December 1, December 15 Forum

[Dipsychus]

I’ll be sending my applications out across the T-14 (T-13 if you prefer) in a few weeks. The plan was, and possibly still is, to send in the applications by December 1. However, for complicated reasons, it might benefit me to do some honing early December and apply middle of the month instead.

I know it’s better to apply earlier rather than later of course, but I’d like to know whether those two “extra” weeks would make much of a real, practical difference. I’m assuming admissions offices will be inundated with incoming applications throughout December, while also reviewing November files during this time.

This is a genuine question, not looking for confirmation/validation. Who knows? — in the alternate universe known as Law School Admissions, a fortnight’s difference in December might actually make a difference.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Rolling admissions means seats are constantly getting filled and scholarship money is constantly getting earmarked. You're marginally worse off with every week that passes from late September/early October (about when apps start getting read in earnest) to whenever the deadline is. These tiny marginal differences are hard to assess because they're unlikely to be matter, but when they do the outcome is big: the difference between admission and a wait-list offer, or between a half-tuition discount and a $10k/yr sweetener scholarship.

If you can submit a substantially-improved application, of course, that's almost always going to be worth it, and mid-December isn't so late that you would be shooting yourself in the foot or anything. Submit your apps when they're ready. If you don't like your outcomes you'll be prepared to submit again at the start of the next cycle.

[jackmadis]

Rolling admissions means seats are constantly getting filled and scholarship money is constantly getting earmarked. You're marginally worse off with every week that passes from late September/early October (about when apps start getting read in earnest) to whenever the deadline is. These tiny marginal differences are hard to assess because they're unlikely to be matter, but when they do the outcome is big: the difference between admission and a wait-list offer, or between a half-tuition discount and a $10k/yr sweetener scholarship.

If you can submit a substantially-improved application, of course, that's almost always going to be worth it, and mid-December isn't so late that you would be shooting yourself in the foot or anything. Submit your apps when they're ready. If you don't like your outcomes you'll be prepared to submit again at the start of the next cycle.

Thanks for this nice explanation. I wish everyone good month of December.

Merry Christmas!