This time with real numbers: 3.2/173 (Update: NYU!) Forum

[NJPitcher]

Hey all,

I made a post a couple years speculating my numbers, but I guess TLS's servers don't store posts from before 2010 so I couldn't revive it. Regardless it was mostly useless conjecture, so I'll just start another.

I graduated from Swarthmore in 2010 with an honors double in Astronomy and Philosophy, but my problem was that I really wasn't that good at Astro and I wound up with a 3.2 overall. I'm much better at standardized tests though, and I managed to squeak out a 173 on the June LSAT. I don't have any tremendous softs, but I played baseball for 4 years in college and was captain my senior year. Since graduating I've been employed full time selling cars. That's pretty much my story.

My two biggest questions are:
How much does a hard science major help?
What should I expect in the 4-14 range? I said farewell to HYS when I decided to continue with Astro, but I'm hoping I'm not excluded from the rest as well with a 3.2.

[splitmuch]

My two biggest questions are:
How much does a hard science major help?
What should I expect in the 4-14 range? I said farewell to HYS when I decided to continue with Astro, but I'm hoping I'm not excluded from the rest as well with a 3.2.

1) Not at all.
2) NW, GULC, Cornell, UVA ED. Youre probably under the GPA floor everywhere else.

[09042014]

My two biggest questions are:
How much does a hard science major help?
What should I expect in the 4-14 range? I said farewell to HYS when I decided to continue with Astro, but I'm hoping I'm not excluded from the rest as well with a 3.2.

1) Not at all.
2) NW, GULC, Cornell, UVA ED. Youre probably under the GPA floor everywhere else.

He has a fighting chance at Penn and Michigan.

[splitmuch]

My two biggest questions are:
How much does a hard science major help?
What should I expect in the 4-14 range? I said farewell to HYS when I decided to continue with Astro, but I'm hoping I'm not excluded from the rest as well with a 3.2.

1) Not at all.
2) NW, GULC, Cornell, UVA ED. Youre probably under the GPA floor everywhere else.

He has a fighting chance at Penn and Michigan.

Agree

[09042014]

OP will get NW almost for sure. Probably Cornell as well. Fighting chance at Mich and Penn. Gulc auto admit.

He might want to consider an ED to Chicago, they might bite at a 173 and a preftigious undergrad that nobody ever hear of.

[NJPitcher]

Thanks for the feedback, that was pretty in line with what I was expecting. As of now I'm thinking ED to Penn (I live there currently) or Chicago, with NYU a distant thought. What level school do you all think I receive any sort of aid? 15-30, or lower?

[IzziesGal]

I'd blanket the T14 if application fees isn't an issue. You honestly never know when a school is going to bite. It's true that some of this is a numbers game, but it's also true that some of this is a crap shoot. You never know when you have something on your resume or in your personal statement that is exactly what the admissions committee is looking for. Good luck!!

[NJPitcher]

OP will get NW almost for sure. Probably Cornell as well. Fighting chance at Mich and Penn. Gulc auto admit.

He might want to consider an ED to Chicago, they might bite at a 173 and a preftigious undergrad that nobody ever hear of.

Prestigious enough to have never been heard of, that's an apt description

Any chance a retake helps? This was relatively cold, but I'd say I'm 50/50 on an improvement. I got 1/1/2/3 wrong (LR/AR/LR/RC), so there weren't any obviously terrible sections. Regardless I'm above the median at any school I'm applying to, I just don't know if being any higher above the median really helps or is worth another $fee, and I'm also not sure a lower score doesn't hurt. Thoughts?

[splitmuch]

OP will get NW almost for sure. Probably Cornell as well. Fighting chance at Mich and Penn. Gulc auto admit.

He might want to consider an ED to Chicago, they might bite at a 173 and a preftigious undergrad that nobody ever hear of.

Prestigious enough to have never been heard of, that's an apt description

Any chance a retake helps? This was relatively cold, but I'd say I'm 50/50 on an improvement. I got 1/1/2/3 wrong (LR/AR/RC/LR), so there weren't any obviously terrible sections. Regardless I'm above the median at any school I'm applying to, I just don't know if being any higher above the median really helps or is worth another $fee, and I'm also not sure a lower score doesn't hurt. Thoughts?

You missed 7 and got a 173? rough curve.

[NJPitcher]

You missed 7 and got a 173? rough curve.

Or june was just easy? Thats what I'll tell myself. Regardless, would a 1/2/3+ point improvement really do me much good, or should I not bother?

[Bobeo]

I would think that the risk wouldn't be worth the reward.

[NJPitcher]

What level school do you all think I receive any sort of aid? 15-30, or lower?

Bump? Actually sending out apps now and I'm being more realistic - what schools do you guys think start giving me money? Do I get any at Fordham? Wash U? Just curious.

[Tiago Splitter]

Unfortunately splitters like yourself won't get much money until outside the T-14. Because of that, EDing makes a lot of sense. My vote:ED to Penn. If you want to stay out of debt the midwest schools like UIUC, WashU, and IUB will love that LSAT.

No reason to retake. Even with a 180 the T6 is a very long shot, and you only have any shot because of your majors/UG school.

