Graduating early - is it bad? Forum

[ktbug17]

Do law schools (specifically T14, but general advice is also appreciated!) consider it a negative if an applicant has graduated undergrad early? I'm planning to graduate either a year or a year and a half early and I'd like to know if that will be detrimental to my law school applications. I will be taking a year and a half to two years off (depending on how early I graduate) to work, so I won't be going into law school at 20. I'm anticipating a GPA of 3.8-4.0 based on my grades in both the upper- and lower-division coursework I've already completed and my first practice LSAT score was 169, which I imagine will increase to at least mid-70s once I prep and take more tests. I'm assuming that law schools care mostly/only about your numbers and that this won't be an issue, but it would be nice to confirm. That considered (or even without considering the specifics) will graduating in 2.5 or 3 years be seen as negative on my law school apps?

[urbanist11]

Post removed.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Not since you're going to be working after. For people who go straight through it does make being KJD somewhat worse

[BrazilBandit]

Do law schools (specifically T14, but general advice is also appreciated!) consider it a negative if an applicant has graduated undergrad early? I'm planning to graduate either a year or a year and a half early and I'd like to know if that will be detrimental to my law school applications. I will be taking a year and a half to two years off (depending on how early I graduate) to work, so I won't be going into law school at 20. I'm anticipating a GPA of 3.8-4.0 based on my grades in both the upper- and lower-division coursework I've already completed and my first practice LSAT score was 169, which I imagine will increase to at least mid-70s once I prep and take more tests. I'm assuming that law schools care mostly/only about your numbers and that this won't be an issue, but it would be nice to confirm. That considered (or even without considering the specifics) will graduating in 2.5 or 3 years be seen as negative on my law school apps?

Not an issue, and working for some time while maximizing your LSAT score before going to law school is a solid plan. Just remember: Graduating college early is like leaving a party at 10 o'clock...

[Mack.Hambleton]

Graduating early is like being paid 30 thousand dollars (or more) to leave the party at ten. Unless your parents are entirely bankrolling it there's not a lot of good reasons to stay imo.

[CanadianWolf]

LSAT & GPA are the two most important factors along with URM status. Work experience is next. Graduating early is not an issue unless you used two years worth of AP or other credits earned during high school in which case letters of recommendation may become important re: maturity & readiness for graduate school.

[victory]

KJD negative effect; taking time off no effect.

[ihenry]

I'm graduating early for work experience. I hope this can have a positive effect.

[KMart]

KJD negative effect; taking time off no effect.

Wrt graduating early, but I agree.

[Mack.Hambleton]

I'm graduating early for work experience. I hope this can have a positive effect.

It did in my experience