Top Law Schools

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What are your career goals?

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I voted retake, though keep in mind I'm another 0L. I would like to preface by saying you don't necessarily know how much aid you will get, so this thread is IMO slightly premature. However, unless you get over 150k, I would still vote retake because the upside of retaking is just so high, and there are really no downsides other than starting law school a year later. But, since you're a KJD, that could end up being a plus: Not only because you'll get some time off of school/can get some work experience, but your GPA might rise. And the GPA rise combined with a potentially higher LSAT could net you some way better offers.

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I agree with the above poster re: upsides and no downsides. Trust your instincts and retake the LSAT. That is 100% the right thing to do here unless Cornell gives you an incredible scholarship offer.

I doubt Cornell places better than Duke in NYC but am open to being proven wrong. Higher percentage placed doesn't necessarily mean firms privilege one school over another.

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BigZuck wrote:I agree with the above poster re: upsides and no downsides. Trust your instincts and retake the LSAT. That is 100% the right thing to do here unless Cornell gives you an incredible scholarship offer.

wouldn't the downside be the risk of not getting a Cornell offer next cycle if I don't improve my score? or is the possibility of this not significant enough to warrant concern?

proteinshake wrote:

BigZuck wrote:I agree with the above poster re: upsides and no downsides. Trust your instincts and retake the LSAT. That is 100% the right thing to do here unless Cornell gives you an incredible scholarship offer.

wouldn't the downside be the risk of not getting a Cornell offer next cycle if I don't improve my score? or is the possibility of this not significant enough to warrant concern?

I don't think it's that significant, I would just write a solid addendum and/or email when you withdraw saying that you wanted to take a year off to get some work experience but you love the school, blah blah

Yeah, you should probably retake.

First of all, I doubt you get 100K with a 167, being K-JD, and getting admitted at this stage of the cycle. I predict more like 60K.

Second, even if you did get 90K or something, it sounds like you could definitely improve a lot on the LSAT if you retake and get more $$ and/or another school you'd prefer. Even if you don't improve, you'd likely still get into Cornell with an earlier app and some WE--especially if you do what Zuck advised. And the time off would probably be good for you; law school's not going anywhere.

Lavitz wrote:Yeah, you should probably retake.

First of all, I doubt you get 100K with a 167, being K-JD, and getting admitted at this stage of the cycle. I predict more like 60K.

Second, even if you did get 90K or something, it sounds like you could definitely improve a lot on the LSAT if you retake and get more $$ and/or another school you'd prefer. Even if you don't improve, you'd likely still get into Cornell with an earlier app and some WE--especially if you do what Zuck advised. And the time off would probably be good for you; law school's not going anywhere.

I was pretty much going off MyLSN and what others with similar numbers messaged me. but yeah I'm leaning toward a retake, and given the fact that I applied in Feb and got in, I don't think I should be as worried as I am about reapplying.

bumping for more input

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There is little difference in what schools like Berkeley/Michigan/Duke/NU or whatever other schools are between Cornell and the T10 you mentioned in terms of big law. Obviously, Cornell feeds to NY more so than any of these schools given its location. Then again, I imagine its cold winter and bleak setting can be terrible for 3 years.

Regarding clerking, while the posters on here get especially butt hurt about clerkship numbers, I discovered through both law school and working that many kids don't pursue the clerkship route largely out of desire. Loans start kicking in and some kids simply want to earn. I found that 1/2 my class at Duke did not give a shit about clerking. Maybe 1/4 considered it, but not really. I've more recently heard that the school is putting more of an emphasis on clerking. I heard a similar thing from a girl I know who went to Cornell. In other words, if you want a federal clerkship you may be just as likely at Duke or Cornell when compared to some of these other schools.

Regarding LSAT. Bottom line: If you think you can improve even 1 point, I think you should retake and milk money. Hell, you should milk money any way just to sharpen your negotiating skills for next year. For me, I got Duke to buck up big in August and bailed on various other "T10s" in the final hour (one may have even been a T5). I seriously find these distinctions laughable once you get past Stanford... T10 T14 T13...

Final thoughts: Play the money game viciously. There are threads on here detailing how to do that. Consider also, however, that the market could swing back regarding applicants. 5 years ago you may not have gotten into Cornell. You are literally hitting the bottom. As such, you do take some risk alienating a school you commit to if you sit out, retake, applicants tick up, then you reapply.

Either way, I HIGHLY recommend taking some time off between undergrad and law school. Wherever you go, 1L will most certainly be one of the worst times in your life. I really mean that, kid. I am betting that a 1L who sees a marked difference between a T13 and a T10 will not to react well when he/she realizes median is a 3.2.....

I personally loved Durham, though law school generally was awful.

retake the lsat. try to start a career and if you're lucky youll never have to go to law school.

JohannDeMann wrote:retake the lsat. try to start a career and if you're lucky youll never have to go to law school.

+1

krads153 wrote:

JohannDeMann wrote:retake the lsat. try to start a career and if you're lucky youll never have to go to law school.

+1

I second that. The prevailing TLS consensus is that law school can be a great investment if you end up as a law professor, federal judge, or big law partner. Otherwise, it is an inherently undesirable profession, considering the costs and benefits, as expressed by many here.