Applying early can give you a significant edge in the rolling admissions process — even if your LSAT score isn’t in yet.
I talk to dozens of future law students each week, and one of the most common myths I hear is, “I can’t apply until I have my LSAT score.” That belief is costing applicants momentum, options and scholarships.
The 2024–2025 cycle saw a 19.5% increase in law school applications, and there’s no sign the next cycle, opening this September, will be any less competitive. Schools are reviewing files, awarding scholarships, and filling seats earlier. If you wait to apply until everything is “perfect,” you may miss your chance to stand out.
The early application advantage
Law schools operate on rolling admissions. That means the earlier your application is complete, the better your shot at being reviewed when seats — and scholarship dollars — are most plentiful.
What many applicants don’t realize is this: You can submit your law school application even if your LSAT score isn’t available yet.
If you’re sitting for the test in August or September, or planning to retake, you can go ahead and submit your application as soon as the portals open. If you already have a score on file that you’re not happy with, simply email the schools and ask them to hold your application from review until your new score posts. Many top schools will do this automatically if they see a future LSAT test date listed in your LSAC account, but confirming with a quick email is smart and strategic.
This approach is especially valuable if your current score doesn’t reflect your true potential. Most law schools consider your highest LSAT, and many will happily delay review if you let them know your plan. Submitting early keeps your application in the system, ready to move the moment your new score is released. Instead of falling behind, you’ll be first in line.
Relationship-building still matters
As someone who has sat on admissions committees, I can tell you that the human element often tips the scales. When an applicant we’d met with retested and improved their score, we remembered. We pulled that file to the top of the pile. That connection — whether through a visit, a thoughtful email or a virtual info session — can matter more than you think.
Here’s the practical truth: You can’t just toss your application into the void and hope for the best.
Law school admissions still have a very human side, and if a school is at the top of your list, I want your boots on the ground. Visit campus. Attend a virtual info session. Reach out to someone on the faculty.
Some schools even track this kind of demonstrated interest and award affinity points to your file. That one point can tip the scale.
When a school is at the top of your list, act like it. That means not only showing up — virtually or in person — but following up with care. Thank the people who took the time to speak with you. A thoughtful email goes a long way. I’ve seen magic happen after a client sent a handwritten note by mail. Most people never bother, so you will stand out for it.
This kind of intentionality matters more than you think. Admissions teams remember when someone retests and follows up after an earlier connection. They revisit their file. They advocate. And that all starts with something small, human and sincere.
Building a thoughtful application timeline
If you’re aiming for Fall 2026, your ideal window for submission is September through October 2025. Spend your summer finalizing your personal statement and resume, letters of recommendation, character and fitness disclosures and your GPA addendum, if needed.
And yes, prep for the LSAT with the seriousness it deserves. Please, for the love of your future self, do not take the LSAT “cold” in June just to get it over with. The June LSAT doesn’t exist on some magic admissions deadline. In fact, it’s often the worst-timed test for most traditional students. You’ll be fresh off finals, exhausted and unprepared.
Take it in August instead. Scores release around August 27, just days before apps open. You’ll be more prepared, more confident, and you’ll still be early in the admissions cycle. If needed, you can retake in October or November with plenty of time to update schools.
What about a low GPA or character and fitness issues?
If you’re worried your GPA will hold you back, you’re not alone. But you’re also not doomed.
Write a clear, concise GPA addendum that owns what happened (without excuses), reflects on what changed, and shows how you’re academically prepared for law school now.
Admissions committees don’t expect perfection — they expect growth. Show them you’ve done the work to understand your past and prepare for the rigor ahead.
The same goes for character & fitness disclosures. Don’t hide; disclose. Hiding an incident now can jeopardize your bar admission later. I’ve seen too many students spend three years in law school only to learn they’re potentially ineligible to sit for the bar because of a disclosure that should’ve happened during the application process. Transparency is always better, and almost every issue can be addressed when handled early and honestly.
Final thoughts: Lead with readiness, not fear
Law school admissions isn’t about who’s perfect. It’s about who’s prepared.
Every year, I see students hold off on applying until they get the “right” LSAT score, the “perfect” essay, or the courage to face a red flag in their past. And every year, I see those students ride the waitlist or receive a denial because they lost valuable time waiting for perfect conditions that never quite arrive.
If you’ve taken the LSAT and plan to retake, submit anyway. If your GPA is lower than you’d like, write the addendum and move forward. If you’re unsure how to disclose something, ask someone who has been on the other side of the admissions desk.
Your application doesn’t have to be flawless to be strategic. And the more intentional you are now, the more options you’ll have later.
Because in this cycle, standing still isn’t neutral — it’s a missed opportunity.
Start now. Move forward. Lead with readiness, not fear. Your future seat is waiting. There’s power in being early. Use it.
Autumn Lockett is the founder and CEO of GradMissions, the leading admissions consultancy for top-tier medical, law, and graduate programs. She can be reached at autumn@gradmissions.org.
