Top Law Schools

I have a 169/3.74 with good softs. I've gotten into Duke ($), Emory ($$$), UGA ($$$), and Georgetown. WL'd at UVA, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, USC, Michigan & Penn and dinged by UC Berkeley and Stanford. I applied pretty late (mid January) and didn't make my applications school specific. Not sure where I want to practice, but CA or ATL are my main considerations. At this point I'm really excited about Duke, but I'm just wondering if y'all think I could do better money-wise and school-wise with another round of applying. Thanks!

randawg91 wrote:I have a 169/3.74 with good softs. I've gotten into Duke ($), Emory ($$$), UGA ($$$), and Georgetown. WL'd at UVA, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, USC, Michigan & Penn and dinged by UC Berkeley and Stanford. I applied pretty late (mid January) and didn't make my applications school specific. Not sure where I want to practice, but CA or ATL are my main considerations. At this point I'm really excited about Duke, but I'm just wondering if y'all think I could do better money-wise and school-wise with another round of applying. Thanks!

Definitely reapply. You have better stats than me (higher LSAT/slightly lower GPA) and I got into UCLA and USC with some $$.

If you want to practice in CA, then ideally shoot for Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, then USC in that order. In your case you've been waitlisted by all the top CA schools. Unless you really want to practice in Atlanta, then go to Emory with that scholarship. Otherwise definitely reapply.

EJL123 wrote:

randawg91 wrote:I have a 169/3.74 with good softs. I've gotten into Duke ($), Emory ($$$), UGA ($$$), and Georgetown. WL'd at UVA, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, USC, Michigan & Penn and dinged by UC Berkeley and Stanford. I applied pretty late (mid January) and didn't make my applications school specific. Not sure where I want to practice, but CA or ATL are my main considerations. At this point I'm really excited about Duke, but I'm just wondering if y'all think I could do better money-wise and school-wise with another round of applying. Thanks!

Definitely reapply. You have better stats than me (higher LSAT/slightly lower GPA) and I got into UCLA and USC with some $$.

If you want to practice in CA, then ideally shoot for Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, then USC in that order. In your case you've been waitlisted by all the top CA schools. Unless you really want to practice in Atlanta, then go to Emory with that scholarship. Otherwise definitely reapply.

Any of the top 3/6/8/whatever nationwide schools also place people in CA with regularity, so don't shy away from considering them if you do reapply. It's probably a bit easier to get a biglaw job in CA via Harvard than USC/UCLA. That said, OP sounds like they may be open to practicing elsewhere, anyway.

Odd that you got into some top schools and not USC/UCLA, though.

Do you have retakes left? 2 points makes you a contender at NYU and Columbia and 5 points puts you in the running at Harvard. Not to mention, you'll get more money from the T14.

NorCalLaw wrote:

EJL123 wrote:

randawg91 wrote:I have a 169/3.74 with good softs. I've gotten into Duke ($), Emory ($$$), UGA ($$$), and Georgetown. WL'd at UVA, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, USC, Michigan & Penn and dinged by UC Berkeley and Stanford. I applied pretty late (mid January) and didn't make my applications school specific. Not sure where I want to practice, but CA or ATL are my main considerations. At this point I'm really excited about Duke, but I'm just wondering if y'all think I could do better money-wise and school-wise with another round of applying. Thanks!

Definitely reapply. You have better stats than me (higher LSAT/slightly lower GPA) and I got into UCLA and USC with some $$.

If you want to practice in CA, then ideally shoot for Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, then USC in that order. In your case you've been waitlisted by all the top CA schools. Unless you really want to practice in Atlanta, then go to Emory with that scholarship. Otherwise definitely reapply.

Any of the top 3/6/8/whatever nationwide schools also place people in CA with regularity, so don't shy away from considering them if you do reapply. It's probably a bit easier to get a biglaw job in CA via Harvard than USC/UCLA. That said, OP sounds like they may be open to practicing elsewhere, anyway.

Odd that you got into some top schools and not USC/UCLA, though.

Yeah I really don't understand the USC/UCLA stuff, especially since I actually lived in Los Angeles for 7 years during middle school and high school. It's frustrating but eh.

Same advice from me as last time you posted. Either go to Duke or reapply if you aren't happy with your options. Since you're looking at zero debt no matter what, go to the best school you can for your goals.

jingosaur wrote:Do you have retakes left? 2 points makes you a contender at NYU and Columbia and 5 points puts you in the running at Harvard. Not to mention, you'll get more money from the T14.

Yep I've only taken it twice, and I was practice testing at about 174. So if I reapplied, I would need to wait another year before I begin school right? I've never really considered the gap year before, and wouldn't even know what to do with myself (although I'd figure something out I'm sure).

randawg91 wrote:

jingosaur wrote:Do you have retakes left? 2 points makes you a contender at NYU and Columbia and 5 points puts you in the running at Harvard. Not to mention, you'll get more money from the T14.

Yep I've only taken it twice, and I was practice testing at about 174. So if I reapplied, I would need to wait another year before I begin school right? I've never really considered the gap year before, and wouldn't even know what to do with myself (although I'd figure something out I'm sure).

If I were you, I would retake and reapply next year (apply earlier this time). You're lucky enough to have a family willing to foot the bill, so why not go to the best school possible.

randawg91 wrote:

NorCalLaw wrote:

EJL123 wrote:

randawg91 wrote:I have a 169/3.74 with good softs. I've gotten into Duke ($), Emory ($$$), UGA ($$$), and Georgetown. WL'd at UVA, NYU, Columbia, UCLA, USC, Michigan & Penn and dinged by UC Berkeley and Stanford. I applied pretty late (mid January) and didn't make my applications school specific. Not sure where I want to practice, but CA or ATL are my main considerations. At this point I'm really excited about Duke, but I'm just wondering if y'all think I could do better money-wise and school-wise with another round of applying. Thanks!

Definitely reapply. You have better stats than me (higher LSAT/slightly lower GPA) and I got into UCLA and USC with some $$.

If you want to practice in CA, then ideally shoot for Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, then USC in that order. In your case you've been waitlisted by all the top CA schools. Unless you really want to practice in Atlanta, then go to Emory with that scholarship. Otherwise definitely reapply.

Any of the top 3/6/8/whatever nationwide schools also place people in CA with regularity, so don't shy away from considering them if you do reapply. It's probably a bit easier to get a biglaw job in CA via Harvard than USC/UCLA. That said, OP sounds like they may be open to practicing elsewhere, anyway.

Odd that you got into some top schools and not USC/UCLA, though.

Yeah I really don't understand the USC/UCLA stuff, especially since I actually lived in Los Angeles for 7 years during middle school and high school. It's frustrating but eh.

I think it's pretty clear that you being waitlisted at USC and UCLA was a result of you being overqualified and not showing enough specific interest in the schools. I would bet that they just don't want to accept you until they know you're actually interested, as most people with your stats wouldn't be interested. I bet if you really wanted to, you could get off those waitlists and be offered huge scholly.