. Forum

[sanetruth]

(maybe retake)

I don't think retaking a 173 is ever a good move, even if you're PTing higher.

The risk of scoring lower is greater than the marginal benefit one MIGHT get from a slightly higher score. Also, the only score that would make a difference for him would be 177-180, and that would only push him for a possibility at CCN. It's just not worth it.

[bk1]

To elaborate on why I said retake:

I didn't say it because I think having a 175 or whatever is going to make OP a statistically better candidate. The reason I said it might be worth considering is to have have a better application the second time around than the first. My thought being that if OP applied to lower T14's and got rejected or waitlisted, what will make them take OP next year with a basically identical application? I'm not actually sure if this is true or not, but I get the feeling that if OP reapplies with just a new PS and everything else is static that it may give the same results as this cycle. Improving by 2 points on the LSAT to a 175+ might be a way of sending in an improved application. It might not be. If OP is PT'ing in the high 170's, I could see a retake possibly being worth it for this reason. Then again, I could be wrong about the whole thing.

[sanetruth]

To elaborate on why I said retake:

I didn't say it because I think having a 175 or whatever is going to make OP a statistically better candidate. The reason I said it might be worth considering is to have have a better application the second time around than the first. My thought being that if OP applied to lower T14's and got rejected or waitlisted, what will make them take OP next year with a basically identical application? I'm not actually sure if this is true or not, but I get the feeling that if OP reapplies with just a new PS and everything else is static that it may give the same results as this cycle. Improving by 2 points on the LSAT to a 175+ might be a way of sending in an improved application. It might not be. If OP is PT'ing in the high 170's, I could see a retake possibly being worth it for this reason. Then again, I could be wrong about the whole thing.

If OP applied January or later this year, I'm pretty confident he will have better results if he applies in September/October next cycle with the exact same application.

[bk1]

If OP applied January or later this year, I'm pretty confident he will have better results if he applies in September/October next cycle with the exact same application.

I agree. But if OP didn't have glaring mistakes in the application and applied in October? That's why I said it was worth considering as a possibility.

[keg411]

If OP applied January or later this year, I'm pretty confident he will have better results if he applies in September/October next cycle with the exact same application.

I agree. But if OP didn't have glaring mistakes in the application and applied in October? That's why I said it was worth considering as a possibility.

If OP had no glaring mistakes and applied in October, there must be something else very wrong (like a criminal background or something). This cycle screams late application.

[buckilaw]

Gaining a year of work experience/volunteering is arguably a better way to send an improved application.

[flexityflex86]

the 3.2 is very low. a 173 and 3.2 can't do that much better than Vandy with a little cash all the time.

[bk1]

Gaining a year of work experience/volunteering is arguably a better way to send an improved application.

I don't disagree. But at application OP will likely be only 3 months or so removed from school so it is hard to send a big message with work exp. I'm not saying retake is definitely worth it, but I do think it is worth considering depending on the circumstances.

[bk1]

If OP had no glaring mistakes and applied in October, there must be something else very wrong (like a criminal background or something). This cycle screams late application.

Maybe. But I've seen some splitter cycles end up in limbo like this. Again I'm just saying don't write off retake so quickly.

[andyandy]

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[bk1]

Fair enough on retaking.

I'd probably sit out a year if I'd been locked out the the top 20, but I'm fairly happy with the options I have and plan to take one of them.

This, I just don't agree with this. You have a solid shot at lower T14's if you apply early, especially if you ED to one of them. I don't understand the haste to be WUSTL/GW/Vandy class of 2014 when you could be UVa/GULC/etc class of 2015 instead.

[keg411]

Fair enough on retaking.

I'd probably sit out a year if I'd been locked out the the top 20, but I'm fairly happy with the options I have and plan to take one of them.

This, I just don't agree with this. You have a solid shot at lower T14's if you apply early, especially if you ED to one of them. I don't understand the haste to be WUSTL/GW/Vandy class of 2014 when you could be UVa/GULC/etc class of 2015 instead.

+1

[Grizz]

That Vandy cash is pretty good for your numbers; they are NOT splitter friendly. They don't dip below a 3.3 very often for admits. If you apply with these same numbers next cycle, you could snag GULC maybe or UVA ED (probably the most likely to bite). Then you'd pay sticker at those, if you're down. That's what I see happening next cycle.

[sanetruth]

That Vandy cash is pretty good for your numbers; they are NOT splitter friendly. They don't dip below a 3.3 very often for admits. If you apply with these same numbers next cycle, you could snag GULC maybe or UVA ED (probably the most likely to bite). Then you'd pay sticker at those, if you're down. That's what I see happening next cycle.

No NU? There is a guy on LSN with OP's exact numbers and even a late application and got into Northwestern RD.

[bk1]

That Vandy cash is pretty good for your numbers; they are NOT splitter friendly. They don't dip below a 3.3 very often for admits. If you apply with these same numbers next cycle, you could snag GULC maybe or UVA ED (probably the most likely to bite). Then you'd pay sticker at those, if you're down. That's what I see happening next cycle.

20-30k seems kind of piddly to me though? Plus OP has what looks like 120k+ coming from the parentals so it wouldn't be sticker. I mean if OP wants public interest work in DC, it seems like a better deal to me to take UVa/GULC 80-90k versus Vandy at 60k. Unless I am somehow wrong in thinking that the gap between UVa/GULC and Vandy i/r/t public work and DC work is non-negligible.

[Grizz]

That Vandy cash is pretty good for your numbers; they are NOT splitter friendly. They don't dip below a 3.3 very often for admits. If you apply with these same numbers next cycle, you could snag GULC maybe or UVA ED (probably the most likely to bite). Then you'd pay sticker at those, if you're down. That's what I see happening next cycle.

20-30k seems kind of piddly to me though? Plus OP has what looks like 120k+ coming from the parentals so it wouldn't be sticker. I mean if OP wants public interest work in DC, it seems like a better deal to me to take UVa/GULC 80-90k versus Vandy at 60k. Unless I am somehow wrong in thinking that the gap between UVa/GULC and Vandy i/r/t public work and DC work is non-negligible.

Yeah I wasn't passing a value judgment either way. Just laying out the options. Reapplying might not be a terrible idea, and then we can go from there I guess.

[bk1]

Yeah I wasn't passing a value judgment either way. Just laying out the options. Reapplying might not be a terrible idea, and then we can go from there I guess.

Makes sense.

[Law Sauce]

Vandy is the best school here and at a very low cost. Have you visited. There is a lot of emphasis at vandy on matching people up with career service counselors who apparently have a lot of success getting people the jobs that they want. They do it in a very different and more substantial way that most of the other schools that i have looked into. While this doesn't make a big difference for biglaw, it may for pi, esp for interesting pi positions which are often in dc. A number of people seemed to have jobs like this lined up after graduation at vandy. Combine this with the prestige of the Vanderbilt name (even in dc) and the incredibly low price tag and I would be happy with this option even over a retake/ed. I can see gw at that price as well being a good option too but it is a different sort of trade-off that i dont see being worth the extra money (location v prestige and small class size/career people working for you.) others may be able to verify or nix this thought.

[stylishlaw]

I don't think retake is a good option here. Retaking is actually not a great choice for anyone <3.6 gpa since it simply doesn't open up nearly as many options as it would otherwise. OP also got 173 so I don't think that's the issue. Vandy is also unlikely to give any more cash next cycle since they calculate scholarship money primarily based off of GPA.

If you apply again next cycle, you'll lose a year but probably get into a few lower T14 schools with a chance at MVP. You'll most likely have to pay sticker.

It's up to you if it's worth the extra year.

[andyandy]

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