Top Law Schools

Thanks again for the votes and the comments.

tkgrrett wrote:I think it should be put in the TLS bylaws that everyone that asks these stupid "wait a year or not" questions gets permanently logged in to the advanced search screen. The answer to every one of these questions is the same. Do you have an LSAT>170?? Are you willing to spend the next year of your life not in law school??... If no to the first question, you could possibly improve your acceptances if you score higher. If no to the second question then you shouldnt have asked. No one on this forum is going to tell you anything that you dont already know.

Your two "simple" questions demonstrate an ignorance to specific cases. 170 is by no means a benchmark score for sitting out a year. And, suffice it to say, the importance of a year significantly varies from person to person. This topic is not unlike the pages upon pages had in the "Choosing a Law School" forum. Your comments, unlike most of the others here and despite your stated simplicity, have failed to help.

afghan007 wrote:Thanks again for the votes and the comments.

tkgrrett wrote:I think it should be put in the TLS bylaws that everyone that asks these stupid "wait a year or not" questions gets permanently logged in to the advanced search screen. The answer to every one of these questions is the same. Do you have an LSAT>170?? Are you willing to spend the next year of your life not in law school??... If no to the first question, you could possibly improve your acceptances if you score higher. If no to the second question then you shouldnt have asked. No one on this forum is going to tell you anything that you dont already know.

Your two "simple" questions demonstrate an ignorance to specific cases. 170 is by no means a benchmark score for sitting out a year. And, suffice it to say, the importance of a year significantly varies from person to person. This topic is not unlike the pages upon pages had in the "Choosing a Law School" forum. Your comments, unlike most of the others here and despite your stated simplicity, have failed to help.

Im not saying 170+ is a benchmark... however, at 170+ your chances of increasing your score are very low and, given that this is a URM forum, the potential rewards of a slightly higher score arent huge. Yes, the importance of a year significantly varies from person to person.. However, as I said, the question is "Are YOU willing to spend the next year of your life not in law school" the answer to the question should obviously be able to account for how much you value a year.

Now answer the two questions.. Do you have 170+?? No, your chances at better schools can improve with a better score. Are you willing to spend the next year of your life not in law school?? The answer here should solve this conundrum... Voila!! you have the exact way that everyone else came to the answers they gave in this thread.

A degree from USC will not travel well back east. I have an MBA (full-ride) from USC and I have hard time competing with all the East Coast graduates. My saving grace is not having a lot debt.

Aim for a T14 or a good regional school (assuming some $) in the city you'd most likely want to practice law. There are plenty of good schools outside the T14 the place rather decently in their respective cities (e.g. BU, BC, GWU, and even Fordham to an extent).

I bombed the LSAT but was lucky enough to get a 1/2 ride (out-of-state) to UConn. My FAFSA allowed me to qualify for another 1/4 ride in tuition remission (I was laid off last year).

I'd rather be working, but I realize I'm incredible lucky to have such inexpensive option to go back to school.

Best of luck with your decision and your journey.

well, poop just got real

After withdrawing from USC and sitting on the sidelines for the past month, I was accepted to Cornell off the reserve list.

I just purchased preptests 39-59 a week ago to begin my LSAT preparation in earnest. The advice in this thread largely still stands, but for me personally, it's a bit different with the T14 in my pocket. Leaning toward Cornell... at least until I receive that financial aid (or lack thereof) package.

..

arhmcpo wrote:Wait a year; sounds like you would benefit greatly from doing so.

+1. Another 5 or 7 points on a LSAT retake could get you Harvard or Stanford. And if you apply next cycle, get your application in early, it seems to make a difference in decisions.

afghan007 wrote:well, poop just got real

After withdrawing from USC and sitting on the sidelines for the past month, I was accepted to Cornell off the reserve list.

I just purchased preptests 39-59 a week ago to begin my LSAT preparation in earnest. The advice in this thread largely still stands, but for me personally, it's a bit different with the T14 in my pocket. Leaning toward Cornell... at least until I receive that financial aid (or lack thereof) package.

Congrats! I knew you'd be accepted. Hope to see you in Ithaca next year.

afghan007 wrote:well, poop just got real

After withdrawing from USC and sitting on the sidelines for the past month, I was accepted to Cornell off the reserve list.

I just purchased preptests 39-59 a week ago to begin my LSAT preparation in earnest. The advice in this thread largely still stands, but for me personally, it's a bit different with the T14 in my pocket. Leaning toward Cornell... at least until I receive that financial aid (or lack thereof) package.

