Application strategy...

[NoodleyOne]

Alright, I'm in an odd situation. I have an LSAC fee waiver, which gives me free app fees and 4 free applications for processing fees, which I've used on Harvard, Columbia, NYU, and UVA, and also threw in the 21 bucks for an app at Penn. Numbers are 3.5/179. Now, I'm a poor ass dude, and can't scrape together much more dough until the beginning of December, so I can only afford one more app this month. I'm trying to figure out where to send it. So, help me decide.

I am applying to Yale, Stanford, Chicago, Michigan, Duke, Northwestern, and Cornell on top of the ones I've already sent. I have no interest in GULC and don't really want to go to the West Coast for Berkeley (plus my GPA is probably too low), and I don't think I'm going to go below the T14 except for maybe one or two safety schools late in my cycle if I don't get early nibbles. So, knowing I want Biglaw, and based on my numbers and where I already have my apps in, where should I send my next app to maximize my chances? I figure Yale, based on the lack of rolling admissions, can wait a bit (and I have a snowball's chance there anyway), but other than that, what do I do?

[WhiskeynCoke]

Now, I'm a poor ass dude, and can't scrape together much more dough until the beginning of December, so I can only afford one more app this month.

Really? You're about to potentially invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and you can't scrape together twenty bucks in the next few weeks to improve your options / scholarship leverage? Come on.

At the very least blanket the T14 asap. Even if you don't want to attend the schools, they may offer you $$$, which you can show to the schools you actually DO want to attend as leverage. You must logically be able to see the incredibly favorable cost/benefit ratio here. At only $21 a pop you can greatly increase your scholarship chances, especially with your LSAT score. The longer you wait, the less $$$ to go around. Find a way, it's worth it.

[NoodleyOne]

Now, I'm a poor ass dude, and can't scrape together much more dough until the beginning of December, so I can only afford one more app this month.

Really? You're about to potentially invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and you can't scrape together twenty bucks in the next few weeks to improve your options / scholarship leverage? Come on.

At the very least blanket the T14 asap. Even if you don't want to attend the schools, they may offer you $$$, which you can show to the schools you actually DO want to attend as leverage. You must logically be able to see the incredibly favorable cost/benefit ratio here. At only $21 a pop you can greatly increase your scholarship chances, especially with your LSAT score. The longer you wait, the less $$$ to go around. Find a way, it's worth it.

Sad to say it, but I can't. I am literally on a PB&J diet for the next four weeks. I live pretty fucking tight, dude. My mother won't help me and I just had to borrow money from my bro just to pay rent this month (which I have to pay back with the middle of the month paycheck). Other than that, my avenues for income are pretty strapped.

I agree with you, though, in that blanketing the T14 is the best route. But assuming that right now that isn't possible, which is the one school which would make the most sense to apply to next?

[WhiskeynCoke]

Sad to say it, but I can't. I am literally on a PB&J diet for the next four weeks. I live pretty fucking tight, dude.

Well I guess it is what it is.

In that case, I'd save Yale for last (you're right on both counts) and Stanford for second last (gpa is no-go). After that I would research these schools decision dates and apply in the order of either earliest to make decisions or most desirable school for you. I know Cornell tends to get going early, as does Duke.

Good luck, we're numbers twins.

[mmbt123]

wont' you be a lock at cornell and in great positions for nothwestern, michigan and duke?

so i'd go w/ uchicago where it would seem like the earlier you submit, the more it'll help you.

good luck!!

[bernaldiaz]

Now, I'm a poor ass dude, and can't scrape together much more dough until the beginning of December, so I can only afford one more app this month.

Really? You're about to potentially invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and you can't scrape together twenty bucks in the next few weeks to improve your options / scholarship leverage? Come on.

At the very least blanket the T14 asap. Even if you don't want to attend the schools, they may offer you $$$, which you can show to the schools you actually DO want to attend as leverage. You must logically be able to see the incredibly favorable cost/benefit ratio here. At only $21 a pop you can greatly increase your scholarship chances, especially with your LSAT score. The longer you wait, the less $$$ to go around. Find a way, it's worth it.

Sad to say it, but I can't. I am literally on a PB&J diet for the next four weeks. I live pretty fucking tight, dude. My mother won't help me and I just had to borrow money from my bro just to pay rent this month (which I have to pay back with the middle of the month paycheck). Other than that, my avenues for income are pretty strapped.

I agree with you, though, in that blanketing the T14 is the best route. But assuming that right now that isn't possible, which is the one school which would make the most sense to apply to next?

Hey dude a lot of schools will give need based waivers. Especially since you can say you already qualified for the lSAC one, I think a lot of schools would help you out.

[maggielizer]

You may have already done this, but have you tried soliciting fee waivers from the rest of the T-14?

[Kitkatt]

Now, I'm a poor ass dude, and can't scrape together much more dough until the beginning of December, so I can only afford one more app this month.

Really? You're about to potentially invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and you can't scrape together twenty bucks in the next few weeks to improve your options / scholarship leverage? Come on.

At the very least blanket the T14 asap. Even if you don't want to attend the schools, they may offer you $$$, which you can show to the schools you actually DO want to attend as leverage. You must logically be able to see the incredibly favorable cost/benefit ratio here. At only $21 a pop you can greatly increase your scholarship chances, especially with your LSAT score. The longer you wait, the less $$$ to go around. Find a way, it's worth it.

