I'm a junior in college. Quick question. In order to maximize my GPA by including my senior year grades, I decided to wait until the fall after my senior year to apply to LS (following my spring graduation), instead of next fall when I begin my senior year. Has anyone done this before, and did it help you?
I did not do this (as I applied several years after UG) but obviously having a better GPA will give you better admission prospects, so sounds like a good idea. Aside from GPA concerns, it is certainly a good idea to give yourself some time off before law school for many reasons.
If you applied this way, did you use the gap year for volunteering at law offices, and, did it make it onto your applications in time to really count?
Again, not speaking from experience, but the general wisdom on here is that work experience matters very little, especially for applicants who have only been out of college a short time, unless it is incredibly impressive or possibly if military-related. Law-related work won't help your application, but might be a good idea for you personally to be able to assess whether a career in law is what you want. Otherwise, just get a job you like and/or where you can make as much money as possible in preparation for the expense of law school. Preparing for the LSAT and getting a top score is infinitely more important than where you decide to work.
Also, I plan to begin the 12-wk (or 16-wk) LSAT Trainer course beginning in June after my senior year, so I can take in October, and retake in December if needed. Is that a reasonable schedule?
Possibly. The ultimate test of whether a schedule is reasonable is results. What are your PTs looking like? If you do the 12-week course and your are scoring in the 170s consistently on practice tests, then it was a reasonable schedule. If not, you might need more time. In general, I think 6-months is probably a good time-frame, but certainly 3 or 4 months can be enough. Given that you have some time, I would start doing some light prep now, just to familiarize yourself with the test format and question types, and then ramp up your intensity as the test approaches.
Lastly, if I had to retake in December, but I've already applied earlier in November, do LSAC and schools get that updated score in time?
Depends. If you apply in November, a school could conceivably ding you before your Dec scores come out, in which case obviously they wouldn't get the updated score. If you get waitlisted, held, or just remain in limbo until January, then, yes, they will get the updated score and consider it.
That said, you should not apply until you have an actual score. If your Oct score puts you in solid contention at a school or schools, put in your applications. If your scores make you competitive, chance are you will either be accepted, or you will remain in the pool long enough for your retake to be considered. If your score is low, just wait until you do a retake and get a better score to apply.
