Trying to Narrow down my choices (URM) Forum

[jbalsamo]

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster here.

I'm a MA URM (3.3 GPA, 160 LSAT)

I had an LSAC Fee Waiver, and other CRS Fee Waiver's and ultimately applied to 25 law schools (I know it's a crazy amount, but I figure more options can't hurt)

My situation is that I have very strong ties to Boston and New York (from Long Island and Currently an Undergrad at BU) and I ultimately want to practice in Boston, NY, or DC. (Corporate, IP, Communications, of Sports/Entertainment Law being my main focus as of now)


Schools:

Harvard: Dinged
Columbia: Still Waiting (top Choice)
NYU: Dinged
UVA: Dinged
UPenn: Dinged
UC Berkley: Waiting
Duke: Waiting
Michigan: Waiting (Fee Waiver)
Cornell: Waiting
Georgetown: Waiting


Emory: Waiting
GW: Waiting
W & M: Held for further Review, Waiting
BU (Also a top choice): rejected, asked for reconsideration with higher LSAT score
Wake Forest: Admit, 15K (good academic standing stipulation)
BC: Waiting
Fordham: Waiting
UC Davis: Waiting
George Mason: Waiting

UMiami: Admit, No Scholarship Info Yet
Cardozo: 30K (no stipulations)
American: Admit, No scholarship Info Yet
Northeastern: 10k (+2,000 stipend)

St. John's: Full Ride, top 40% stipulations
Suffolk: Admit, No Scholarship or Fin Aid Info yet


Has anybody had success negotiating at any of these schools? I would really like to go to Northeastern, but I would need a larger award than their initial offer.

Any thoughts on my chances at schools I'm still waiting on?

Also any experience and recommendations among these schools would be immensely helpful. My Goal is to attend somewhere where my aid/scholarship and Federal Loans can cover tuition leaving me only to deal with rent/food and books out of pocket. (But I would consider a T14 at sticker )

Scholarships are yearly totals***

[ronanOgara]

Retake, get a 165, go t-14 or t1 for free...your goals don't match up with your choices right now

What URM are you?

[jbalsamo]

Retake, get a 165, go t-14 or t1 for free...your goals don't match up with your choices right now

What URM are you?

I'm Mexican-American.

And I have two LSAT attempts so far, 156, and 160 (second attempt) (up from 153 diagnostic), I was considering taking June in the event I am riding the Wait-list somewhere.

I know most schools would take the higher LSAT, but would a 165 as a third score be looked at in a more negative light?

As much as it goes against TLS to leave pts + a retake on the table, I am pretty set on enrolling for next fall, but I do see the logic in waiting for the next cycle as my applications are later in this cycle.

However, I really don't want to waste a year (which will ultimately be a year lost in legal experience) without any certainty I will actually do better or find a job and reasonably priced place to live in the meantime.

[Clearly]

Retake, get a 165, go t-14 or t1 for free...your goals don't match up with your choices right now

What URM are you?

I'm Mexican-American.

And I have two LSAT attempts so far, 156, and 160 (second attempt) (up from 153 diagnostic), I was considering taking June in the event I am riding the Wait-list somewhere.

I know most schools would take the higher LSAT, but would a 165 as a third score be looked at in a more negative light?

As much as it goes against TLS to leave pts + a retake on the table, I am pretty set on enrolling for next fall, but I do see the logic in waiting for the next cycle as my applications are later in this cycle.

However, I really don't want to waste a year (which will ultimately be a year lost in legal experience) without any certainty I will actually do better or find a job and reasonably priced place to live in the meantime.

Or, it'll be the difference between being a practicing attorney or not...

[LET'S GET IT]

None of these options are worth the money. You need to get into better schools or get much bigger scholarships from schools you have been admitted to before you consider attending this cycle. Not trying to be mean, but you need to hear that none of these are even close to being reasonable financial decisions. Good luck.

[jbalsamo]

None of these options are worth the money. You need to get into better schools or get much bigger scholarships from schools you have been admitted to before you consider attending this cycle. Not trying to be mean, but you need to hear that none of these are even close to being reasonable financial decisions. Good luck.

I agree. Wake Forest and Cardozo with 30K a year seem like my best options so far, but I'm still waiting on 14 schools.

