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Military service is a definite plus, but it won't deliver miracles. HYS are going to be out. Nobody with a GPA that low gets in ( maybe URMS with killer LSATs.) CCN are also probably out, but they're worth the app and you might get a bunch of waivers anyway.

I haven't seen many vet splitters. Your LSAT score is a smidge below the point where you could feel pretty confident about blanketing the T-14 and getting a hit, but being a vet might give you the bump you need. I think you have a decent shot at Cornell and GULC; Michigan, UVA, Berkeley, NU are possibilities, but it's real iffy.

ED'ing UVA might actually be a really smart choice for you, if you are GI Bill eligible. Why don't you like it?
An ED to Penn might give you a shot there. ALSO: Absolutely write an addendum. Doesn't need to be long; I think the grades and time gap speak largely for themselves, but you should have one.

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karich wrote:Thank you!

I quickly disqualified HYS and don't really have any illusions there, pretty much the same with CCN.

As far as EDing to UVA, I don't know a lot about the school (yet). I'm looking to end up working in the Northeast or in California, does UVA place really well there? I'm not dead set against UVA so I'll do more research there.

Some other schools I'm looking at: Texas (I have family here), UCLA, U of Washington, and Wustl (I'm from St. Louis but I would really only go here if I got in no where else and waiting for next cycle was not an option). I realize except for Wustl those are all splitter unfriendly hehe, how low should I go for safety?

Don't self-select for ding. Throw the apps in, turn and face the wind, feet and knees together, and hold what you got. You may get dinged, you may "waste" app fees, but at least you'll know for sure. Beats the hell out of saying "I WISH I HAD DONE...." in the next year or so.

Hah! Deal.

TTTehehe wrote:

karich wrote:Thank you!

I quickly disqualified HYS and don't really have any illusions there, pretty much the same with CCN.

As far as EDing to UVA, I don't know a lot about the school (yet). I'm looking to end up working in the Northeast or in California, does UVA place really well there? I'm not dead set against UVA so I'll do more research there.

Some other schools I'm looking at: Texas (I have family here), UCLA, U of Washington, and Wustl (I'm from St. Louis but I would really only go here if I got in no where else and waiting for next cycle was not an option). I realize except for Wustl those are all splitter unfriendly hehe, how low should I go for safety?

Don't self-select for ding. Throw the apps in, turn and face the wind, feet and knees together, and hold what you got. You may get dinged, you may "waste" app fees, but at least you'll know for sure. Beats the hell out of saying "I WISH I HAD DONE...." in the next year or so.

This.

Your military service and the separation between your initial GPA and the last three years of school could make a world of difference. I didn't blanket the T-14 as I wanted a school where my GI Bill would cover tuition at 100% and NYC. I decided to apply above my numbers at my top choice within that criteria while I was planning to retake the LSAT. I was accepted based strictly on my softs which include military service.

It won't work at every school but the military service can really be a game changer and sometimes to the point of URM numbers. Don't sell yourself short in any way and apply anywhere you genuinely want to go.

Good luck,

JC

JCFindley wrote:

TTTehehe wrote:

karich wrote:Thank you!

I quickly disqualified HYS and don't really have any illusions there, pretty much the same with CCN.

As far as EDing to UVA, I don't know a lot about the school (yet). I'm looking to end up working in the Northeast or in California, does UVA place really well there? I'm not dead set against UVA so I'll do more research there.

Some other schools I'm looking at: Texas (I have family here), UCLA, U of Washington, and Wustl (I'm from St. Louis but I would really only go here if I got in no where else and waiting for next cycle was not an option). I realize except for Wustl those are all splitter unfriendly hehe, how low should I go for safety?

Don't self-select for ding. Throw the apps in, turn and face the wind, feet and knees together, and hold what you got. You may get dinged, you may "waste" app fees, but at least you'll know for sure. Beats the hell out of saying "I WISH I HAD DONE...." in the next year or so.

This.

Your military service and the separation between your initial GPA and the last three years of school could make a world of difference. I didn't blanket the T-14 as I wanted a school where my GI Bill would cover tuition at 100% and NYC. I decided to apply above my numbers at my top choice within that criteria while I was planning to retake the LSAT. I was accepted based strictly on my softs which include military service.

It won't work at every school but the military service can really be a game changer and sometimes to the point of URM numbers. Don't sell yourself short in any way and apply anywhere you genuinely want to go.

