<p>Anyway, do most grad schools require having a Bachelor's degree upon application? I know different schools vary, but some of the schools I want to apply to have Winter/Spring deadlines and I'm not sure if applying while I'm still a college Senior is advisable. Would they put my application on hold months after I receive my final grades and graduate before they give me a decision? Or is it similar to high school college application where admission is based on information given at the time and is provisional if accepted? The latter I don't count on, but it's worth asking.</p>
<p>Anyone with their own experience care to share?</p>
<p>I applied as a senior, and although the school I'm attending in the fall asked for a final transcript to confirm that I did graduate with my diploma, they didn't care that I didn't have one when I applied. (As you said, it's like the situation for undergrad apps -- I was accepted, but if I hadn't graduated college I wouldn't have been able to go.)</p>
<p>Whether going straight from undergrad to grad school is the norm depends on your field. In my field, it's not uncommon to take a few years off and work as a lab tech, but it's not uncommon to go straight to grad school either. Some fields are more picky and prefer that you have some work experience first.</p>
<p>I'm looking to go into the Art/Design field. I'm primarily interested with arts dealing with computers and technology--Industrial Design, Design Technology, Digital Media Arts, Computer Animation, Game Development, etc.--to give a general idea. A portfolio will undeniably be the most important supplement...But for some of the schools I want to apply to, undergrad grades (and GRE scores) are also very important.</p>
<p>Some of the schools I am considering are UPenn, MIT, USC, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, Parsons, and Art Center College of Design.</p>
<p>Alot can happen in the last term before graduation. So if schools consider what I have on record upon application (Winter/Spring), they wouldn't be able to admit me based on graduating with a higher cumulative GPA, achieving honors, having undergraduate research experience, etc. Things that may make a significant improvement in my role as an applicant. I'm not sure if it's a good decision to apply ASAP or wait another year once all of my undergrad records are completely figured out.</p>