Top Law Schools

Hello! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I graduated from the Honors program at American University with a 3.81, and received a 172 LSAT.

I love DC and would like to stay here, but a part of me is also wondering if I should try to expand a little and go somewhere new. I am currently considering: Georgetown, George Washington, Duke, UPenn.....and possibly Columbia or NYU but I'm not sure if I could get in.

The ED at George Washington is really tempting, especially because I am considering work with the government or some of the DC firms in International Law. So my questions are:
-What are my chances at the above mentioned schools?
-What would you do in my position?

Thanks so much for any advice you could give me!

jpk5372 wrote:Hello! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I graduated from the Honors program at American University with a 3.81, and received a 172 LSAT.

I love DC and would like to stay here, but a part of me is also wondering if I should try to expand a little and go somewhere new. I am currently considering: Georgetown, George Washington, Duke, UPenn.....and possibly Columbia or NYU but I'm not sure if I could get in.

The ED at George Washington is really tempting, especially because I am considering work with the government or some of the DC firms in International Law. So my questions are:
-What are my chances at the above mentioned schools?
-What would you do in my position?

Thanks so much for any advice you could give me!

International Law is not a real field. Why does everyone say they want international law? You can definitely get into NYU and columbia, its not guaranteed but you have a decent shot. And I would definitely not do the ED at GW.

Are you banking on the full ride through GW ED?

Well I'd ideally like to do national security law but since most schools put it under the international law "focus," I thought it would be easier to phrase it that way.

Why a definate no on the GW ED? I wouldn't be banking on it, but it is binding so if I do go for it and happen to receive it I will have to go there.

jpk5372 wrote:Well I'd ideally like to do national security law but since most schools put it under the international law "focus," I thought it would be easier to phrase it that way.

Why a definate no on the GW ED? I wouldn't be banking on it, but it is binding so if I do go for it and happen to receive it I will have to go there.

I understand it would be for the full ride, and I wouldn't do it because you can get in and get money at much better schools. And also, national security law is not something your going to be able to get into out of law school, maybe not ever. Unless your grouping that as like working for the DOJ.

GW ED is a bad idea for you because you would likely get full tuition or close to it even without the ED. You have a decent shot at CCN and probably will get $ from at least one of MVPB. I'd ED at Columbia or NYU if I were you.

If you're looking to minimize debt, you're most likely a lock for GWU ED.

Hmm....I didn't really think any of the better schools really gave all too much $.... maybe I'll end up taking my chances and seeing what happens.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Well I wouldn't expect money from Columbia or NYU, when in contrast you have a very good shot at a full ride from GW (that's why I was wondering your motive). I still think it's a little strange they make you commit to ED for that risk though.

You are wasting an awesome LSAT score and a decent GPA. You actually might make matters worse by not having any bargaining power when you go to the table for $. Georgetown is a much more valuable degree in terms of prestige and portability, and it would allow you to stay in DC. Why on earth would you turn down that opportunity? They might give you $ as well...

Decent shot at half tuition at one of Michigan, VA, Duke, etc.

mst wrote:You are wasting an awesome LSAT score and a decent GPA. You actually might make matters worse by not having any bargaining power when you go to the table for $. Georgetown is a much more valuable degree in terms of prestige and portability, and it would allow you to stay in DC. Why on earth would you turn down that opportunity? They might give you $ as well...

TITCR if you're set on staying in DC.

WTF?
Are you kidding me? Maybe ED somewhere in the T10 schools.
You are likely to get a near full scholarship at GWU even without the binding early.

Fwiw I applied with identical stats last cycle and fared quite well. NYU and Columbia are not out of reach.

Anyway, you will get into some amazing schools with your stats, and will likely receive some merit aid. You can then further negotiate financial aid by leveraging other acceptances. I advise against applying ED.

thexfactor wrote:You are likely to get a near full scholarship at GWU even without the binding early.

Do they give out non-ED full rides at GW?

According to LSN they give out 30k+ housing for non ED. Close to full.
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/ccs224
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/Jstern61

rv11 wrote:

thexfactor wrote:You are likely to get a near full scholarship at GWU even without the binding early.

Do they give out non-ED full rides at GW?

jpk5372 wrote:Hello! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I graduated from the Honors program at American University with a 3.81, and received a 172 LSAT.

I love DC and would like to stay here, but a part of me is also wondering if I should try to expand a little and go somewhere new. I am currently considering: Georgetown, George Washington, Duke, UPenn.....and possibly Columbia or NYU but I'm not sure if I could get in.

The ED at George Washington is really tempting, especially because I am considering work with the government or some of the DC firms in International Law. So my questions are:
-What are my chances at the above mentioned schools?
-What would you do in my position?