[mattviphky]

you'll get substantial money at WashU, but is it really worth it over Chicago or Penn? I don't know how career plans or debt factors into your life, but you'll get at least a 86k scholly to WashU, Vanderbilt will probably give you money too. Either way, law school is an investment, just look at what the median students from the schools you are looking at are able to do, and then look at your career plans and see if they align. Good luck, awesome job on the 173

[NJPitcher]

Update, and request for safety suggestions:

I finally got my applications out over the last two weeks (LOL at my early November self-deadline...), and so far I've submitted to:

Penn
Virginia
Vanderbilt
NW
Chicago
NYU (only because of fee waiver, don't really like my chances)
Columbia (fee waiver)

Obviously I didn't ED anywhere, and I really don't have any safeties on the list. I'm dreading finding out that I'm not in at any of those schools, so what are the best schools I can apply to that would be considered my safeties?

[hdsoc]

I'd add on Georgetown, Michigan, WashU (for scholly negotiation). It's hard to recommend safeties without knowing which region you want to practice in.

If you don't get T-14 this cycle, I would definitely recommend waiting it out and applying next cycle. I have only slightly better numbers than you (but I am above the 3.3 floor which can make a difference) and I got NYU (w/ ED), Georgetown, Michigan (w/ $$). I think you would be in good shape for any of MVP with an ED.

[scottybared]

I'm a 3.2/175 (retake of 169), had all of my apps in by Halloween and am finding that this cycle is being a bit rough on splitters. My results so far:

Accepted: UVA, GULC, GW
Accepted w/$$: W&M, UIUC
Rejected: Chicago (ED), UC-Berkeley, Michigan
Waitlisted: Penn
Still Waiting: NYU, Duke, Cornell (deferred EA), WashU, Columbia, NU

I don't have as much work experience as you, but this cycle has been weird when it comes to splitters. Good luck.

[emkay625]

I have your exact numbers plus 4 years of WE. Here is how the top 14 has gone for me so far.

Didn't apply - HYS and Berkeley
Accepted - Northwestern, GULC
Held - UT, Cornell
Waitlisted - UVA
Pending - Columbia, Chicago, NYU, Michigan, Penn, Duke

I don't know why people are saying you will get into Cornell. They have a hard GPA floor of 3.3. I got held and do not anticipate getting in off of that.

[splitmuch]

I'm a 3.2/175 (retake of 169), had all of my apps in by Halloween and am finding that this cycle is being a bit rough on splitters. My results so far:

Accepted: UVA, GULC, GW
Accepted w/$$: W&M, UIUC
Rejected: Chicago (ED), UC-Berkeley, Michigan
Waitlisted: Penn
Still Waiting: NYU, Duke, Cornell (deferred EA), WashU, Columbia, NU

I don't have as much work experience as you, but this cycle has been weird when it comes to splitters. Good luck.

Are you from VA?

[scottybared]

I'm a 3.2/175 (retake of 169), had all of my apps in by Halloween and am finding that this cycle is being a bit rough on splitters. My results so far:

Accepted: UVA, GULC, GW
Accepted w/$$: W&M, UIUC
Rejected: Chicago (ED), UC-Berkeley, Michigan
Waitlisted: Penn
Still Waiting: NYU, Duke, Cornell (deferred EA), WashU, Columbia, NU

I don't have as much work experience as you, but this cycle has been weird when it comes to splitters. Good luck.

Are you from VA?

No. I was surprised to get in so quickly. I volunteered at a law fair on campus back in October and asked to be assigned as a student host to the UVA booth which was being manned by the Dean of Admission. I didn't do much except drop off bottled water throughout the day, but it did give me the chance to talk to her one-on-one a bit. I'd like to think that I made a good impression and that played into the decision.

[splitmuch]

I have your exact numbers plus 4 years of WE. Here is how the top 14 has gone for me so far.

Didn't apply - HYS and Berkeley
Accepted - Northwestern, GULC
Held - UT, Cornell
Waitlisted - UVA
Pending - Columbia, Chicago, NYU, Michigan, Penn, Duke

I don't know why people are saying you will get into Cornell. They have a hard GPA floor of 3.3. I got held and do not anticipate getting in off of that.

No they do not.

[splitmuch]

I'm a 3.2/175 (retake of 169), had all of my apps in by Halloween and am finding that this cycle is being a bit rough on splitters. My results so far:

Accepted: UVA, GULC, GW
Accepted w/$$: W&M, UIUC
Rejected: Chicago (ED), UC-Berkeley, Michigan
Waitlisted: Penn
Still Waiting: NYU, Duke, Cornell (deferred EA), WashU, Columbia, NU

I don't have as much work experience as you, but this cycle has been weird when it comes to splitters. Good luck.

Are you from VA?

No. I was surprised to get in so quickly. I volunteered at a law fair on campus back in October and asked to be assigned as a student host to the UVA booth which was being manned by the Dean of Admission. I didn't do much except drop off bottled water throughout the day, but it did give me the chance to talk to her one-on-one a bit. I'd like to think that I made a good impression and that played into the decision.

Yeah man congrats, for a non ED- out of stater I really would have figured you for close to no shot just because of the GPA. You must have made a good impression, you should be proud of that.

[NJPitcher]

Update:

In at Vandy, decision was turned around 12 days after the app went complete.
Columbia - rejected.
Still waiting on the others...

[NJPitcher]

Update, since I'm functionally complete:

Rejected: Columbia, Chicago
WL: Penn, UVA, GU
Accepted: Vanderbilt (w/ $65k), NU (no cash, held first), NYU (off WL).

Going to NYU. Way happy.

[Band A Long]

Everyone loves a success story! Congrats