Top Law Schools

(174/3.9, for context) My Harvard application has been complete since December 04 and I still haven't gotten JS1. It's hitting the point that if I'm not contacted within another couple weeks, I'd assume a rejection or WL is coming. Is it worth waiting to reapply next cycle? I've gotten into NYU, Penn, and Cornell so far and I feel like I'd be ok with NYU, but Harvard is still my top choice. I'm just not sure if waiting a year will make a difference or if I'll just be wasting time that I could be starting school.

Why don't you wait until you get a decision at H before you assume failure? Then you can decide. It may be an easier choice than you think.

With those numbers I cannot think of a reason to sit out a year and reapply. How could you improve on 174/3.9? Go with the best offer you get in this cycle and if it's not Harvard so be it.

R2D7point5 wrote:(174/3.9, for context) My Harvard application has been complete since December 04 and I still haven't gotten JS1. It's hitting the point that if I'm not contacted within another couple weeks, I'd assume a rejection or WL is coming. Is it worth waiting to reapply next cycle? I've gotten into NYU, Penn, and Cornell so far and I feel like I'd be ok with NYU, but Harvard is still my top choice. I'm just not sure if waiting a year will make a difference or if I'll just be wasting time that I could be starting school.

Did you apply to Stanford, Chicago, or Columbia? Unless you have a specific reason to want NYU(did you apply to one of the named scholarships?) over those three, they are generally better options.

I did not apply for a named scholarship at NYU. I applied to Chicago and Columbia. I have no interest in going to California for school so I did not apply to Stanford, and I'd prefer not to be in Chicago either. I have an interview with Chicago on Monday, but I live 3.5 hours from NYC (in PA) and I would prefer to stay in the Northeast. I haven't heard from Columbia either so that's why I've pretty much decided on NYU if not Harvard or Columbia because I'm mainly interested in the NY market.

R2D7point5 wrote:I did not apply for a named scholarship at NYU. I applied to Chicago and Columbia. I have no interest in going to California for school so I did not apply to Stanford, and I'd prefer not to be in Chicago either. I have an interview with Chicago on Monday, but I live 3.5 hours from NYC (in PA) and I would prefer to stay in the Northeast. I haven't heard from Columbia either so that's why I've pretty much decided on NYU if not Harvard or Columbia because I'm mainly interested in the NY market.

You'll definitely get into CLS. And you still might get into Harvard. Wait a few months for all your acceptances/rejections (and your scholarship money) to come in, and then come back here and ask for advice.

NUDad wrote:With those numbers I cannot think of a reason to sit out a year and reapply. How could you improve on 174/3.9? Go with the best offer you get in this cycle and if it's not Harvard so be it.

It's not about improving numbers at this point. Maybe he works on a more convincing app and reapplies. Maybe he applied late and would be better off early in the cycle. Your numbers should get you H, so if that's really what you want and you don't get in, it's reasonable to sit out and reapply. For instance I applied quite late one cycle, and got into several T14s, but realized that just by applying earlier I'd be better off, and I sat and submitted the exact same application and did better.

I applied the week before Thanksgiving. I'd gladly sit out if I knew for sure I'd get Harvard next cycle. The main reason I'm hesitating is that I'm already 24 and I really don't want to be 28 when I graduate (it seems stupid for only a year difference), especially since nothing is guaranteed to change next year. Also, props for the Mets picture. I was PTing in the high 170s, so I considered a retake but I just can't afford not to work for another 3 months and deal with all of the stress related issues I had studying the first time so I decided I should stick with the 174. Numbers definitely won't change for next time.

Depends on your goals. For big law in NYC or the northeast, I probably wouldn't sit out a cycle to try for H. For other goals, it would be a case by case thing.

Main goal is big law for a few years (interested in IP) followed by moving in house with a telecom or tech company (work for one of the big 2 in telecom now). NYU could get me there, but goals also change and I do appreciate the flexibility a higher ranked school may offer me. No lofty goals of saving the environment, freeing the orcas, or anything cool like that. I worked for my state's legislature as a part-time employee for six months while in college and hated the politics of it all (ironic because I'm a political science major), but because of that experience I don't see myself going into politics or back into government most likely either.

NYU Class of 2015 here.

I absolutely love NYU, but do not go to NYU with a 174/3.9. Just hang in there and surely you'll end up with Harvard and/or $$ from CLS.

R2D7point5 wrote:(174/3.9, for context) My Harvard application has been complete since December 04 and I still haven't gotten JS1. It's hitting the point that if I'm not contacted within another couple weeks, I'd assume a rejection or WL is coming. Is it worth waiting to reapply next cycle? I've gotten into NYU, Penn, and Cornell so far and I feel like I'd be ok with NYU, but Harvard is still my top choice. I'm just not sure if waiting a year will make a difference or if I'll just be wasting time that I could be starting school.

Your worrying is really premature. I applied around the same time as you last year and got my JS1 in mid-February. Once you've already applied, it's just not constructive to browse the waiting threads and get stressed about things coming early or late relative to others. Come back in mid-April if you haven't heard.

hlsperson123 wrote:

R2D7point5 wrote:(174/3.9, for context) My Harvard application has been complete since December 04 and I still haven't gotten JS1. It's hitting the point that if I'm not contacted within another couple weeks, I'd assume a rejection or WL is coming. Is it worth waiting to reapply next cycle? I've gotten into NYU, Penn, and Cornell so far and I feel like I'd be ok with NYU, but Harvard is still my top choice. I'm just not sure if waiting a year will make a difference or if I'll just be wasting time that I could be starting school.

Your worrying is really premature. I applied around the same time as you last year and got my JS1 in mid-February. Once you've already applied, it's just not constructive to browse the waiting threads and get stressed about things coming early or late relative to others. Come back in mid-April if you haven't heard.

That seems to be the consensus. I tend to plan for the worst and pre-worry. I'll try to chill for a couple of months though. I think I can do that.

.

mujiali wrote:Yeah, I applied last year right after the new year, and got a JS2 the first week of March.
Chill, and don't make decisions before you have decisions to make.

That's like sixty days to get JS2 though. I've been waiting longer than that for just JS1.