Please help me choose for NYC (poll) Forum

[JennBNYC]

Okay, here's what you need to know about me:
3.99/162
NJ resident
Dream is to work in NYC (kind of NYC or bust), but I'm not naive about how difficult that may be given my school options.
Really don't see myself retaking the LSAT (already took it twice..BOMBED the first time).

Here is where my cycle stands:
GWU (no scholarship)
Rutgers - Newark (in-state tuition, $8k/year scholly if I stay above 3.0)
Seton Hall ($35k/year scholly if I stay in top half)
Waitlisted at Fordham
Waitlisted at UVa
No decision yet from Berkeley
No decision yet from Boston U.
No decision yet from Temple U.

*Didn't include Berkeley or Boston in the poll because I'm not too hopeful about those. Didn't include Temple because that's probably not the best option for NYC.

[duckmoney]

Retake. I know it's practically a joke around here but if you can pull high 160s with that gpa you'll be a lock for a lot of great schools for NYC next cycle. In the meantime, riding the UVA waitlist is really the only good option or someone set on NYC biglaw. Good luck!

[Ialdabaoth]

I voted Fordham.

From LSP, it seems like you should have a good chance to get off their WL. Sorry, but I don't think getting off the UVa WL is likely, especially since I always hear that they fill a significant portion of their class with ED people, making WL even less likely.

Best of luck!

[Ialdabaoth]

Duckmoney, I thought I remembered seeing your profile on LSN and just looked it up. We have almost identical numbers and very similar softs. I'm applying next cycle. Would it be cool if I PM you some questions? TIA!

[JennBNYC]

Retake. I know it's practically a joke around here but if you can pull high 160s with that gpa you'll be a lock for a lot of great schools for NYC next cycle. In the meantime, riding the UVA waitlist is really the only good option or someone set on NYC biglaw. Good luck!

I know retaking would could be highly beneficial; it kills me to think just 5 more points could make a WORLD of a difference...

And I was actually surprised to get the WL at UVa given I'm OOS with my numbers. That being said, people who ED'ed with my numbers got in. I didn't have the nerve/decisiveness to ED though. Maybe a LOCI is in order...

Edit: To add "Thanks for your input!"

[JennBNYC]

I voted Fordham.

From LSP, it seems like you should have a good chance to get off their WL. Sorry, but I don't think getting off the UVa WL is likely, especially since I always hear that they fill a significant portion of their class with ED people, making WL even less likely.

Best of luck!

Thanks! Yea, I'm thinking I'll start sucking up to Fordham a bit, too .

[Snape]

Only option worth considering is UVA--otherwise reconsider options or retake and re-apply.

[bk1]

Waitlist at Fordham is possible, waitlist at UVa is not. None of the other options are great for NYC. The best probably being GW but at sticker that is awful and the other being Rutgers which is decent financially but you will be unlikely to land NYC.

Retake and ED to UVa unless you manage high 160's or 170's then don't ED. If you are stubborn and go to school this year with only those offers then go with Rutgers but be okay with ending up working in NJ.

[lawschooliseasy]

Things to consider:

1. Fordham is very, very expensive at sticker. Rent in NYC is ungodly.

2. Its criminal not to retake with that GPA.

[Casey2889]

you should wait out the UVA/Fordham WLs regardless, but also make a deposit at GWU. it's your best option at the moment.

[Informative]

Fordham is ideal. If you get in, you should go to Fordham over BU, GW, etc.

If you don't get into Fordham, I would probably take whichever is cheaper between Rutgers or Seton Hall.

[dpase22]

2. Its criminal not to retake with that GPA.

Bite the bullet, wrestle with the walrus, do whatever it takes - consider that doing so, for one in your position, may be worth more than $100,000. For me it was worth $161,000 (Hamilton fellowship at Columbia), even with a lower GPA (3.87).

[Sentry]

Either retake or send in the UVA ED form ASAP.

[bk1]

Either retake or send in the UVA ED form ASAP.

The latter is not possible if you have already been waitlisted.

[Robespierre]

If you went to GW at sticker, would you have to borrow the whole CofA?

[lolschool2011]

Okay, here's what you need to know about me:
3.99/162
NJ resident
Dream is to work in NYC (kind of NYC or bust), but I'm not naive about how difficult that may be given my school options.
Really don't see myself retaking the LSAT (already took it twice..BOMBED the first time).

