Applying early? Is it worth it?

[SteelyDan]

I'm considering applying early to a bunch of schools on my list. I heard that it improves your chances of getting in. Any truth to that? Is it worth it to stress myself out for the next two months? I would be finishing up LSAT studying and doing applications at the same time, so I really want to make sure it's not just a gimick.

[LawSchoolGuy]

It's only worth it if the school you're applying early to is your first choice, since most early applications are also binding, which means you'd have to go there if you get accepted.

[SteelyDan]

It's only worth it if the school you're applying early to is your first choice, since most early applications are also binding, which means you'd have to go there if you get accepted.

I thought some schools had the option of applying early just so that you could get your app in early, but they didn't require you to attend if you got in. Did I read that wrong?

[Jeffort]

It's only worth it if the school you're applying early to is your first choice, since most early applications are also binding, which means you'd have to go there if you get accepted.

I thought some schools had the option of applying early just so that you could get your app in early, but they didn't require you to attend if you got in. Did I read that wrong?

It depends on the school, but last time I looked at the application materials of several schools about this issue I found that many/most of them require you to agree that an acceptance gained through EA/ED is binding.  

Granted I did not look at every LS's application packet about this issue and not all the new application materials from each school for this current application cycle that is about to start have been published yet.

(I see a project for us Anne!  It would be cool if we put together some resources that aggregate the important application and other information by Law School for the 2010-2011 application cycle)

[Anne]

It's only worth it if the school you're applying early to is your first choice, since most early applications are also binding, which means you'd have to go there if you get accepted.

I thought some schools had the option of applying early just so that you could get your app in early, but they didn't require you to attend if you got in. Did I read that wrong?

It depends on the school, but last time I looked at the application materials of several schools about this issue I found that many/most of them require you to agree that an acceptance gained through EA/ED is binding.  

Granted I did not look at every LS's application packet about this issue and not all the new application materials from each school for this current application cycle that is about to start have been published yet.

(I see a project for us Anne!  It would be cool if we put together some resources that aggregate the important application and other information by Law School for the 2010-2011 application cycle)

Steely, some schools will be binding (meaning they require you to go if you're accepted), and some schools won't be. Make sure you read the Early Decision/Action contracts carefully to determine which one it is for the schools you're interested in. As to whether it is beneficial or not--I would say it is, but not to a GREAT degree. Applying early (regardless of whether it is through a formal "Early Action/Decision" program or just via submitting your application in September/October) is always a good idea, simply because there are more seats available in a class the earlier your apply. If you wait until the last minute, then you'll be competing with a lot more people for a lot fewer seats. The odds are in your favor if you apply earlier.

However, you also have to consider that students who apply via formal "Early" programs are typically also the students that know exactly where they want to attend, and they also the students that are the most "on top of their game" (which may translate to higher LSATs and GPAs, just given their mild overachieving streak ), so the competition might be a little stiffer. However, just applying early sends a positive message to AdComs about how serious you are about their school, which is always a good thing.

[Anne]

Here's a list I put together for my students last year...it was accurate for last year's cycle. Chances are it didn't change much... in any case, it'll give you an idea of which schools do EA/ED or both, and which are binding.

*click on image to enlarge OR right click on image and then select 'view image' for full size view.

[SteelyDan]

Okay, so not all schools have it, but you can def apply early to all schools? Or do some schools make you wait until a certain deadline to submit apps?

[Jeffort]

Here's a list I put together for my students last year...it was accurate for last year's cycle. Changes are it didn't change much... in any case, it'll give you an idea of which schools do EA/ED or both, and which are binding. Sorry about the sheer length of it...originally it was in table format in a Word Doc, but be damned if I know how to make that happen on this forum. I had to improvise.

Easy, take a screenshot of it.  It's one button that should be on the upper right side of your keyboard that says something like 'Print Screen' on it.  Press it while viewing the chart, then open Paint and press CTRL+V and the image is pasted.  Save it (jpg format is probably the best one to pick), then add it as an attachment to your post and it will display.  

[Anne]

Here's a list I put together for my students last year...it was accurate for last year's cycle. Changes are it didn't change much... in any case, it'll give you an idea of which schools do EA/ED or both, and which are binding. Sorry about the sheer length of it...originally it was in table format in a Word Doc, but be damned if I know how to make that happen on this forum. I had to improvise. <-- Fixed thanks to Jeffort!

