Cornell, Texas, or Retake/Reapply? Forum

[CrunchyTone]

COA:

Texas: 100k

Cornell: 150k

Stats: 4.0, 170, KJD

Goals: TX/NY Biglaw/possibly clerkship

I am from the South and would prefer to live in Texas both during law school and after, however, I would be perfectly happy in NYC as well. Despite preferring Texas, I would prefer NYC biglaw to TX non-biglaw.

I am also considering retaking and reapplying since I am KJD and somewhat debt-averse and six figures of debt is kind of scary.

[trebekismyhero]

If you are good with NYC big law then go with Cornell. Although I am a little surprised you don't have more offers with a 4.0 and a 170, but $150k isn't bad from Cornell. Might try and ask for a little more. Did you not get into Duke?

[CrunchyTone]

If you are good with NYC big law then go with Cornell. Although I am a little surprised you don't have more offers with a 4.0 and a 170, but $150k isn't bad from Cornell. Might try and ask for a little more. Did you not get into Duke?

I applied to Duke in November through PT and was waitlisted.

[LBJ's Hair]

If you are good with NYC big law then go with Cornell. Although I am a little surprised you don't have more offers with a 4.0 and a 170, but $150k isn't bad from Cornell. Might try and ask for a little more. Did you not get into Duke?

I applied to Duke in November through PT and was waitlisted.

What about the rest of the T14?

If you applied broadly and got dinged everywhere except Texas and Cornell, feel like you really screwed up the application---a truly terrible personal statement (spelling/grammar problems, inappropriate topic), C&F issues, etc. People get into the T6 with those numbers and a decent story. You shouldn't go 1/14

[QContinuum]

If you applied broadly and got dinged everywhere except Texas and Cornell, feel like you really screwed up the application---a truly terrible personal statement (spelling/grammar problems, inappropriate topic), C&F issues, etc. People get into the T6 with those numbers and a decent story. You shouldn't go 1/14

Would someone with an awful PS or C&F issues get into Cornell with $150k in merit aid, though?

I too am surprised at OP's outcomes, which don't make sense. OP, did you apply to Michigan and NYU back in the fall?

[galba]

If you applied broadly and got dinged everywhere except Texas and Cornell, feel like you really screwed up the application---a truly terrible personal statement (spelling/grammar problems, inappropriate topic), C&F issues, etc. People get into the T6 with those numbers and a decent story. You shouldn't go 1/14

Would someone with an awful PS or C&F issues get into Cornell with $150k in merit aid, though?

I too am surprised at OP's outcomes, which don't make sense. OP, did you apply to Michigan and NYU back in the fall?

Unless I'm misreading, OP seems to be saying $150k cost of attendance, not scholarship. With a 4.0 GPA and a good LSAT it would be absolutely insane to go to Cornell at that cost. I'd guess this was a really really late app or some other glaring issue? Without more info this seems to be a clear case for reapplying next cycle.

[CrunchyTone]

If you applied broadly and got dinged everywhere except Texas and Cornell, feel like you really screwed up the application---a truly terrible personal statement (spelling/grammar problems, inappropriate topic), C&F issues, etc. People get into the T6 with those numbers and a decent story. You shouldn't go 1/14

Would someone with an awful PS or C&F issues get into Cornell with $150k in merit aid, though?

I too am surprised at OP's outcomes, which don't make sense. OP, did you apply to Michigan and NYU back in the fall?

Unless I'm misreading, OP seems to be saying $150k cost of attendance, not scholarship. With a 4.0 GPA and a good LSAT it would be absolutely insane to go to Cornell at that cost. I'd guess this was a really really late app or some other glaring issue? Without more info this seems to be a clear case for reapplying next cycle.

I got $120k in merit aid from Cornell, so the $150k is indeed COA. I was waitlisted at most of the t13. Still waiting on NYU (HTE), Mich, and UVA but it has been since November so I am not terribly optimistic.

[LBJ's Hair]

If you applied broadly and got dinged everywhere except Texas and Cornell, feel like you really screwed up the application---a truly terrible personal statement (spelling/grammar problems, inappropriate topic), C&F issues, etc. People get into the T6 with those numbers and a decent story. You shouldn't go 1/14

Would someone with an awful PS or C&F issues get into Cornell with $150k in merit aid, though?

I too am surprised at OP's outcomes, which don't make sense. OP, did you apply to Michigan and NYU back in the fall?

Unless I'm misreading, OP seems to be saying $150k cost of attendance, not scholarship. With a 4.0 GPA and a good LSAT it would be absolutely insane to go to Cornell at that cost. I'd guess this was a really really late app or some other glaring issue? Without more info this seems to be a clear case for reapplying next cycle.

I got $120k in merit aid from Cornell, so the $150k is indeed COA. I was waitlisted at most of the t13. Still waiting on NYU (HTE), Mich, and UVA but it has been since November so I am not terribly optimistic.

Bizarre, sorry to hear this. Sounds like you applied at a normal time too. No C&F issues, anything else that's unusual? You weren't arrested, disciplined for misconduct, etc? Volunteering for the Trump campaign (I kid)?

If not, I might call up a law school admissions consultant -- Spivey or w/e -- and have them review your application, give you advice. If you consider how much you're spending on law school, it's a drop in the bucket, and could net you easily tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money if they can "fix" the problem.

If that's not financially feasible, definitely (a) post your personal statement to have others review, and (b) write "Why X?" statements for every school next cycle. (If you were a real gunner and have time, you could also retake the LSAT.)

Anyway, with your stats, Cornell at $150K is a lousy outcome. You're *well* above Cornell's 75th percentile for GPA *and* LSAT. And they're not even offering to let you go for free.

There's something weird going on here.