Thanks so much for any advice you could give me!

please do not apply ED to GW. in fact i wouldn't apply ED anywhere.
realistic reach:
yale
stanford
uva

target:
Harvard
michigan

strong targets:
Columbia
NYU
chicago
berkeley
northwestern

safeties:
upenn
duke
cornell
georgetown
gw

rv11 wrote:

thexfactor wrote:You are likely to get a near full scholarship at GWU even without the binding early.

Do they give out non-ED full rides at GW?

No, but they do give out the really big Dean's scholarship, which is $90k plus free housing as a 1L. He's a lock for that, I think.

najumobi wrote:

jpk5372 wrote:Hello! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I graduated from the Honors program at American University with a 3.81, and received a 172 LSAT.

I love DC and would like to stay here, but a part of me is also wondering if I should try to expand a little and go somewhere new. I am currently considering: Georgetown, George Washington, Duke, UPenn.....and possibly Columbia or NYU but I'm not sure if I could get in.

The ED at George Washington is really tempting, especially because I am considering work with the government or some of the DC firms in International Law. So my questions are:
-What are my chances at the above mentioned schools?
-What would you do in my position?

Thanks so much for any advice you could give me!

please do not apply ED to GW. in fact i wouldn't apply ED anywhere.
realistic reach:
Harvard
yale
stanford
uva

target:
Harvard
michigan

strong targets:
Columbia
NYU
chicago
berkeley
northwestern

safeties:
upenn
duke
cornell
georgetown
gw

FTFY. There are other errors, but this is the most obvious one.

rv11 wrote: FTFY. There are other errors, but this is the most obvious one.

haha...thanks...i keep forgetting that for HYS their median gpa is ~3.9.
HYS are all UNrealistic reaches.

as for other errors i think you're referring to uva and michigan? both of these schools yield protect. for example uva waitlisted 75% of applicants with 172, 3.8-4.0 gpa. many of those applicants who were waitlisted are going to harvard.

najumobi wrote:

rv11 wrote: FTFY. There are other errors, but this is the most obvious one.

haha...thanks...i keep forgetting that for HYS their median gpa is ~3.9.
HYS are all UNrealistic reaches.

as for other errors i think you're referring to uva and michigan? both of these schools yield protect. for example uva waitlisted 75% of applicants with 172, 3.8-4.0 gpa. many of those applicants who were waitlisted are going to harvard.

I'm aware, but I don't think you can label a school as a "reach" just because someone's above their numbers and they YP. If you are using this mentality, however, then Penn should be right next to UVA. I also think it's tough to quantify OP's chances at Northwestern without any indication of WE.

Just blanket the T-14 and throw in GW as a safety. You will do fine.

I have similar numbers to you and got $90k from Georgetown.

rv11 wrote:

najumobi wrote:

rv11 wrote: FTFY. There are other errors, but this is the most obvious one.

haha...thanks...i keep forgetting that for HYS their median gpa is ~3.9.
HYS are all UNrealistic reaches.

as for other errors i think you're referring to uva and michigan? both of these schools yield protect. for example uva waitlisted 75% of applicants with 172, 3.8-4.0 gpa. many of those applicants who were waitlisted are going to harvard.

I'm aware, but I don't think you can label a school as a "reach" just because someone's above their numbers and they YP. If you are using this mentality, however, then Penn should be right next to UVA. I also think it's tough to quantify OP's chances at Northwestern without any indication of WE.

actually i was expecting YP from Penn and all but one person out of more than 15 with 172, 3.8-4.0 were accepted. i think it would be quite helpful for OP to know not to bank on uva as a safety or a target considering the vast majority of those with OP's stats don't get in.

for applicants to northwestern with OPs approx. stats about 85-90% of them were accepted....whether they had WE or came right out of UG didn't seem to matter.

No, but they do give out the really big Dean's scholarship, which is $90k plus free housing as a 1L. He's a lock for that, I think.

"She's" a lock

I'm absolutely SHOCKED to see some of your responses, I really didn't think I had a shot at many of the top schools at all.

Money is an important factor for me, but I think I will take the advice to leverage other acceptances for more bargaining power.

Thank you guys SO much!! It is great to get some tips from people who have already been through this.

jpk5372 wrote:

No, but they do give out the really big Dean's scholarship, which is $90k plus free housing as a 1L. He's a lock for that, I think.

"She's" a lock

I'm absolutely SHOCKED to see some of your responses, I really didn't think I had a shot at many of the top schools at all.

Money is an important factor for me, but I think I will take the advice to leverage other acceptances for more bargaining power.

Thank you guys SO much!! It is great to get some tips from people who have already been through this.

Should have done your research, it'll help you in law school