Scary decision Forum

[DeweyDell]

Let me preface this with a single piece of advice that deserves reiteration because fools like me keep screwing it up: apply early!
That said, I am where I am but have become so deeply enmeshed in my situation that I've lost perspective and could benefit from some outside insight.
I applied straight from a prestigious liberal arts undergrad with a 3.63 and a 177.
My softs are not extraordinary but interesting enough not to preclude me from any schools entirely.
My cycle: Accepted at NYU, Cornell and Emory ($$) though I have yet to receive financial packages from Cornell and NYU.
Rejected from Yale
Waitlisted at UVA, UPenn, Berkeley, Northwestern, UCLA, BU
Hold then reserve at Columbia
Have yet to hear from Harvard (not optimistic)

No I did not kill a hooker. I wonder if being a comparatively bland applicant, late in the cycle killed my chances at some of these schools or at merit aid.
NYC big law seems very exciting but I'm open to other things. Ideally I would find my way into an interesting corner of cyber law in the long run.
Should I take on the $210,000 to go to NYU? This scares me but taking a year off to reapply would suck harder than a black hole.
What do you guys think happened and what are your suggestions for how to proceed? Much thanks in advance.

[gdane]

Not a scary decision at all. You're in a much better position than lots of other people.

Just do it. The return can potentially be much greater. Dont be scared of spending for your education.

Good luck!

[DerrickRose]

How late did you apply?

Oh, and I would have to think there is a money train on the way from Cornell. If it comes, climb aboard.

[twert]

with that lsat, wait a year

[DeweyDell]

Thanks guys. I applied on or near deadline. I hope the money train is on the way from Cornell but NYC just seems so much more exciting than Ithica. That would be a tough one.

[DeweyDell]

Any other theories or opinions?

[D. H2Oman]

Reapply

[DerrickRose]

Any other theories or opinions?

If Cornell doesn't blow you away, wait a year.

It is getting more and more competitive every year, but a 3.68/177 is never going to be anywhere but the top of the heap. Those are lower T14 full ride numbers.

[dlac]

Yes, definitely wait. Try to get some more LORs and perhaps some interesting volunteer/PI work in the meantime.

No Stanford or Chicago?

[fortissimo]

Any other theories or opinions?

If Cornell doesn't blow you away, wait a year.

It is getting more and more competitive every year, but a 3.68/177 is never going to be anywhere but the top of the heap. Those are lower T14 full ride numbers.

Full rides aren't usually given unless you have great softs. Most full-rides are not given to people with the best numbers, but half rides are almost a surety for the OP's numbers.

I would reapply.

[Tangerine Gleam]

I'm going to say something that a bunch of other folks will also say.

Do you *have* to go next year? With numbers like that, you could have a good shot at a T14 full ride or at least half ride if you applied at the beginning of next cycle. Are you really in that much of a rush? You're not even out of college yet. If I were in your situation, I would be willing to wait a year for the immense savings you'll likely come across with a Class of 2014 application. Live it up, bro!

[DeweyDell]

ugh. I didn't apply to Stanford or Chicago basically because I didn't get fee waivers, in other words because I'm an idiot. So you guys would laugh at me if I took NYU over reapplying because I'm super antsy to start law school?

[D. H2Oman]

ugh. I didn't apply to Stanford or Chicago basically because I didn't get fee waivers, in other words because I'm an idiot. So you guys would laugh at me if I took NYU over reapplying because I'm super antsy to start law school?

hmmm I mean I wouldn't laugh, but I'd probably crack dismissive smile.

No seriously, I think you should reapply. Gives more time for the job market to improve and I think you would get a better offer. Long term I think it's the right call.

[legalease9]

I think its a hard call. If you reapply you will probably have a better cycle next year than this one, especially if you apply early. However, whether or not that advantage is worth taking a year off is a tough decision, which depends on what you want to do. Because, and only because, you are just out of college, I would say wait a year and reapply.

[missvik218]

ugh. I didn't apply to Stanford or Chicago basically because I didn't get fee waivers, in other words because I'm an idiot. So you guys would laugh at me if I took NYU over reapplying because I'm super antsy to start law school?

I don't think anyone would laugh, I just think that we'd feel bad for you for having made such a poor choice.

[Tangerine Gleam]

So you guys would laugh at me if I took NYU over reapplying because I'm super antsy to start law school?

Who cares if internet strangers laugh -- I'd care more about the fact that I'd be making a choice I might regret for the rest of my life.