Easy, take a screenshot of it.  It's one button that should be on the upper right side of your keyboard that says something like 'Print Screen' on it.  Press it while viewing the chart, then open Paint and press CTRL+V and the image is pasted.  Save it (jpg format is probably the best one to pick), then add it as an attachment to your post and it will display.  

Rock out! Just did it, and it worked marvelously. Took me a while to find it (I hadn't even seen the "Additional options" tab), but there ya go. I amended my original post. Thanks, Jeffort!

[Jeffort]

Here's a list I put together for my students last year...it was accurate for last year's cycle. Changes are it didn't change much... in any case, it'll give you an idea of which schools do EA/ED or both, and which are binding. Sorry about the sheer length of it...originally it was in table format in a Word Doc, but be damned if I know how to make that happen on this forum. I had to improvise. <-- Fixed thanks to Jeffort!

Easy, take a screenshot of it.  It's one button that should be on the upper right side of your keyboard that says something like 'Print Screen' on it.  Press it while viewing the chart, then open Paint and press CTRL+V and the image is pasted.  Save it (jpg format is probably the best one to pick), then add it as an attachment to your post and it will display.  

Rock out! Just did it, and it worked marvelously. Took me a while to find it (I hadn't even seen the "Additional options" tab), but there ya go. I amended my original post. Thanks, Jeffort!

 

BTW, I amended your post about how to get full sized view. 

You're a Superstar Anne!

[LSAT Eliminator]

Wow, nice chart Anne!

[Anne]

Wow, nice chart Anne!

Thanks! I'm putting together one for this year, but it always takes forever to research all the schools! I'm trying to find some to do it in.

[Anne]

Okay, so not all schools have it, but you can def apply early to all schools? Or do some schools make you wait until a certain deadline to submit apps?

You can (and should) apply early to all schools; no schools make you wait until a certain deadline. However, you won't be able to submit apps until the current year's apps become available (somewhere around September/October), so I guess you could say that schools make you wait until the apps are available.  

Now, the thing to keep in mind, though, is that, although you can apply early (albeit not EA or ED) to all schools, you may not hear back from them for a while. This may be for any number of reasons (i.e., they want to compare your app with others as more come in, they don't start reviewing apps until a certain date, etc.), but it's good to keep in mind that even if you submit your apps early in the cycle, you might not hear back from schools for a few months.

[SteelyDan]

Okay, so not all schools have it, but you can def apply early to all schools? Or do some schools make you wait until a certain deadline to submit apps?

You can (and should) apply early to all schools; no schools make you wait until a certain deadline. However, you won't be able to submit apps until the current year's apps become available (somewhere around September/October), so I guess you could say that schools make you wait until the apps are available.  

Now, the thing to keep in mind, though, is that, although you can apply early (albeit not EA or ED) to all schools, you may not hear back from them for a while. This may be for any number of reasons (i.e., they want to compare your app with others as more come in, they don't start reviewing apps until a certain date, etc.), but it's good to keep in mind that even if you submit your apps early in the cycle, you might not hear back from schools for a few months.

Okay...are my chances better if I apply early admission or early decision than if I just submit my stuff in early?

[Anne]

Okay, so not all schools have it, but you can def apply early to all schools? Or do some schools make you wait until a certain deadline to submit apps?

You can (and should) apply early to all schools; no schools make you wait until a certain deadline. However, you won't be able to submit apps until the current year's apps become available (somewhere around September/October), so I guess you could say that schools make you wait until the apps are available.  

Now, the thing to keep in mind, though, is that, although you can apply early (albeit not EA or ED) to all schools, you may not hear back from them for a while. This may be for any number of reasons (i.e., they want to compare your app with others as more come in, they don't start reviewing apps until a certain date, etc.), but it's good to keep in mind that even if you submit your apps early in the cycle, you might not hear back from schools for a few months.

Okay...are my chances better if I apply early admission or early decision than if I just submit my stuff in early?

That's a good question. The answer is not cut-and-dry. Arguably, you could definitely get a bump by telling schools that they are your first choice, i.e., applying via Early Action or Early Decision. However, there are enough people out there that do so that the effects might not be as huge as you'd like. Historically, though, most schools have let in a higher percentage of binding ED/EA applicants than the regular decision applicants. Now, regarding just submitting your materials early--that definitely gives you a slight bump over other regular decision applicants, although not a huge one. It basically boils down to the fact that the earlier you apply, the more seats are available in the class, which increases your chances of acceptance.

Applying EA/ED can definitely give you better chances than just submitting materials early. However, you still have to submit a good app with great credentials for that to really be the case. A poor app will yield the same results regardless of when you apply or how you apply in the cycle.