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How does the admissions committee view candidates who graduated a year early from UG?

It matters not.

Most schools tend to like candidates who have some work experience. I graduated in 3 years, then I went and worked for 3 years. I think that both of those were assets to me. On the other hand, if you graduate in three years and go straight through I can't imagine it would help you, but I don't think it would hurt you either.

Why would it help? It doesn't matter whether you take three years or five.

Very subtle #humblebrag

mrtoren wrote:Why would it help? It doesn't matter whether you take three years or five.

Why could it help?

Well, it could show motivation and drive. I decided I wanted to work on the Obama campaign. I took extra classes and summer classes (raising my GPA in the process) while working a near full time job.

I don't think that it on it's own would help, but if you can use it to demonstrate an ability to kick your ass into gear it can. It really all depends on the story you tell.

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Very subtle #humblebrag

Yeah, because graduating from a highly mediocre undergrad in three years is what I'd choose to brag about.

ETA: Oh, if this dig isn't directed at me I withdraw the above hostility. If it is, feel free to let the hostility remain.

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Very subtle #humblebrag

Haha you got me

thelaststraw05 wrote:

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Very subtle #humblebrag

Yeah, because graduating from a highly mediocre undergrad in three years is what I'd choose to brag about.

ETA: Oh, if this dig isn't directed at me I withdraw the above hostility. If it is, feel free to let the hostility remain.

Wasn't directed at you.

thelaststraw05 wrote:Most schools tend to like candidates who have some work experience. I graduated in 3 years, then I went and worked for 3 years. I think that both of those were assets to me. On the other hand, if you graduate in three years and go straight through I can't imagine it would help you, but I don't think it would hurt you either.

As someone who graduated undergrad in 3 years and went straight to law school I don't feel like it hurt my cycle, but it's hard to tell since adcomms don't communicate to people what went into them getting accepted/WLed/dinged.

One piece of advice: while I think people here get a little too adamant about taking time off between ugrad and law school and lose sight of individual circumstances and the variable factors that play into that decision, I would never recommend that somebody attend law school before they're 21. If you'll be 20 when law school starts, take a year off; law school social activities are like 90% drinking.

Bildungsroman wrote:

thelaststraw05 wrote:Most schools tend to like candidates who have some work experience. I graduated in 3 years, then I went and worked for 3 years. I think that both of those were assets to me. On the other hand, if you graduate in three years and go straight through I can't imagine it would help you, but I don't think it would hurt you either.

As someone who graduated undergrad in 3 years and went straight to law school I don't feel like it hurt my cycle, but it's hard to tell since adcomms don't communicate to people what went into them getting accepted/WLed/dinged.

One piece of advice: while I think people here get a little too adamant about taking time off between ugrad and law school and lose sight of individual circumstances and the variable factors that play into that decision, I would never recommend that somebody attend law school before they're 21. If you'll be 20 when law school starts, take a year off; law school social activities are like 90% drinking.

+1

And at least in Ann Arbor it is mostly drinking in bars that card at the door.

MrPapagiorgio wrote:

thelaststraw05 wrote:

MrPapagiorgio wrote:Very subtle #humblebrag

Yeah, because graduating from a highly mediocre undergrad in three years is what I'd choose to brag about.

ETA: Oh, if this dig isn't directed at me I withdraw the above hostility. If it is, feel free to let the hostility remain.

Wasn't directed at you.

Lmao.

I don't think it would at all matter

thelaststraw05 wrote:

mrtoren wrote:Why would it help? It doesn't matter whether you take three years or five.

Why could it help?

Well, it could show motivation and drive. I decided I wanted to work on the Obama campaign. I took extra classes and summer classes (raising my GPA in the process) while working a near full time job.

I don't think that it on it's own would help, but if you can use it to demonstrate an ability to kick your ass into gear it can. It really all depends on the story you tell.

How did that work out for letters of recommendation? Did you stay in contact with professors or did you just use employers?