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Here is my dilemma: I'd love to go for the new full ride ED option from Northwestern. Since it is new I really have no idea if I even have a chance, but a full ride there would be an ideal outcome. On the other hand, my numbers are such that if I don't ED to the University of Chicago I probably won't get in. So the question is whether I should significantly upgrade my chances at Chicago or go for broke with the new Northwestern ED.

Career goal: Biglaw

Numbers: Above 75th% LSAT at both schools, GPA closer to Northwestern's 25th% (3.4) than Chicago's 25th% (3.7).

How old are you and do you have WE?

2014 wrote:How old are you and do you have WE?

Old. 5 years WE.

Is your GPA below both 25ths?

Samara wrote:Is your GPA below both 25ths?

In between the two actually. Around 3.5

Tiago Splitter wrote:Here is my dilemma: I'd love to go for the new full ride ED option from Northwestern. Since it is new I really have no idea if I even have a chance, but a full ride there would be an ideal outcome. On the other hand, my numbers are such that if I don't ED to the University of Chicago I probably won't get in. So the question is whether I should significantly upgrade my chances at Chicago or go for broke with the new Northwestern ED.

Career goal: Biglaw

Numbers: Above 75th% LSAT at both schools, GPA closer to Northwestern's 25th% (3.4) than Chicago's 25th% (3.7).

I would ED to U of Chicago. I'm guessing that the full-ride NU ED is going to be used for people who have HYS numbers, but want to stay in Chicago or like the area and want to minimize debt. Honestly, I doubt you have a shot.

Do we know how many of the full rides they're giving out?

Yeah. Cynical me says NU isn't going to spend a full ride on a splitter. Normally you'd have nothing to lose by EDing, but in this case you do lose the opportunity to ED Chicago (or elsewhere).

soj wrote:Yeah. Cynical me says NU isn't going to spend a full ride on a splitter.

I don't know if it's cynical. It just makes sense from the school's point of view. They want to snatch away people who might be competitive for the Darrow or other T10 full-ride.

Helmholtz wrote:

soj wrote:Yeah. Cynical me says NU isn't going to spend a full ride on a splitter.

I don't know if it's cynical. It just makes sense from the school's point of view. They want to snatch away people who might be competitive for the Darrow or other T10 full-ride.

I agree. By "cynical" I meant the school cares more about its LSAT/GPA medians than about other factors, so "realistic" is the better term.

Helmholtz wrote:

Tiago Splitter wrote:Here is my dilemma: I'd love to go for the new full ride ED option from Northwestern. Since it is new I really have no idea if I even have a chance, but a full ride there would be an ideal outcome. On the other hand, my numbers are such that if I don't ED to the University of Chicago I probably won't get in. So the question is whether I should significantly upgrade my chances at Chicago or go for broke with the new Northwestern ED.

Career goal: Biglaw

Numbers: Above 75th% LSAT at both schools, GPA closer to Northwestern's 25th% (3.4) than Chicago's 25th% (3.7).

I would ED to U of Chicago. I'm guessing that the full-ride NU ED is going to be used for people who have HYS numbers, but want to stay in Chicago or like the area and want to minimize debt. Honestly, I doubt you have a shot.

+1 NU is not using this to get applicants that split their medians, they are going after the people that they usually give 150K to but don't know how many of them will take it because those people are also in at HYS.

Why ED anywhere if you want $$? Apply regular admission to NU, UChi, but also GULC, Mich, UVa, Penn, etc, then hope someone gives you leverage money, or that NU just tosses you a little money straight off.

IAFG wrote:Why ED anywhere if you want $$? Apply regular admission to NU, UChi, but also GULC, Mich, UVa, Penn, etc, then hope someone gives you leverage money, or that NU just tosses you a little money straight off.

I'm not that worried about money, but graduating from a T-14 with zero debt is incredibly attractive. Until Chicago's new numbers came out I wasn't going to ED anywhere, but they are my first choice.

I figured when the announcement came out that they'd look for candidates above both medians. Johann said they'd likely admit splitters and reverse splitters through the ED process but he's probably just blowing smoke.

Tiago Splitter wrote:

IAFG wrote:Why ED anywhere if you want $$? Apply regular admission to NU, UChi, but also GULC, Mich, UVa, Penn, etc, then hope someone gives you leverage money, or that NU just tosses you a little money straight off.

I'm not that worried about money, but graduating from a T-14 with zero debt is incredibly attractive. Until Chicago's new numbers came out I wasn't going to ED anywhere, but they are my first choice.

I figured when the announcement came out that they'd look for candidates above both medians. Johann said they'd likely admit splitters and reverse splitters through the ED process but he's probably just blowing smoke.

He probably meant URM splitters. He's not really the "blowing smoke" type IMO.

Your work experience & LSAT score should attract positive attention from NU's admissions committee, in my opinion. Apply ED to Northwestern because the realistic chance at a full tuition scholarship at a top 14 law school that is among your top choice law schools is worth the sacrifice of EDing elsewhere.