Sad to say it, but I can't. I am literally on a PB&J diet for the next four weeks. I live pretty fucking tight, dude. My mother won't help me and I just had to borrow money from my bro just to pay rent this month (which I have to pay back with the middle of the month paycheck). Other than that, my avenues for income are pretty strapped.

I agree with you, though, in that blanketing the T14 is the best route. But assuming that right now that isn't possible, which is the one school which would make the most sense to apply to next?

Hey dude a lot of schools will give need based waivers. Especially since you can say you already qualified for the lSAC one, I think a lot of schools would help you out.

It isn't the app fee that he needs to pay, it is the processing fee. There is nothing that the schools can do about that.

[MsAvocadoPit]

So it's just the $21 report fee for each school left that's holding you up?

I'd send a few bucks to the "Send Noodley to T14 Paypal Fund" if one happened to appear

[hume85]

So it's just the $21 report fee for each school left that's holding you up?

I'd send a few bucks to the "Send Noodley to T14 Paypal Fund" if one happened to appear

+1

[fruitoftheloom]

So it's just the $21 report fee for each school left that's holding you up?

I'd send a few bucks to the "Send Noodley to T14 Paypal Fund" if one happened to appear

+1

+1.

Start a kick starter or pay pal account dude. I pay for stupider things than helping a stranger from the internet get into lawl school.

[loomstate]

donate plasma. get some friends, borrow money from them - repay after the high holiday

[nickb285]

donate plasma.

TCR. At the place I go, they pay enough for two LSAC fees and a bottle of something cheap every week if you do it twice.

[annet]

So it's just the $21 report fee for each school left that's holding you up?

I'd send a few bucks to the "Send Noodley to T14 Paypal Fund" if one happened to appear

+1

+1.

Start a kick starter or pay pal account dude. I pay for stupider things than helping a stranger from the internet get into lawl school.

+1

Your guide has helped/is helping a lot of us, plus you're a nice guy. I'd love to kick in for an app or two.

[bizzybone1313]

Go be a substitute teacher or sell stuff on Ebay.

[bizzybone1313]

Or sell stuff on Craigslist.

[NoodleyOne]

Go be a substitute teacher or sell stuff on Ebay.

I sold all of my extra shit this summer to pay bills. It was a sad day.


And wow, I do appreciate the support a lot of you are giving. Maybe it's pride or something, but I'll have to decline the very kind offers. Selling plasma though... I may do that.

Anyway, update: I've decided to send my Chicago app in today. Thanks again for all of the love guys.

[WhiskeynCoke]

And wow, I do appreciate the support a lot of you are giving. Maybe it's pride or something, but I'll have to decline the very kind offers. Selling plasma though... I may do that.

Another idea would be to advertise your LSAT tutoring services on craigslist with your 160's-->179 improvement. Provide a link to the advice you've already given as testimonial. A lot of people with far worse scores charge A LOT of money (like $50+ an hour). If you were so inclined, you could even undercut them to give yourself an even greater competitive edge since you literally just need to make a hundred bucks over the next couple weeks.... Just an idea.

Where there's a will, there's a way. You seem like the type of guy who believes this statement.

[sinfiery]

Donated (Sold) plasma for a few months in college.

Decent cash, takes really long the first time but speeds up dramatically after. (4-8 hours --> 50-70 minutes after)


Scars go away. Hope you aren't afraid of needles. Bring a book/music.

[dingbat]

Donated (Sold) plasma for a few months in college.

Decent cash, takes really long the first time but speeds up dramatically after. (4-8 hours --> 50-70 minutes after)


Scars go away. Hope you aren't afraid of needles. Bring a book/music.

I'm not allowed, or I would too

[thelawschoolproject]

Since when is the processing fee $21? That's ...ridiculous.

If you really can only apply to one other school, maybe think about what you want to use the application for. Are you more after snabbing safety schools/scholly money or reaching higher? Since it sounds like you're money conscious I might do Michigan, because they're likely to throw money at you that you can use elsewhere. Otherwise my choice would be Stanford or Chicago. I think you're in at UVA (assuming the stats in your profile are accurate) so unless you'd legit choose Cornell/NU/Duke over that, I'd probably be okay not applying to those three right now. But I think the "right" answer rests more in where your priorities lie.

[CanadianWolf]

Have you considered sending a second app to Harvard ?


Wouldn't that double your chances ?

[NoodleyOne]

Since when is the processing fee $21? That's ...ridiculous.

If you really can only apply to one other school, maybe think about what you want to use the application for. Are you more after snabbing safety schools/scholly money or reaching higher? Since it sounds like you're money conscious I might do Michigan, because they're likely to throw money at you that you can use elsewhere. Otherwise my choice would be Stanford or Chicago. I think you're in at UVA (assuming the stats in your profile are accurate) so unless you'd legit choose Cornell/NU/Duke over that, I'd probably be okay not applying to those three right now. But I think the "right" answer rests more in where your priorities lie.

Yeah, that was my thought too. The advantage to Duke/Cornell is quick decision relative to the others, but I really don't foresee me at either of those law schools.

[CanadianWolf]

If you have post-college work experience, then Northwestern---- otherwise, apply to Chicago or Michigan.

[Brysia]

Offer lsat private tutoring on Craigslist. After all you scored 179.