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OP will probably also get between 30k and 75k at Cornell.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not a law school expert by any means (but I'm trying!)

As much as I understand the benefits of retaking, I don't think that's going to be a possibility for me. I'm willing to work with what I've got. If I get nothing this cycle, I can retake and try again next year.

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Retake. Schools pretend to average multiple scores precisely to prevent people like you, who could do so much better with a retake, from retaking and doing better. Don't settle for what you can get with your current stats.

drive4showLSAT4dough wrote:good advice Dany!

Only good part of your post. OP, this is a good scenario you're in, but if you take it again and do better you will be making life in the long run much, much easier.

Then my question is, will December push me back too far in the rolling admissions process? Am I going to lose my edge there by postponing applications until December?

I can still late register for October LSAT, but that doesn't seem like a lot of prep time.

TripTrip wrote:Then my question is, will December push me back too far in the rolling admissions process? Am I going to lose my edge there by postponing applications until December?

I can still late register for October LSAT, but that doesn't seem like a lot of prep time.

No, taking the December LSAT will not hurt you significantly. You're either going to be applying as a reverse splitter or as a phenomenal candidate. If you don't improve your LSAT, you will be a splitter and they'll save you for later in the cycle no matter when you apply. If you improve your LSAT you will be such a strong candidate that schools will let you in whenever you apply.

You have plenty of time to study for the December LSAT. Don't let it psych you out too much.

1) Take a year off and find a job
2) Retake next June or October and break 170
3) Depending on what you score, your options could include getting the ED full ride to Northwestern, or, if you score high enough, the Hamilton at Columbia/Rubenstein at Chicago/HYS acceptances.
4) Profit

You'd be doing yourself a huge, huge, huge disservice by not retaking some time next year and delaying a cycle. The worst case is that you've earned some money and have the same options available to you. The best case? Your career prospects will be greatly improved and you'll have great full ride offers in the T14 waiting for you. Retake.

Edit: Assuming you can score high enough by then, taking the test in December could also be a great option. Score high enough and with your GPA the late application probably won't hurt much.

I'll be retaking in December. Already knees-deep in the prep books that I never looked at before. This diagramming method from Princeton is at least twice as fast as the one I developed on my own for February; shouldn't have any problem increasing my score.

TripTrip wrote:I'll be retaking in December. Already knees-deep in the prep books that I never looked at before. This diagramming method from Princeton is at least twice as fast as the one I developed on my own for February; shouldn't have any problem increasing my score.

Best of luck to you! You're definitely making the right call here.

TripTrip wrote:I'll be retaking in December. Already knees-deep in the prep books that I never looked at before. This diagramming method from Princeton is at least twice as fast as the one I developed on my own for February; shouldn't have any problem increasing my score.

Great decision, best of luck to you.

..

slack_academic wrote:ED to Northwestern? They give basically full scholly to ED admits.

I know you edited this afterwards, but I want to understand something quick. Why would any school give an ED a full scholarship unless it was need based aid?

TripTrip wrote:

slack_academic wrote:ED to Northwestern? They give basically full scholly to ED admits.

I know you edited this afterwards, but I want to understand something quick. Why would any school give an ED a full scholarship unless it was need based aid?

DAT MERIT. DEM MEDIANS.

TripTrip wrote:

slack_academic wrote:ED to Northwestern? They give basically full scholly to ED admits.

I know you edited this afterwards, but I want to understand something quick. Why would any school give an ED a full scholarship unless it was need based aid?

NW just uses the ED differently. For Northwestern, they only accept strong ED candidates and give them large scholarships. It serves as a way of locking in some very strong candidates that otherwise might negotiate between multiple schools. By having strong median protectors, they're also more free to accept splitters and reverse splitters.

It's kinda brilliant actually. That said, they could someday change their ED and not give the scholarship, but somehow I doubt they'd be that callous, especially as it would dissuade people from EDing in the future.

Glad to see that you're retaking. It is by far the best call. Even if you don't do better you're decently well situated, but you're giving yourself a chance at some serious T14 scholarship money by retaking.

..

TripTrip wrote:

slack_academic wrote:ED to Northwestern? They give basically full scholly to ED admits.

I know you edited this afterwards, but I want to understand something quick. Why would any school give an ED a full scholarship unless it was need based aid?

To get better applicants, better PR, and people with low numbers who apply and get in will still pay close to sticker price (if not full sticker) so it really doesn't affect NU badly. Per Johann Lee's Google+ account in a Q&A about the binding ED scholarship:

Assistant Dean of Admissions Johann Lee wrote:Q: Um, then why are you doing it?
A: Through this level of transparency, we are now completely upfront with the financial implications of the binding contract. If more good people should also apply as a result, that's not a bad thing.

TripTrip wrote:I'll be retaking in December. Already knees-deep in the prep books that I never looked at before. This diagramming method from Princeton is at least twice as fast as the one I developed on my own for February; shouldn't have any problem increasing my score.

If you haven't picked up the powerscores bibles yet, do it. And good luck!

hibiki wrote:

TripTrip wrote:

slack_academic wrote:ED to Northwestern? They give basically full scholly to ED admits.

I know you edited this afterwards, but I want to understand something quick. Why would any school give an ED a full scholarship unless it was need based aid?

NW just uses the ED differently. For Northwestern, they only accept strong ED candidates and give them large scholarships. It serves as a way of locking in some very strong candidates that otherwise might negotiate between multiple schools. By having strong median protectors, they're also more free to accept splitters and reverse splitters.

It's kinda brilliant actually. That said, they could someday change their ED and not give the scholarship, but somehow I doubt they'd be that callous, especially as it would dissuade people from EDing in the future.

Glad to see that you're retaking. It is by far the best call. Even if you don't do better you're decently well situated, but you're giving yourself a chance at some serious T14 scholarship money by retaking.

Have we figured out what kind of numbers can get NU ED yet? Not like it matters for me. Just curious? 171+ 3.9+ would be my guess.

Tom Joad wrote: Have we figured out what kind of numbers can get NU ED yet? Not like it matters for me. Just curious? 171+ 3.9+ would be my guess.

Looks like they dipped on the GPA a bit.

http://northwestern.lawschoolnumbers.co ... =3&type=jd

How do you get a GPA calculated over 4.0? A+ grades?

christinenyoung wrote:How do you get a GPA calculated over 4.0? A+ grades?

Yeah. 4.33

I'm necro-ing this thread for future readers:

I ended up retaking with two months of studying, got a 175, and am now a 3L Harvard with a firm offer post-grad. Retaking was the best decision I ever made.

TripTrip wrote:I'm necro-ing this thread for future readers:

I ended up retaking with two months of studying, got a 175, and am now a 3L Harvard with a firm offer post-grad. Retaking was the best decision I ever made.

Grats! That's incredible

TripTrip wrote:I'm necro-ing this thread for future readers:

I ended up retaking with two months of studying, got a 175, and am now a 3L Harvard with a firm offer post-grad. Retaking was the best decision I ever made.

Congrats!!