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[pjohnstron0626]

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[Decimus]

Dear Forum,

I thought I'd ask for some guidance as I am in a bit of a unique situation.

Two years ago I was admitted to a lower T14 school and asked for a deferral to finish my PhD program. Because my GPA was well below the 170 median (163), I considered myself especially fortunate. Unfortunately, it looks like my PhD viva will run just slightly past my entrance date to law school. As I weigh asking this school to continue my deferral (which I'm told is unheard of for three years), I wanted general advice as I'm trying to weigh the prospect of reapplying again. My main questions are: 1) am I risking my place in the T14 by finishing my PhD slightly later? 2) Do my new softs improve a marginal LSAT score? I have read thousands of posts on this message board, but because I'm graduate degree holder with accommodated scores, I have been sort of lost in translation. Here are my stats:

UGPA: 3.85 (was 3.95 but that pass-fail summer bio came back to bite me)
LSAT: 162/163 (Both accommodated- I really don't want to get into this; but it is legitimate)
My softs if they even matter: (Undergrad.) Division 1 varsity athlete, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, top departmental award; (Grad) Masters Degree from Oxford, PhD to viva in the fall (also from Oxford), elected to college general committee, won three research fellowships/national awards.

I have no illusions about HYS, I would just like to stay in the T14 and do the best I can. Any thoughts if I am better or worse off if my admissions deferral expires?

Thank you for your time.

I have several friends who either teleconferenced their viva or flew back just for the day of the defense because they were starting academic jobs back in the states. I wouldn't extend, I'd just talk to your supervisor about it.

[thewaves]

The TLS mantra here is to re-take if you think you can do better. I'm not sure what your plans are, but lower T14 schools aren't exactly heavy hitters in academia, even for those with PhDs. And as I'm sure you know since you're coming from an international graduate program, it certainly doesn't hurt to have scholarship money either! Feel free to PM me, I was in a somewhat similar situation.

In terms of practical advice, I think what the above poster said would be best if you are adamant about going to your deferred law school. Balancing your 1L year and the viva would certainly be challenging.

And no, you won't be worse off if you re-apply as you are now.