Applying to grad school before finishing undergrad...

[funny_bone]

Traditionally it seems that most undergraduates finish their programs in the fall semester. I, however, will be completing mine in the spring. Rather than taking a break after receiving my B.A., I'd like to start graduate school in the fall of that same year. Unfortunately, I'm a little concerned about whether or not that will hurt my chances of being accepted into a graduate school. My goal school is the GSAS at NYU. If I were to apply to this school before the deadline in February, would I still be considered for fall admissions, despite the fact that my undergrad will not be completed until AFTER my application has been submitted? Or would I be (hopefully!) given some sort of acceptance conditional on my successful completion of my undergrad? Thanks in advance for any help!

[rising_star]

Plenty of people do that. You just apply in the fall of your senior year, graduate in the spring/summer, and start grad school in the fall. I started grad school literally 2 days after I got my BA.

[ktel]

Are you implying most undergrads finish in December? Most undergrads I know finish in April, and it is extremely common to apply for grad school before this. It's almost the norm, in fact.

[Chande]

Spring graduation is more traditional than fall graduation. I graduate in May and I've been accepted into a few places so I wouldn't worry about that keeping you out.

[funny_bone]

Wow, that's great to hear! Perhaps it's just the norm at my university then. That's comforting to know!

[emmm]

Definitely more common to finish in spring. However, for schools where it's hard to get into required classes and college takes more than 4 years as a result ... well, then, anything goes.

[PhDreams]

That's what I'm doing. I might not even walk because it might be after I start my grad program. Oh well...