Cycle didn’t go as planned… Forum

[Jen Loblaw]

So I was pretty confident that I would get into a lot more schools than I ended up getting into. I was waitlisted at a lot of schools, but I’m not really counting on getting into those. My options are Wisconsin, UIUC (15k/yr), or GW, and my interest is patent law with no preference of area in the US.

Recently I’ve been leaning towards working for a couple of years first. My undergrad degree is chemical engineering, so I’m pretty confident I could get a decent job and save some money. My LSAT ended up being on the lower end of my practice test range, so I think I could definitely use the time to raise that.

I’m pretty sure I know what everyone on these forums will advise me to do, but just to make sure, which one of these options do you think I should pick?
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Edit: I visited GW for ASD and I absolutely loved it and DC. Going to GW will not put me into any debt, although I am still trying to be money-conscious. Does that change people's opinions at all?

[FiveSermon]

I've been hearing that GW is great for IP. But I'm just a clueless 0L.

[androstan]

I've been hearing that GW is great for IP. But I'm just a clueless 0L.

I heard this too, from someone else who heard it.

[Aberzombie1892]

Assuming you are not instate at Wisconsin, ignore it.

UIUC (with money) vs. GW.

I would say focus on keeping your debt low. If that means UIUC, so be it.

Working for a few years would be nice, but if you did so, I would recommend the MBA route. An engineering undergrad (with engineering work experience) and an MBA is very valuable (arguably more so than an engineering undergrad and a law degree).

[buckilaw]

Work, retake, and reapply. With a 3.9+ in a hard science you should be able to find a good job. What's more, if you can improve your LSAT score and reapply with substantive work experience you will have a good shot at most of the T14.

[bk1]

Work, retake, and reapply. With a 3.9+ in a hard science you should be able to find a good job. What's more, if you can improve your LSAT score and reapply with substantive work experience you will have a good shot at most of the T14.

[FiveSermon]

Work, retake, and reapply. With a 3.9+ in a hard science you should be able to find a good job. What's more, if you can improve your LSAT score and reapply with substantive work experience you will have a good shot at most of the T14.

After seeing your numbers TITCR.

Worst comes to worst and your LSAT score doesn't improve you can always ED to UVA.

[HeavenWood]

Work, retake, and reapply. With a 3.9+ in a hard science you should be able to find a good job. What's more, if you can improve your LSAT score and reapply with substantive work experience you will have a good shot at most of the T14.

After seeing your numbers TITCR.

Worst comes to worst and your LSAT score doesn't improve you can always ED to UVA.

Or Penn!

Good luck, numbers twin.

[Jen Loblaw]

I figured that's how the opinions would go... Any others out there?

[splitmuch]

You have a 3.94. If you don't retake, I will shoot you.

[bk1]

I figured that's how the opinions would go... Any others out there?

Asking TLS whether you should retake is like asking a bunch of crackwhores whether you should do more crack.

[Jen Loblaw]

I figured that's how the opinions would go... Any others out there?

Asking TLS whether you should retake is like asking a bunch of crackwhores whether you should do more crack.

Ha good point

[Grizz]

Work, retake, and reapply. With a 3.9+ in a hard science you should be able to find a good job. What's more, if you can improve your LSAT score and reapply with substantive work experience you will have a good shot at most of the T14.

This, or just be an engineer.

[Jen Loblaw]

bump

[jarofsoup]

Got some dam good wait list. I was a big fan of GWU. I would plan to go their and see how the wait list turns out.


If you want to work for a few years get some experience in the field of patent law you want to work in. Like if you want to to biotech work for a pharma company.

Best of luck.

[bdubs]

GW + no debt + IP = pretty good option

I would take it unless you have a sweet and/or moderately lucrative job lined up.

[bk1]

How are you going to be debt free coming from GW? Burning through your savings?

[bfaiken]

Retake and, more importantly, re-apply. I'd have someone review your application too, as you did not do as well as your numbers would suggest. We have VERY similar numbers, and I'm in at UVA with $$, Boalt, and Penn and WL'd to Harvard and Stanford. I've been out of school for several years and have what I think are pretty strong softs, but still. I think you can do better than what you've done even if your numbers stay the same. Get that LSAT up a few points though, and your options will be significantly better.

As long as you can get a solid job next year, it never hurts to make a little $$ and take another shot at it. The return on investment will be enormous if you go from IUIC/GW to T14, much less a T6 (which isn't out of the question).

I guess the one caveat is that if you can go to GW with no debt, that's a perfectly good option. I'm just confused what exactly that means.

[firemed]

retake. I hate saying that, but srsly, probably worth it to you, considering. Get a job for a year in engineering while you go through your cycle though.

[Jen Loblaw]

I have a family member who is very supportive of my education and luckily has the financial means to help me out.

[MyManKanye]

You seem to have something going on with your app to be in those kind of situations with those stats. My cycle was a little better and my gpa was much worse than yours by more than my LSAT is better. I think you should take someone else's advice and have someone in the know look at your app.

Then again if you can go to GW debt free somehow (parents? savings? why only GW?) you should consider that. GW with an interest in patent will get you some sort of job in DC. Then again I don't know that the industry is clamoring for Chem E patents, but maybe there is a demand for it.

[bfaiken]

I have a family member who is very supportive of my education and luckily has the financial means to help me out.

Well that presumably means they would help you out at T14 as well, correct? Personally, I really think it's worth it to take a year, re-take, and go all out. I was in a similar situation to you a few years ago. I'd taken the LSAT undergrad and not done as well as I hoped. I was getting ready to apply to some schools in the 20-40 range, but my father (Partner at a law firm) convinced me to put some time in to pulling up my score. I took his advice, and I'm really happy I did.

The schools you are looking at are fine, solid law schools. But you are passing up an enormous opportunity if you settle for them. And again, I think you can do better than you've done even with your current numbers. Pull your LSAT up and apply early October. It's only a slight inconvenience now that will pay huge dividends down the road.

[enron123]

I would reapply, given your current numbers if you apply early and tweak your application you should have better sticker options. Obviously a few points on the LSAT would do wonders but another roll of the dice would probably get you something better...does anyone not have a good IP program in the T30?

[bhan87]

Get a job, retake in a few years, and go to Berkeley is TCR

[bk1]

I have a family member who is very supportive of my education and luckily has the financial means to help me out.

(Assuming this is a gift and not an interest free loan, and assuming they would pay for any school you got.)

If this offer will still exist next year and you do feel guilty about taking it, you should retake/reapply.

If this offer will still exist next year and you don't feel guilty about taking it, I would at least try your luck at retaking/reapplying.

If this offer won't exist next year and you don't feel guilty about taking it, go to GW this year.