Ask schools to hold apps or wait to submit? Forum

[cogitoergosum]

Currently have 165/2.97.

Grades are taking strong upward trajectory (4.0 last 3 semesters). GPA would be 3.11 in December with another 4.0 semester.

Retaking LSAT in Oct., anticipating significant LSAT boost (7+ points).

So do I apply early with 165/2.97 and ask them to hold until new LSAT & fall grades post, or do I wait until December and apply (hopefully) with 170s/3.11?

[Bobeo]

I am interested in this as well. Very similar situation (3.1/166, expecting a 17x this October).

[scammedhard]

Currently have 165/2.97.

Grades are taking strong upward trajectory (4.0 last 3 semesters). GPA would be 3.11 in December with another 4.0 semester.

Retaking LSAT in Oct., anticipating significant LSAT boost (7+ points).

So do I apply early with 165/2.97 and ask them to hold until new LSAT & fall grades post, or do I wait until December and apply (hopefully) with 170s/3.11?

And what happened to November?

I think that it's OK to hold your apps if you take the Oct test and send your apps soon after the scores are posted. However, applying in Dec (or later) is a bit too late, and in that case I would suggest waiting until the next cycle.

EDIT: Don't hold your apps because of your grades. 3.0 or 3.1, they are going to be below the 25th percentile anyways, and that is what really matters because it affects what shows up on USNews.

[CanadianWolf]

Since your GPA is below 3.0, but expected to rise above that level soon, it's better to wait, in my opinion.

[Real Madrid]

What schools are you looking at?

[cogitoergosum]

What schools are you looking at?

Have to stay in NY area, so looking at Rutgers Newark, Seton Hall, Dozo, Brooklyn... ehem... columbia and nyu. Realize last two are LONG shot with my GPA, but hoping if I KILL the LSAT in Oct, and if they take my upward trend and interesting WE into account I might at least get a look.

I feel like for Rutgers/Seton Hall the 2.97/3.11 might not make a difference, but just thinking about sending an app to Columbia or NYU with a 2.97 seems pretty lame.

[cogitoergosum]

And what happened to November?

In November I will have my new LSAT score, but NOT my new GPA numbers. So I suppose there is a middle road of applying in November with new LSAT score and old GPA. If I do that, do I ask them to hold until fall grades post?

If I can just vent for a second, I find LSAT's GPA computation very unfortunate and extremely frustrating. I haven't gotten anything below an A in 6 years. I screwed around in school 2003-2005 (when I was 18+19 years old), and now I'm on track to graduate summa cum laude, 4.0, from a T50 school, yet I'm damaged goods, and applying with a FREAKING 2.97!! There needs to be some sort of academic statute of limitations where previous work eventually comes to be overlooked. Otherwise, for myself and others like me, the GPA figure that is reported is actually quite misleading. And even though I can provide an addendum to clarify this for schools, their accepting me entails a strike on their GPA numbers, which nobody wants.

Totally sucks..

[MRavvel]

And what happened to November?

In November I will have my new LSAT score, but NOT my new GPA numbers. So I suppose there is a middle road of applying in November with new LSAT score and old GPA. If I do that, do I ask them to hold until fall grades post?

If I can just vent for a second, I find LSAT's GPA computation very unfortunate and extremely frustrating. I haven't gotten anything below an A in 6 years. I screwed around in school 2003-2005 (when I was 18+19 years old), and now I'm on track to graduate summa cum laude, 4.0, from a T50 school, yet I'm damaged goods, and applying with a FREAKING 2.97!! There needs to be some sort of academic statute of limitations where previous work eventually comes to be overlooked. Otherwise, for myself and others like me, the GPA figure that is reported is actually quite misleading. And even though I can provide an addendum to clarify this for schools, their accepting me entails a strike on their GPA numbers, which nobody wants.

Totally sucks..

Don't wait until December... wait until Fall 12 to apply if you want to take full advantage of the GPA you earned and apply early.

[cogitoergosum]

Yeah, unfortunately waiting a year is not an option for me.

[MRavvel]

Yeah, unfortunately waiting a year is not an option for me.

Wait till December then. Better numbers are better numbers. You'll be at a slight disadvantage for applying late (even though it's not THAT late), but in a better position than if you had lower numbers and applied earlier.

[cogitoergosum]

Think applying in December is better than sending apps in Nov. and asking schools to hold them until fall grades post? Do schools honor these requests?