Applying early v. GPA bump Forum

[Blythe17]

Hey all, I'm stuck between choosing to apply early (in September) or waiting for my fall semester grades to bump my LSAC-GPA from a XXX to a XXX (applying in mid-December).

I understand that the numbers almost always trump all other considerations (e.g. +2 LSAT pts > applying 2 months earlier), but I'm unsure because this is a mere XXX GPA difference versus a ~3 month delay. Although I'm confident that applying early won't matter for some schools (e.g. Yale/schools where a 3.89 is already above 75th%-ile), having heard here on TLS about how applying early to places like Harvard does give the applicant an advantage has me apprehensive. (FYI: my LSAT is XXX.)

So what do you think? What would you do? Any thought would be appreciated!

[EricHosmer]

3.89 is not above Yale's 75th percentile. In fact, it's below median.

Regardless, this should be an easy decision for someone in your situation: apply early and then update your GPA as it arrives after your fall semester.

[Blythe17]

I'm aware that 3.89 is below the Yale median. (I see how my post may have been misleading on that point, however.)

Thanks for your opinion. I was wondering whether that might be the best option, but I'm apprehensive about it because I would be opening up the possibility of getting rejected by schools before I have the chance to send them my updated GPA. So it's not clear to me that doing so will maximize my chances of getting accepted.

Also, I know I'm dealing with very miniscule differences here, so perhaps there are no clear answers. But I hope you others can relate, as there's so much on the line with LS applications.

[xylocarp]

I wouldn't worry about being rejected early with a 3.89/173. I have similar numbers (just slightly lower GPA, just slightly higher LSAT), and I'm going to apply early for that bump and update in the fall. This would be something to worry about with a 167-169 (maybe).

[daleearnhardt123]

Wait.... How on earth do you know what your fall grades are gonna be?!

[malleus discentium]

How do you know your grades will bump your GPA to a 3.91 before the semester has even started? Take into mind also that you will probably not be actually applying mid-December: You have to get your transcript to the LSAC and then they still have to process it. Given that there will be a lot of people doing both of these things around that time, and then with the Christmas break, you are potentially looking at some real delays.

Assuming neither of the above issues applies, however, it depends on what your application looks like otherwise. Using last cycle's numbers, going 3.89 -> 3.91 puts you over median at Chi and Y and moves you off median at P. It won't matter at all at Y, but at Chi and P it could, especially if you are an otherwise unspectacular applicant. Harvard's GPA median may go up this year, and being above median would matter if you have an unimpressive application (as mine was). If you've got solid softs and a good application, being a hair under median is probably not going to matter, especially weighed against potentially applying after the new year.

[xylocarp]

How do you know your grades will bump your GPA to a 3.91 before the semester has even started? Take into mind also that you will probably not be actually applying mid-December: You have to get your transcript to the LSAC and then they still have to process it. Given that there will be a lot of people doing both of these things around that time, and then with the Christmas break, you are potentially looking at some real delays.

Assuming neither of the above issues applies, however, it depends on what your application looks like otherwise. Using last cycle's numbers, going 3.89 -> 3.91 puts you over median at Chi and Y and moves you off median at P. It won't matter at all at Y, but at Chi and P it could, especially if you are an otherwise unspectacular applicant. Harvard's GPA median may go up this year, and being above median would matter if you have an unimpressive application (as mine was). If you've got solid softs and a good application, being a hair under median is probably not going to matter, especially weighed against potentially applying after the new year.

If H's median went up, that's where it would matter. Chi and Penn though? She has a 173.

[malleus discentium]

How do you know your grades will bump your GPA to a 3.91 before the semester has even started? Take into mind also that you will probably not be actually applying mid-December: You have to get your transcript to the LSAC and then they still have to process it. Given that there will be a lot of people doing both of these things around that time, and then with the Christmas break, you are potentially looking at some real delays.

Assuming neither of the above issues applies, however, it depends on what your application looks like otherwise. Using last cycle's numbers, going 3.89 -> 3.91 puts you over median at Chi and Y and moves you off median at P. It won't matter at all at Y, but at Chi and P it could, especially if you are an otherwise unspectacular applicant. Harvard's GPA median may go up this year, and being above median would matter if you have an unimpressive application (as mine was). If you've got solid softs and a good application, being a hair under median is probably not going to matter, especially weighed against potentially applying after the new year.

If H's median went up, that's where it would matter. Chi and Penn though? She has a 173.

Even with a 173, being above the GPA median is much better than being at or below. I also said that this was in the context of an application whose primary strength is numbers unaccompanied by strong softs, a situation where being above both medians is important.

[xylocarp]

Fair enough. I have no idea what a comparison of the extra GPA points to this might look like, but it's worth it to note that Chi gives a considerable bump for early applicants, and Penn's is decent as well. http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... esses.html

[daleearnhardt123]

This thread is interesting for one thing and one thing only, and it has amazingly not been answered yet.