CanadianWolf wrote:Your work experience & LSAT score should attract positive attention from NU's admissions committee, in my opinion. Apply ED to Northwestern because the realistic chance at a full tuition scholarship at a top 14 law school that is among your top choice law schools is worth the sacrifice of EDing elsewhere.

I'm not super familiar with the new policy; if OP doesn't get the fullride, will they ding him, or convert him to RD and then admit him (with less or no money)?

IAFG wrote:

CanadianWolf wrote:Your work experience & LSAT score should attract positive attention from NU's admissions committee, in my opinion. Apply ED to Northwestern because the realistic chance at a full tuition scholarship at a top 14 law school that is among your top choice law schools is worth the sacrifice of EDing elsewhere.

I'm not super familiar with the new policy; if OP doesn't get the fullride, will they ding him, or convert him to RD and then admit him (with less or no money)?

Most likely convert to RD.

ED UChicago. If it really is your #1 and given what has been said about the NU ED option, then I don't see why you wouldn't. (Note: I may be biased. I attend UChicago)

Is Chicago's new GPA 25th really 3.7? Their 2013 25th was 3.59.

Option #1: ED to NU, likely rollover into RD, and forever wonder what could've happened with an ED app to UChi
Option #2: ED to Chi, get admitted (via ED or rollover RD), and never look back
Option #3: ED to Chi, get rejected, and wonder if NU would've given you the ED

All things considered, it's looking to me like the prospect of Option #2 makes an ED to Chi worth it. I don't see NU giving you the ED scholly, but we have not yet seen how their new strategy will actually play out. You would be our guinea pig.

UnamSanctam wrote:Option #1: ED to NU, likely rollover into RD, and forever wonder what could've happened with an ED app to UChi
Option #2: ED to Chi, get admitted (via ED or rollover RD), and never look back
Option #3: ED to Chi, get rejected, and wonder if NU would've given you the ED

All things considered, it's looking to me like the prospect of Option #2 makes an ED to Chi worth it. I don't see NU giving you the ED scholly, but we have not yet seen how their new strategy will actually play out. You would be our guinea pig.

This about sums it up, but even if option 2 plays out I'd still be curious about NW. Of course, this happens to ED candidates every year.

Whats the employment situation like out of NU this year? It seemed like nearly every NU kid at my V5 offer dinner was in the AJD or JD/MBA program.

Transferthrowaway wrote:Whats the employment situation like out of NU this year? It seemed like nearly every NU kid at my V5 offer dinner was in the AJD or JD/MBA program.

I don't think the employment situation is any worse than in previous years and probably better, not sure what the attendees of your V5 offer dinner would have to do with the general employment situation.

D-hops wrote:

Transferthrowaway wrote:Whats the employment situation like out of NU this year? It seemed like nearly every NU kid at my V5 offer dinner was in the AJD or JD/MBA program.

I don't think the employment situation is any worse than in previous years and probably better, not sure what the attendees of your V5 offer dinner would have to do with the general employment situation.

Also, AJDs haven't seemed to get any bump in the past, so that sounds pretty irrelevant. Also, I know of multiple regular JDs who got offers from every V5 except WLRK.

If the V5 was Cravath, it's worth noting they have a terrible reputation here. I heard both the NU people who ultimately summered there last year turned down their offers and will be going elsewhere.

IAFG wrote:

Tiago Splitter wrote:

IAFG wrote:Why ED anywhere if you want $$? Apply regular admission to NU, UChi, but also GULC, Mich, UVa, Penn, etc, then hope someone gives you leverage money, or that NU just tosses you a little money straight off.

I'm not that worried about money, but graduating from a T-14 with zero debt is incredibly attractive. Until Chicago's new numbers came out I wasn't going to ED anywhere, but they are my first choice.

I figured when the announcement came out that they'd look for candidates above both medians. Johann said they'd likely admit splitters and reverse splitters through the ED process but he's probably just blowing smoke.

He probably meant URM splitters. He's not really the "blowing smoke" type IMO.

I don't know that he was meaning to say that splitters would be be accepted through ED. I think he was speaking to the applicant pool as a whole as a response to those of use who are terrified that the new ED plan will result in splitters not even getting in via RD. However, if they were going to take splitters via ED, you'd be a prime candidate. This is a tough choice, man. I think I'm leaning towards ED to Chicago, just because that choice has fewer unknowns and the $150k is nice, but is less valuable when you look at the long-term view (assuming biglaw and whatnot).

crumpetsandtea wrote:

IAFG wrote:

CanadianWolf wrote:Your work experience & LSAT score should attract positive attention from NU's admissions committee, in my opinion. Apply ED to Northwestern because the realistic chance at a full tuition scholarship at a top 14 law school that is among your top choice law schools is worth the sacrifice of EDing elsewhere.

I'm not super familiar with the new policy; if OP doesn't get the fullride, will they ding him, or convert him to RD and then admit him (with less or no money)?

Most likely convert to RD.

Yeah, if you don't get the full ride, you can either get waitlisted, moved to RD, or dinged outright. For OP, I also would assume RD.