Load

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:59 pm
by thecilent
Knockglock wrote:I'm not really familiar with the semester system. Is 3 classes dropping down less than a full-time student or something? As long as he graduates on time I can't see how they could fault him.
At my school you need 4 classes or 12 credits to be considered full-time.

But this got way blown out of proportion. I don't think this will affect him at all -- but that's bc I don't think they will request fall grades. But if they did, I stand by saying I think it could hurt