Apply as a junior or senior UG? Forum

[vekwong]

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[blurbz]

If you apply after your senior year, you'd have to take a year off. What would you do? If it's interesting/worthwhile, do it. If it's boring/menial, then apply right after your junior year.

[whymeohgodno]

I'm applying during my senior year. Does this matter?

[justadude55]

Hey there,

I will be entering my junior year as an EE from UC Santa Cruz with a 3.54 gpa. If classes go well, my gpa may potentially rise to a 3.73 at the end of the year. I have only just begun taking a few practices LSATs and have placed in the 163-166 range.

My question is, would it be advisable to apply to law school after junior year with the hopes of matriculating into Berkeley or Stanford Law? Or would it be best to perform well senior year and further my gpa, then apply with a more comprehensive gpa? As well, I have been questioning maybe taking the LSATs later would help my mind mature a bit more, thus leading to a higher score?

Apologies if this is a repetitive article, I am new here.


Thanks!

i would apply when you think you're as attractive as you're ever going to be.

[Unshake]

I don't think it would make an enormous difference GPA wise. But if you have a 3.54 now, getting a 4.0 for two semester in upper division engineering classes isn't something I'd necessarily count on. Although I don't know your situation very well, those classes typically aren't easy A's at my school.

[billyez]

i would apply when you think you're as attractive as you're ever going to be.

TCR, and I say this from experience. Apply when you have the strongest application you could reasonably expect to have. But honestly, you don't even have an LSAT score yet. Come back when you have a real one and then folks can tell you if if it's worthwhile.

[slacker]

Edit: Never mind. Title confused me and I misread a bit.

[mst]

If the only schools you would be OK with are Berkeley and Stanford, work your ass off for the LSAT... and if you're GPA is close to their ranges and is countered by a great LSAT; apply. If you don't get in, apply again a year and find something awesome to do for the time being?

[vekwong]

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[im_blue]

Thanks for the help, I take the advice is heading towards "Take the LSAT, try hard in class, and with a strong LSAT score and gpa, hopefully I would be able to reach my goals".

Would taking the LSAT senior year be a more viable approach than taking it during junior year? I feel as if the year difference will not amount too much of a change.

LSAT scores are generally good for 4-5 years, so just take the LSAT when you've had enough time to prepare.

[CanadianWolf]

Apply Fall of your senior year unless you are a Rhodes scholar or have highly desirable work options.