Northwestern ($150k), ride out waitlists, or reapply? Forum

[lunchmeat]

After a significant bump on my June LSAT (170 up from a 162), i have some great offers. I came off the waitlist at Northwestern and was offered a $150k. I have been accepted at UVA and am waiting to hear about scholarship money. I am still on the waitlists at Penn and Uchic.

I currently live in NYC. My goal is NYC biglaw, but who knows maybe I'll fall in love with Chicago? I know it's hard to say without knowing the details of my theoretical offers off of waitlists, but my major question is should I reapply? I can't help but think that before the June score I outperformed my low LSAT, and that now with the new score and my 3.9 gpa maybe HYS are a slim possibility. Major advantage of HYS fed clerkship possibility, currently not a factor at the schools I'm looking at. That said the minimal debt from NU is really comforting. Would Penn at a certain amount offer a significant advantage over NU? Does UVA's higher ranking give it the edge in NYC?

Other considerations, I am 29. Taking a year off and delaying my career further into my 30's is not that appealing. My age is also a consideration when it comes to debt, I am not working with the same cushion of mid-20s years to pay it off. Also, my girlfriend will be moving with me, so that's a major pro for Chicago over Charlottesville for her sake.

I just saw elsewhere on TLS that first time June LSAT takers were down 14%. I know it's a little crazy but I can't help but fear that if I go to NU this year, I will alwsys wonder, what if i reapplied?

[Tiago Splitter]

Northwestern offered you a 150k scholarship off the waitlist? Yeah I'd take that. Even if you waited you're still pretty unlikely to get into HYS.

[BigZuck]

I would just roll with NU here unless Penn or UVA matches (highly unlikely) and you would prefer them, or you really really want HYS. But, to get HYS you're probably going to have to retake again and score higher.

[goldenflash19]

Since your main goal is NYC biglaw, I'd take NU and the money here. Even if you'd get HYS or retake to get it, you'd likely wind up in the same situation with a hell of a lot more debt.

[TheSpanishMain]

Since your main goal is NYC biglaw, I'd take NU and the money here. Even if you'd get HYS or retake to get it, you'd likely wind up in the same situation with a hell of a lot more debt.

[Power_of_Facing]

Since your main goal is NYC biglaw, I'd take NU and the money here. Even if you'd get HYS or retake to get it, you'd likely wind up in the same situation with a hell of a lot more debt.

+1.
Your goals, 150k, a happy SO, and NU's more "mature" student body make this offer seem like a hell of a great fit. Congrats on the fantastic outcome!

Also, for the love of God, please (at some point in the future) use your admissions story to enlighten hasty 0Ls as to the value of a retake.

[whereskyle]

To my mind, it doesn't get much better than the terms you're looking at now. Especially considering that NU opens up Chicago as a possibility in addition to NYC. If SO becomes fiancee, you can really sell that tie. Plus, if you're concerned about Fed Clerkships, the placement rate is above 10%, when you account for the 20-30 JD-MBA's at NU each year. I just don't see many better options. (that's why I'm taking NU with 150k.) Congratulations, and good call on the retake. Hope to see you next month!

[Florence Night]

There are very few law school admissions outcomes as good as NU with basically no tuition, especially with your goals. Go enjoy the Gold Coast for a few years.

[jbagelboy]

Do northwestern. Congrats

[malleus discentium]

I just saw elsewhere on TLS that first time June LSAT takers were down 14%. I know it's a little crazy but I can't help but fear that if I go to NU this year, I will alwsys wonder, what if i reapplied?

The above posters are correct and you should def pick NU. I wanted to focus on this part, though. Do not wait a cycle betting the landscape will be better. That is a bad plan just in general, but also bad based on the evidence of last cycle. The number of LSAT takers may be declining, but 170+ applicants were up last cycle. If that trend continues, this cycle will be a tougher cycle than the last one. So while there is a legitimate argument to be made that if you applied this cycle with that 170 you may have a better outcome, it won't be be because the cycle was easier. Take NU and don't ever look back.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Congrats

Even out of HYS the only one that's worth considering over N w/ $150k is Y and I don't think your going to get that

Enjoy essentially debt free t14

[Chrstgtr]

Agreed the only thing that can beat a full-ride at N would be a full-ride at another T14 that better suits your goals or Y with max finaid (maybe?).

[Ti Malice]

Go to NU with no regrets. Given your goals, taking on large amounts of additional debt at H when you can go to NU tuition-free would be silly. And after waiting a year, you would still be far from a lock for admission to H (much less Y or S) with your numbers.