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Hello everyone,

I would like some feedback from my fellow TLSers regarding my situation. I was accepted to both Cornell and Vandy at sticker, and waitlisted at UVa. It looks increasingly clear that I will not be taken off the UVa waitlist. I am from the South (North Florida), and wish to work in the South (namely Atlanta) after school.

I have narrowed my choices to two:
- Attend Cornell at sticker (I've eliminated Vandy at sticker)
- Take another year off, blanket the T14, retake the LSAT (3rd attempt) in October, hope for a better score, and hope for scholarship money from Duke or UVA.

I wouldn't mind working in NYC for a few years to pay off loans, then lateral to the South, but I am unsure of how reasonable this option is.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Let me know if additional info is needed.

Eliminating Vandy and not eliminating Cornell if you want to be in Atlanta makes no sense.

My though: Cornell with no money > Vandy with no money.

nbj08 wrote:My though: Cornell with no money > Vandy with no money.

Sounds like your priorities are biglaw >>>>>>>>> Atlanta. So Cornell would be the better choice if that's the case.

Is your GPA really a 3.8? What was your LSAT score? I'm predicting retake

Stats: 3.85/165

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

When did you apply? Vandy at sticker is scary, and Cornell at sticker if you don't want NYC is scary.

alwayssunnyinfl wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

When did you apply? Vandy at sticker is scary, and Cornell at sticker if you don't want NYC is scary.

Applied in January. I know, it was stupid. My strategy and execution this cycle was poor.

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

Even with a 171+, I think H is out. They average LSATs, and a 165 screwed that up.

nbj08 wrote:

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

Even with a 171+, I think H is out. They average LSATs, and a 165 screwed that up.

That's not really true.

InGoodFaith wrote:

nbj08 wrote:

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

Even with a 171+, I think H is out. They average LSATs, and a 165 screwed that up.

That's not really true.

Well, if it isn't true, then that is good news.

nbj08 wrote:

alwayssunnyinfl wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

When did you apply? Vandy at sticker is scary, and Cornell at sticker if you don't want NYC is scary.

Applied in January. I know, it was stupid. My strategy and execution this cycle was poor.

Luckily, you can still retake and reapply. Retake in October, and if you don't improve much, ED UVA since you want the South.

Retake.
3 months to study for Oct LSAT + better application procedures will definitely profit you in the short, mid, and long-term.

Don't waste a 3.85

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

I did ED UVa, but was waitlisted. Their median for c/o '14 was a 3.86, so I was .01 away from what TLS usually says is a "lock" with ED.

If their median doesn't go down, would even a marginally improved LSAT make a difference? I suspect not.

For example, with a 3.85 and a 167, I think UVa would still be out. Best bet would be Duke. Obviously, if I retake, I'll be shooting for 170+.

nbj08 wrote:

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

I did ED UVa, but was waitlisted. Their median for c/o '14 was a 3.86, so I was .01 away from what TLS usually says is a "lock" with ED.

If their median doesn't go down, would even a marginally improved LSAT make a difference? I suspect not.

For example, with a 3.85 and a 167, I think UVa would still be out. Best bet would be Duke. Obviously, if I retake, I'll be shooting for 170+.

i feel like ull come off UVa waitlist, did u apply to duke this year?

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:

TLSwag wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

CMON no question. retake. with that gpa, study ur ass off (plenty of how to's on this forum), get a 171+, enjoy H or at least CCN with $ ... i'd kill for that GPA

did you ED uva? if not, prolly a mistake. i think u should try to retake for 170's, if it doesnt happen (i.e. don't improve/improve marginally), i'd do ED UVa

I did ED UVa, but was waitlisted. Their median for c/o '14 was a 3.86, so I was .01 away from what TLS usually says is a "lock" with ED.

If their median doesn't go down, would even a marginally improved LSAT make a difference? I suspect not.

For example, with a 3.85 and a 167, I think UVa would still be out. Best bet would be Duke. Obviously, if I retake, I'll be shooting for 170+.

i feel like ull come off UVa waitlist, did u apply to duke this year?

I'm doubting my prospects for UVa this year. Seems like no one is getting off unless you have a high LSAT. Regarding Duke, see my aforementioned comment about my stupidity.

[/quote]I'm doubting my prospects for UVa this year. Seems like no one is getting off unless you have a high LSAT. Regarding Duke, see my aforementioned comment about my stupidity.[/quote]

i think u would be doing urself a service by reapplying early next cycle, even if LSAT improvement is out of the question (which i really don't think it is for anyone). get ur apps in early and retake in october, see what happens. i think ull definitely have some better options for ur goals even with ur current 165 / 3.85 by applying earlier in the cycle and hitting up duke, etc. what about mich? don't know how that does for the south (someone else feel free to correct me) but they definitely have more national reach then cornell and i think an early app to UM is definitely possible for ur stats

nbj08 wrote:

alwayssunnyinfl wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

When did you apply? Vandy at sticker is scary, and Cornell at sticker if you don't want NYC is scary.

Applied in January. I know, it was stupid. My strategy and execution this cycle was poor.

Is applying in Jan really considered poor execution?

R86 wrote:Is applying in Jan really considered poor execution?

It helps to apply earlier than that. Probably before Thanksgiving would be best. It might be only the slightest advantage, but you should take every advantage you can get in the admissions process.

R86 wrote:

nbj08 wrote:

alwayssunnyinfl wrote:

nbj08 wrote:Stats: 3.85/165

When did you apply? Vandy at sticker is scary, and Cornell at sticker if you don't want NYC is scary.

Applied in January. I know, it was stupid. My strategy and execution this cycle was poor.

Is applying in Jan really considered poor execution?

Not necessarily. But I got my score in November and should have applied then, but I was discouraged. In hindsight, I did a lot of other things poorly, too.

retake + apply early = best idea on table....wasting a GPA over 3.8 without at least a 170 (maybe 169 in certain circumstances) is a sin. In your case, you're looking at a huge upside of decent scholly money with a 169/170+

I'll add to the chorus. Retake and apply early. Might be the easiest 100k you make in your life. Even 2 or 3 points + earlier application will give you a huge boost.

Also, the number of applicants continues to plummet. All signs point to a softer admissions cycle next year.

Thanks to everyone who replied. If anyone else has something to add, I'd like to hear it.

I'm getting the opposite advice from family, so everyone's encouragement is very helpful.

Definitely retake and reapply. With your GPA, getting into the upper 160s will give you multiple T14 acceptances, and probably some money. Like other people have said, if you get 170+ then you'll be T6 and have a shot at HYS.