If it's not a full ride, don't go.

Kohinoor wrote: If it's not a full ride, don't go.

Does this sentiment hold in general? Or just in my specific case?

I voted before reading the entire OP. I change my vote to wait and retake -- definitely. Not even taking one PT means you could do a lot better and probably have a shot at HYS and T14 scholarships.

My first diagnostic was a 158 and I ended up with over 175.

Mostly irrelevant to the thread, but I'm glad newyorker88 was wrong.

Cornell! If you gamble, you may lose. The fact that you called it a gamble says a lot.

Stick to what you already have, and not what could be, but may not materialize.

--ImageRemoved--

Kohinoor wrote:

afghan007 wrote:well, poop just got real

After withdrawing from USC and sitting on the sidelines for the past month, I was accepted to Cornell off the reserve list.

I just purchased preptests 39-59 a week ago to begin my LSAT preparation in earnest. The advice in this thread largely still stands, but for me personally, it's a bit different with the T14 in my pocket. Leaning toward Cornell... at least until I receive that financial aid (or lack thereof) package.

If it's not a full ride, don't go.

Just tell him not to go, as practically no one gets a full-ride.

I really like, and respect you, K, but is this coming from T10 snobbery or real concern that one should only go to any T14 on a full-ride? Plus, if it's about deferring a year, there is no guarantee that that the second time (LSAT) is the charm... it took me three times to scrap together mine.

mbw wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:

afghan007 wrote:well, poop just got real

After withdrawing from USC and sitting on the sidelines for the past month, I was accepted to Cornell off the reserve list.

I just purchased preptests 39-59 a week ago to begin my LSAT preparation in earnest. The advice in this thread largely still stands, but for me personally, it's a bit different with the T14 in my pocket. Leaning toward Cornell... at least until I receive that financial aid (or lack thereof) package.

If it's not a full ride, don't go.

Just tell him not to go, as practically no one gets a full-ride.

I really like, and respect you, K, but is this coming from T10 snobbery or real concern that one should only go to any T14 on a full-ride? Plus, if it's about deferring a year, there is no guarantee that that the second time (LSAT) is the charm... it took me three times to scrap together mine.

If he (him specifically) was in at MVPB this cycle with those stats and no money, I'd STILL be telling him not to go because he in particular could be going either to HYS or to CCN?MVPB with a full ride if he retests in the 165-175 range. It's not about the T14 being a bad investment generally.

Also, I may be unaware about something unique to Cornell, but full rides aren't that infrequent. Check your school's financial aid stats.

Kohinoor wrote:

mbw wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:

afghan007 wrote:well, poop just got real

After withdrawing from USC and sitting on the sidelines for the past month, I was accepted to Cornell off the reserve list.

I just purchased preptests 39-59 a week ago to begin my LSAT preparation in earnest. The advice in this thread largely still stands, but for me personally, it's a bit different with the T14 in my pocket. Leaning toward Cornell... at least until I receive that financial aid (or lack thereof) package.

If it's not a full ride, don't go.

Just tell him not to go, as practically no one gets a full-ride.

I really like, and respect you, K, but is this coming from T10 snobbery or real concern that one should only go to any T14 on a full-ride? Plus, if it's about deferring a year, there is no guarantee that that the second time (LSAT) is the charm... it took me three times to scrap together mine.

If he (him specifically) was in at MVPB this cycle with those stats and no money, I'd STILL be telling him not to go because he in particular could be going either to HYS or to CCN?MVPB with a full ride if he retests in the 165-175 range. It's not about the T14 being a bad investment generally.

Also, I may be unaware about something unique to Cornell, but full rides aren't that infrequent. Check your school's financial aid stats.

Full-rides are pretty much reserved for "Dean's Scholarships" - otherwise, the highest award most URMs I know of have received is 2/3rds -- which is still pretty good (I took it rather than zip at NYU and Mich.) But, yes, if the OP thinks he can do better, then he should wait. Besides, there's no guarantee that the market will have recovered by the 2011 OCI season (if he wants BigLaw.)

You probably should retake the LSAT--I am not sure what your financial situation is like, but I wouldn't pay sticker @ Cornell. If you can get your score up to at least 165, you are looking @ good scholarship money and a 170 or above, you are a lock for T-5. However, if you are just trying to get into a top program w/out any regard to scholarship money, then Cornell would b a good option. However, 165+, you should only focus on T-14, and other T-20 schools for scholarship considerations! Good luck! With your GPA and LSAT, you should have also applied to Gtwon. They love black males