Can you graduate undergrad same month begin law? Forum

[lawschoolnovice1988]

I will graduate from College with my Bachelor of Science degree August 2014. I am a bit of a nontraditional student and dont want to put off law school for another year.

Given that I will graduate college August 2014, I have already taken the LSAT, and will be applying Fall 2013, would I be dinged and uneligible at various schools because my degree will be August, and they prefer May grads? If you graduate in August how can they receive in time your final transcript?

Anyone apply this cycle 2012-2013 cycle that will graduate August 2013, and get accepted??

Has anyone on here, graduated with their bachelors same month they began law school? I cant find any answers anywhere regarding this matter

[nickb285]

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[lawschoolnovice1988]

That's alright. Sorry for the run on sentences, I went back and made changes.

[Pneumonia]

I don't know how it would affect admissions decisions, but I do know that somes schools allow you to matriculate even if you're missing 1 or 2 credits provided you complete them before you finish 3L. However, I think this is generally used for students who had unanticipated class cancellations in fall or spring of senior year.
Do you need to be concerned at the possibility of full/cancelled classes that will delay you from matriculation if you get accepted? Would slowing down and delaying a year have a significant positive impact on your GPA if you make A's?

Is it possible to take 21+ hours Spring semester (since you can probably make less than straight A's without your admissions decisions affected)? Is it possible to do distance education or Winter semesters?

These all seem like relevant questions, I'm sure you've thought about them but I am curious.

[lawschoolnovice1988]

I forgot to mention above, that although the conferral of my degree at the ceremony will be August 2014, I will have completed all credits for my degree by June 2014, 2 months prior. Would that help? Or would I be at disadvantage in the process.

[Nova]

You can do this, and it wont affect your cycle.

[guano]

You can do this, and it wont affect your cycle.

Agreed.

[BizOwner]

We had a student in my 1L cohort that finished his entire first year of law school before the LS realized he hadn't finished his bachelors. He is now reliving his entire 1L over. Not many people can say they completed 1L twice.

[SPerez]

The "rules" (ABA, I believe, but I'd have to go back and check the Standards to be sure) say students must have had their UG degree conferred (not credits completed, not final exam taken) before they start law school. August grades usually make it, just barely.

Dean Perez
Texas Tech School of Law