Good luck,

JC

Same thing with job prospects during/after law school. I've heard/seen cases where people will get interviews/callbacks largely due to the hiring partner, recruiter, etc. recognizing a unit (RANGER), a military school (RANGER, et al.), or award (RANGER, j/k... BSM, PH, blah blah) on a resume. Not saying it happens every day, but when it happens, does it matter?

Dean Tom at Berkeley likes vets. No guarantees because Berkeley skews in favor of high GPA, but I think the GPA addendum in your case would work well here. Just keep it short and sweet.

Definitely worth the application fee to give it a shot.

Okay so I've done a bit more research and I wanted to run something by you guys.

Sum. Non-URM
LSAT: 170
LSAC GPA:3.36 (Ugpa 3.96 summa cum laude with departmental honors for thesis, will write addendum. Basically I was an immature idiot, the marines straightened me out.)

5 years in Marines (Iraq 2008)
Speak a weird foreign language.

Would I be out of my mind for sending an ED to Penn if Northeast (nyc?) Biglaw is what I'm looking for? Of course I'm going to apply to tons of other schools but Penn looks like a spot where an ED could really make a dent.

karich wrote:Okay so I've done a bit more research and I wanted to run something by you guys.

Sum. Non-URM
LSAT: 170
LSAC GPA:3.36 (Ugpa 3.96 summa cum laude with departmental honors for thesis, will write addendum. Basically I was an immature idiot, the marines straightened me out.)

5 years in Marines (Iraq 2008)
Speak a weird foreign language.

Would I be out of my mind for sending an ED to Penn if Northeast (nyc?) Biglaw is what I'm looking for? Of course I'm going to apply to tons of other schools but Penn looks like a spot where an ED could really make a dent.

Penn is a good choice for NYC biglaw and will give you options throughout the country.

If you still have the Post 911 GI Bill Penn offers 10 YRP slots @ 10K each. That means that Tuition would be covered up to 37.5K so long as you are one of the first ten to apply. With an ED that should be easy to get just make sure you start the VA stuff as soon as you are accepted.

Edit: If you are NYC biglaw or bust Cornell would be an excellent choice as well especially if you still have the GI Bill. (Not as good as Penn but it does VERY well in NYC biglaw.

Marine Sgt active duty here. Heading to CLS next month. Iraq once and Afgh twice. 3.8/168. Look in profile for results. LSN: juj122

I see no reason to ED to V over M if you aren't interested in V. I was accepted to M in Oct/Nov in the first wave. Higher GPA of course, but MVB all seem to love vets.

PM me your email and I'll shoot you some documents I have.

Also what was/is your MOS?

The GI bill is strange. I have about 5 months left on the MGIB, and I'm in the veterans center of my UG right now and they just said I can completely exhaust my MGIB and then they can switch me to post 9/11 and I can ride that for 12 months for a total of 17 months. However, if I try to switch early I will only get 5 months on the post 9/11 total with no additional time. Weird. I suppose the only way to get one of those slots would be to Be on the post 9/11 at the time of application?

karich wrote:The GI bill is strange. I have about 5 months left on the MGIB, and I'm in the veterans center of my UG right now and they just said I can completely exhaust my MGIB and then they can switch me to post 9/11 and I can ride that for 12 months for a total of 17 months. However, if I try to switch early I will only get 5 months on the post 9/11 total with no additional time. Weird. I suppose the only way to get one of those slots would be to Be on the post 9/11 at the time of application?

Yes. YRP only applies to Post 9/11 GI Bill. But your vets center is also correct. If you transfer your benefits, you are limited to Ch. 33's 36 month limit. But, if you are no longer eligible for MGIB benefits, you can get another 12 months because TOTAL educational benefits are limited to 48 months.

You may want to call the finaid office to see how many YRP slots typically get taken. At B we also only have 10 slots, but even though we have many more vets than that here, many are not YRP eligible (<100% eligibility level). Granted, fewer slots will get taken by 2L/3Ls here because most get in state w/no private school cap and thus have no need for YRP. That will be different at Penn.

Sorry for the super bump

I actually think you have a good chance at NYU. I applied this cycle and got in off the waitlist with a 3.08/175, also rode out the Penn waitlist and didn't get in (non veteran, non URM 1.5 yrs experience as a paralegal plus some internet start-up work). If I had to guess I'd say as a veteran you'll get at least one of CCNP regular decision and decent $ from lower T14 schools like Northwestern, Cornell and/or Georgetown.

If you're not concerned about scholarships and want to be safe I'd ED to either Penn or NYU. If I were you I'd probably just apply 4-14 regular decision ride out all the waitlists you get (probably a lot) and then evaluate your options. Good luck and thanks for your service!