[xylocarp]

This thread is interesting for one thing and one thing only, and it has amazingly not been answered yet.

After 3 years of undergrad/knowing one's strengths/knowing the classes you're taking and their reputations, I think it's fair to at least predict. For all we know, OP is in an easy major at community college and never goes out and only studies, yknow?

[daleearnhardt123]

This thread is interesting for one thing and one thing only, and it has amazingly not been answered yet.

After 3 years of undergrad/knowing one's strengths/knowing the classes you're taking and their reputations, I think it's fair to at least predict. For all we know, OP is in an easy major at community college and never goes out and only studies, yknow?

OP has 3 years of data telling her she is a 3.89 student. OP blithely assumes that she is 4.0 bound in her coming semester. Absolutely brilliant.

Edit: and OP is willing to make application decisions based on this very assumption.

[xylocarp]

This thread is interesting for one thing and one thing only, and it has amazingly not been answered yet.

After 3 years of undergrad/knowing one's strengths/knowing the classes you're taking and their reputations, I think it's fair to at least predict. For all we know, OP is in an easy major at community college and never goes out and only studies, yknow?

OP has 3 years of data telling her she is a 3.89 student. OP blithely assumes that she is 4.0 bound in her coming semester. Absolutely brilliant.

For all you know, OP had a 3.0 her first semester then decided to buckle down and has made >4.2 every semester since. I'm not saying it's necessarily not a stupid assumption to make; I'm just saying we don't know all the facts and it might very well be fair.

[blueberrycrumble]

I really highly doubt 0.02 in your GPA will make any difference even if you were 100% certain you could attain that 4.0 fall semester [which you can reasonably but not 100% certain]... just apply reasonably early

[Chrstgtr]

3.89 is not above Yale's 75th percentile. In fact, it's below median.

Regardless, this should be an easy decision for someone in your situation: apply early and then update your GPA as it arrives after your fall semester.

TCR.

As far as Yale specifically though, I know I have read that Yale doesn't actually start looking at applications until very late in the game (the reason why they release their first round of decisions so so late). So applying early won't make any difference there at all.

As far as other schools schools go, I doubt it will have much effect. You will either be admitted in the first round of admits for schools around mid Dec. or they will put your application off until the next round of decisions (by which time they would have reviewed your GPA update). No one will outright reject you that early with your numbers and the non-HYS schools won't have given out their scholarships yet by the first application deadline so Sept. or Dec. app won't make any real difference.

I guess an early app would guarantee that your application gets looked at at least one more time though if you turn out to be a borderline admit so you'll have that one extra chance so I would do what the above poster stated.

[Ti Malice]

This thread is interesting for one thing and one thing only, and it has amazingly not been answered yet.

After 3 years of undergrad/knowing one's strengths/knowing the classes you're taking and their reputations, I think it's fair to at least predict. For all we know, OP is in an easy major at community college and never goes out and only studies, yknow?

OP has 3 years of data telling her she is a 3.89 student. OP blithely assumes that she is 4.0 bound in her coming semester. Absolutely brilliant.

For all you know, OP had a 3.0 her first semester then decided to buckle down and has made >4.2 every semester since. I'm not saying it's necessarily not a stupid assumption to make; I'm just saying we don't know all the facts and it might very well be fair.

Exactly. What if OP only needs to fill hours with known easy-A classes in the fall? Not necessarily unreasonable to assume a 4.0. If OP is taking classes in quantum physics and Fourier and Laplace transforms, then yeah, probably not a good assumption to make.

[Pneumonia]

Apply early, without question

[McAvoy]

Apply early, without question

[Blythe17]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! It looks like the consensus is that it's generally better to apply early, especially to schools that are known for early-app boosts (Chi, Penn), assuming that my app is strong enough to survive the first round of denials.

As for how I can assume that I'll get a 4.0 in the fall... Umm, obviously I don't know 100%. But as others have pointed out, I think its possible for someone to reasonably predict something like this. In my case, I've gotten a XXX for the past two years and this fall is going to be my lightest semester yet. So I think I can factor this "assumption" into my application strategy.

[yot11]

Exactly. What if OP only needs to fill hours with known easy-A classes in the fall? Not necessarily unreasonable to assume a 4.0. If OP is taking classes in quantum physics and Fourier and Laplace transforms, then yeah, probably not a good assumption to make.

Not really relevant to anything, but I got an A in my fourier/laplace transform class, but got a straight B in Energy and the Environment O.o

OP I would apply early.

[RCinDNA]

This is easy.

Regardless, this should be an easy decision for someone in your situation: apply early and then update your GPA as it arrives after your fall semester.