You have two reasons to regret moving forward to join the class of 2013:

1a) You will be spending a lot more money than you would have if you had waited a year.

and/or

1b) You will exclude yourself from having more/better school options.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY...

2) You will be going straight into law school from college when you have compelling reasons to not do so. Four of the four lawyers I know who went straight from UG->LS ended up regretting it...and usually not until after law school. I have a friend who still talks about not taking a year off. He's 36.

[DeweyDell]

Getting something together for the upcoming year seems really intimidating right now. And although this is ridiculously vain I've already told everyone I'm going straight to law school (guess that was a little premature) so that would be annoying. It's so difficult to quantify the value of a year but I guess it's unavoidable. These amounts of money are so foreign to me I have trouble wrapping my head around them.

[DerrickRose]

Getting something together for the upcoming year seems really intimidating right now.

The ole prestigious liberal arts degree isn't the rainmaker you thought it was gonna be huh?

I keed, I keed.

I have no regrets about not reapplying after my borderline-ish cycle, but that's because I would have gotten slaughtered by the added competition/splitter unfriendliness this year. You'll do fine.

[fwaam]

Paying full tuition at NYU might not be ideal, but I'll be the one to say I'm not sure waiting a year would be worth it. You mentioned NYC biglaw, in which case you'd make up the difference pretty quickly, and I don't think you can count on getting lots of money there if you reapply (although at lower T14 schools I agree, you could get $$).

I'm also just finishing up college and ITE, if I had to wait a year to go to law school, I'd either be working a subsistence (probably part-time) job or living off my parents, neither of which is remotely worth taking a year off for. So if you're willing to take the plunge, I don't think sticker at NYU is crazy.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Getting something together for the upcoming year seems really intimidating right now. And although this is ridiculously vain I've already told everyone I'm going straight to law school (guess that was a little premature) so that would be annoying. It's so difficult to quantify the value of a year but I guess it's unavoidable. These amounts of money are so foreign to me I have trouble wrapping my head around them.

No offense, but those sound like terrible reasons to take out a quarter 'mil in debt.

[D. H2Oman]

Getting something together for the upcoming year seems really intimidating right now. And although this is ridiculously vain I've already told everyone I'm going straight to law school (guess that was a little premature) so that would be annoying. It's so difficult to quantify the value of a year but I guess it's unavoidable. These amounts of money are so foreign to me I have trouble wrapping my head around them.

No offense, but those sound like terrible reasons to take out a quarter 'mil in debt.

^This, but I mean it with offense included.

[missvik218]

Getting something together for the upcoming year seems really intimidating right now. And although this is ridiculously vain I've already told everyone I'm going straight to law school (guess that was a little premature) so that would be annoying. It's so difficult to quantify the value of a year but I guess it's unavoidable. These amounts of money are so foreign to me I have trouble wrapping my head around them.

No offense, but those sound like terrible reasons to take out a quarter 'mil in debt.

^This, but I mean it with offense included.

+1 ... but I now have to stop reading this thread because I'm finding it infuriating. I think you should take a year off and work if for no other reason so that you understand how much $$ you're talking about throwing away here.

[DeweyDell]

Go easy on me guys I'm just a kid. Hopefully NYU or Cornell will come through with something or perhaps even the H-Bomb. Otherwise... it looks like I'll be eating table scraps at my parents' house next year.

[SaintClarence27]

Go easy on me guys I'm just a kid. Hopefully NYU or Cornell will come through with something or perhaps even the H-Bomb. Otherwise... it looks like I'll be eating table scraps at my parents' house next year.

Seriously.

Get a job, work on your applications, and you can get a *really* good deal next year. The thing that isn't being mentioned (and I think it should be) is that the extra year will also give the legal economy more time to recover before your OCI. And, unless you get accepted to H or Y next year (and you could blanket the T14 with apps looking for the best deal), you'll be graduating with significantly less debt and much better options.

That's assuming that H doesn't come through this year and Cornell doesn't back up the Brinks truck, both of which are possibilities.

[JCougar]

Go easy on me guys I'm just a kid. Hopefully NYU or Cornell will come through with something or perhaps even the H-Bomb. Otherwise... it looks like I'll be eating table scraps at my parents' house next year.

Having a year of work experience under your belt is a plus when looking for a law job. It may help you get a better job when you graduate, plus, you will learn a lot about life before law school.

Of course, having a degree from Harvard will do the same.

There's no rush, though. I'm 29 and about to start law school. The only years I regret are the last two years trying to make my shitty job work out. I've had enough fun to last someone a lifetime. Now I can sign my life away to Biglaw without feeling guilty.