I don't plan on going unless I get a price I can live with. Hopefully I will find that offer this cycle.

[Mack.Hambleton]

As of now your options are all generally terrible schools, none of which have given you full rides. (not to mention many are regional schools not in the region you want to work in; why would you apply to UC Davis or Miami??)

The only logical choice is to retake and reapply, or don't go to law school at all.

[drawstring]

How did your LSAT studying go?

I know of several people who scored in the high 160s and even low 170s after starting with a diagnostic in the lower 150s. You mention that you don't want to wait a year, but your options right now are fairly poor in terms of likely employment outcomes, and getting a higher score--even if just in the mid 160s-- could more than make up for whatever time you lose reapplying.

[Big Dog]

trying to narrow down my choices...

Simple: none of the above. (Retake is the only answer.)

[jbalsamo]

How did your LSAT studying go?

I know of several people who scored in the high 160s and even low 170s after starting with a diagnostic in the lower 150s. You mention that you don't want to wait a year, but your options right now are fairly poor in terms of likely employment outcomes, and getting a higher score--even if just in the mid 160s-- could more than make up for whatever time you lose reapplying.

I started out with 153 diagnostic in the Spring last year. I started taking a couple of weekend last classes and in the summer I signed up for Manhatten LSAT Interact. I started out just taking a lot of old tests and I drilled the bibles. I was pting between 151-160 and 156 was my average.

I also watched through video lessons drilled my wrong answers.

I took the Dec test and got a 156. Over winter break I prepped a lot more and averaged a 161 (160-164) on 7 pt exams.

In total I took 21 full 5 section exams (49-70)

I average around 20 on every section except LG games (ranged from 12-17 and I only hit 12 on the Dec exam)

I usually only finish 3 questions.

[Nova]

And I have two LSAT attempts so far, 156, and 160 (second attempt) (up from 153 diagnostic), I was considering taking June in the event I am riding the Wait-list somewhere.

Retake in june no matter what. You will regret leaving bullets in the chamber.

I know most schools would take the higher LSAT, but would a 165 as a third score be looked at in a more negative light

No. it would be looked at as a game changer.

[Nova]

As a URM with a not terrible GPA, if you can hit LSAT medians, you can pretty much write your own ticket to any regional school with a scholarship.

[iamgeorgebush]

NOT VOTING B/C NONE OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE CREDITED.

[superflush]

I don't plan on going unless I get a price I can live with. Hopefully I will find that offer this cycle.

It sounds like you have things under control for the most part. As others have said, I would plan as if you will take the June LSAT, and if you happen to get a game-changing admission, then take it.

Cardozo, even with a small scholarship will be expensive given the cost of living. I don't think Wake aligns with your goals either.

[drawstring]

How did your LSAT studying go?

I know of several people who scored in the high 160s and even low 170s after starting with a diagnostic in the lower 150s. You mention that you don't want to wait a year, but your options right now are fairly poor in terms of likely employment outcomes, and getting a higher score--even if just in the mid 160s-- could more than make up for whatever time you lose reapplying.

I started out with 153 diagnostic in the Spring last year. I started taking a couple of weekend last classes and in the summer I signed up for Manhatten LSAT Interact. I started out just taking a lot of old tests and I drilled the bibles. I was pting between 151-160 and 156 was my average.

I also watched through video lessons drilled my wrong answers.

I took the Dec test and got a 156. Over winter break I prepped a lot more and averaged a 161 (160-164) on 7 pt exams.

In total I took 21 full 5 section exams (49-70)

I average around 20 on every section except LG games (ranged from 12-17 and I only hit 12 on the Dec exam)

I usually only finish 3 questions.

How much content of PTS 1-70 haven't you seen yet? Significant gains can absolutely be made even after 20 PTs.

[jbalsamo]

I haven't seen to many of the tests before 49, so there is some older material out there for me to work with.

I think as of now what I will do is wait this cycle out and attempt to use my competing offers to negotiate the best offer and deposit there. Meanwhile I will accept any offers to be placed on wait-lists and use the June LSAT to try and get off them or leverage even better scholarship money.

If I get a game-changing LSAT score, then I can make and informed decision on whether or not to wait for the next cycle and start fresh. But either way I won't be leaving points or an attempt on the board.