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I'm asking for a friend. Thank you again TLSers for your time... you've already helped me with my previous thread

My friend's words:

"I am deposited at a lower-T14 which has offered me $90k in scholarships over three years. I've recently decided that for personal reasons I want to delay law school for another year. I'm pretty sure I can't defer at this point and I definitely will lose my scholarships.

This school is also in the middle of nowhere and i REALLY wanted to live in a big city!

Also, their recent employment stats make me nervous, I am big law or bust so I would like to maximize those chances

Am I making a huge mistake if I just re-apply? I am considering EDing to a T6 next year or Penn. I would also be happier with NW + $$ but they held me last cycle and only accepted me when all the money was gone

Basically, I don't expect an upgrade if I re-apply, I am really looking for a lateral move. What I don't want is to end up WORSE off.

Also, how should I put it to this school that I want to wait another year so they don't hate me when I re-apply?

BTW my results last cycle: Got into one of MVP, got into NW late as I said, got into two other lower T-14, waitlisted everywhere else from H on down.

Stats are 3.45 and a 178+ so retake is out of the question.

I know how stupid this could look if I throw away nearly 100k, and I know objectively I should probably go, but even with that scholarship its still monstrous debt and I don't know how I can pay that much for a LS im not enthusiastic about attending."

Duke is a great school and he is getting it at a great price

Your friend didn't get into NYU or Penn this cycle? That's pretty surprising.

DwightSchruteFarms wrote:Duke is a great school and he is getting it at a great price

Think it's Cornell. $90K seems a little high for a sub-3.5 GPA at Duke, though it's certainly possible.

I think this comes down to: A) how important is taking the year off? B) Would OP prefer sticker at NYU or Penn to his/her current situation? An ED would make that likely, I think.

NU with money is likely, but OP may very well not get more than $60K or so.

If it's $90K at Duke, that sounds really good to me, though, and without knowing more about the circumstances, I'd say suck it up and go. That's better than NYU at sticker.

I would take Duke or Cornell with 90k over NYU or Penn at sticker.
If they want to wait though next year should be no more competitive and this offer should be there plus potentially 45-60k offers at "better" schools.

i love the obsession with anonymity

you're not even a law student, just an applicant, and you have your friend post your question on an anonymous message board

"lower T14"

With a 179 or 180 LSAT (178+) and a 3.45 GPA, you should do well next cycle--but you did quite well this cycle whether the law school is Cornell, Duke or Michigan.

If you reapply, do you plan to ED to Northwestern ?

This question comes down to what your doing this year. If you enjoy it wait. If your anxious to start this phase of your life go.

Thats about it...

Adding to the choir, next cycle should be at least the same (and most likely better) for both admissions and $$. Especially for those with an upper 170 score.

^He appreciates the responses.

Doorkeeper wrote:Your friend didn't get into NYU or Penn this cycle? That's pretty surprising.

Nope. Not sure why NYU really doesn't like him though.

CanadianWolf wrote:With a 179 or 180 LSAT (178+) and a 3.45 GPA, you should do well next cycle--but you did quite well this cycle whether the law school is Cornell, Duke or Michigan.

If you reapply, do you plan to ED to Northwestern ?

That's one of his options. He knows he probably won't get the 150k, but he's hoping to use it to show them interest and potentially get money after deferral.

Edit: just do it--go now.

For what it's worth, Penn strongly disfavors reapplicants that were previously denied.

"Applicants who are denied admission may reapply to Penn Law in a subsequent year. It should be noted, however, that candidates are unlikely to be admitted unless there is some significant change since their previous application."

http://www.law.upenn.edu/prospective/jd ... ml#reapply

Looks like Columbia or NYU should've given him some love.
http://myLSN.info/dispresults.php?sk=apxxw

It seems Penn doesn't like the heavy splitters as much.

If he got 90k at UVA, Michigan or Duke, I say go for that unless he has a comfy job that he can sit out a year with.

Cornell with 90k is also great if he wants NYC biglaw, but no so good if he has other aspirations.

ITE I would take lower T14 with 90k over T6 with sticker any day of the week.

This has to be Cornell. Duke has a hard 3.5 floor (and doesnt give out more than 70k i dont think). Also, Michigan doesn't have a 90k scholarship that it regularly gives out.