Here is where my cycle stands:
GWU (no scholarship)
Rutgers - Newark (in-state tuition, $8k/year scholly if I stay above 3.0)
Seton Hall ($35k/year scholly if I stay in top half)
Waitlisted at Fordham
Waitlisted at UVa
No decision yet from Berkeley
No decision yet from Boston U.
No decision yet from Temple U.

*Didn't include Berkeley or Boston in the poll because I'm not too hopeful about those. Didn't include Temple because that's probably not the best option for NYC.

If I had a 3.99 - I would retake, and retake, and retake (and probably wait 2 years to retake again) until I got a 176+ and got into YHS.

[JennBNYC]

2. Its criminal not to retake with that GPA.

Bite the bullet, wrestle with the walrus, do whatever it takes - consider that doing so, for one in your position, may be worth more than $100,000. For me it was worth $161,000 (Hamilton fellowship at Columbia), even with a lower GPA (3.87).

First and foremost, CONGRATS. Wow.

It's easy to think of a retake just equaling a better shot at a good school, but the potential savings is HUGE. I'm really debt averse, so saving a ton in loans is a huge motivator. Even to go to RU-N I'd have to take out about $100k ($15k/year in tuition, not accounting for raises in tuition, plus almost $20k/year COL).

Retaking is seeming more appealing, barring any miracles...

[Sentry]

Either retake or send in the UVA ED form ASAP.

The latter is not possible if you have already been waitlisted.

Did not know that.
--ImageRemoved--

[JennBNYC]

If you went to GW at sticker, would you have to borrow the whole CofA?

I'm not sure if I would qualify for need-based aid yet, but I'd have to borrow most of it. I have practically no loans from UG, but living in the NYC area I don't have a ton in savings either, lol. I won't be getting any help from the parents :-/.

[JennBNYC]

Either retake or send in the UVA ED form ASAP.

The latter is not possible if you have already been waitlisted.

Oh really? I was wondering about that...

[JennBNYC]

If I had a 3.99 - I would retake, and retake, and retake (and probably wait 2 years to retake again) until I got a 176+ and got into YHS.

So, I think what you're trying to say is that you'd retake?

[lolschool2011]

If I had a 3.99 - I would retake, and retake, and retake (and probably wait 2 years to retake again) until I got a 176+ and got into YHS.

So, I think what you're trying to say is that you'd retake?

I would even write my PS about the trials and tribulations of retaking, along with my writing sample being the word "retake" written 500 times, signed, retake.

[Robespierre]

If you went to GW at sticker, would you have to borrow the whole CofA?

I'm not sure if I would qualify for need-based aid yet, but I'd have to borrow most of it. I have practically no loans from UG, but living in the NYC area I don't have a ton in savings either, lol. I won't be getting any help from the parents :-/.

OK, well, I voted for "ride out Fordham." I don't think you're getting into UVa, and the Jersey schools aren't likely to get you a NY job unless you're near the top of the class, which you can't count on.

GW at sticker is the second choice. I would do that rather than forego law school. Heck, it's a first tier school, living in DC aint bad, and while you'd have to borrow big $$$ at least you don't have UG loans as well. I know the current environment makes it look like a questionable investment, but you have to look at the long term. A GW degree will get you your NYC job eventually, especially if you get good grades. Life's a long journey. (P.S., there is an absolute ton of GW people at the NY Biglaw firm where I paralegal.)

[keg411]

Retake. Hire a private tutor. Do whatever you possibly can to get your LSAT up. If you don't do any better, ED UVA next year (or get a couple years WE and ED to Northwestern). You can't let that 3.99 go to waste. If you can even get your LSAT up a few points, it's probably worth some $$ at GW/BU-type schools and with even a 165-166 your chances to break the T14 increase dramatically.

[bk1]

Either retake or send in the UVA ED form ASAP.

The latter is not possible if you have already been waitlisted.

Oh really? I was wondering about that...

I specifically called them and asked if it was possible (mainly as a way to get off the waitlist).

At first the person on the phone was confused by exactly what I was asking. He then stated that it is only possible to switch to ED after your decision has been made if you sent in the ED form prior to receiving the decision (i.e. you mailed out the ED form on February 2 and were notified of a waitlist/rejection on February 3, you would be reconsidered under ED). He said he remembered this happening to one woman in his entire time there (she was originally wl'ed and was then accepted).