Early Decision or Regular

[klsnyder1122]

I am interested in attending Elon Law in Greensboro, NC. I am considering applying early decision because I am afraid my LSAT score from the August test will be at the 50 percentile mark or around 25 percentile. Would applying Early Decision help with the fact that my LSAT score was a little lower? My GPA is around the 75 percentile for the school and I have been working with a lawyer in my hometown for about 8 months who wrote me a recommendation but I know law schools weigh the LSAT heavily in the admissions process.

[Jeremy Press]

Hi kl,

Yours is a great scenario for an early decision application, provided you come in somewhere around that 25-50th percentile range on the LSAT. Ordinarily, an early decision application won't make up for a score that's outside the range that would give an applicant a reasonable (10%+) chance at being admitted to a school. But if your LSAT score is in that 25-50th percentile range, you're going to get a look from the admissions committee (with your GPA, I'd say your chances of admission on a non-ED application would be under 50% but above 25%). Assuming the admissions committee wants to solidify their GPA numbers (using your 75th percentile GPA), or otherwise really likes your application (because of your prior experience and your recommendations), then going early decision helps you. They lock in your GPA number, but they don't take too much of a ding on the LSAT side. That provides enough of a boost to your admissions chances to make it worth the ED application.

I hope this helps!