NYU Law Application Advice Forum

[nax425]

I applied ED to NYU with a 170 and a 3.95 GPA from a small private (but ranked and higher profile) private school. I had planned on two LORs arriving in time, but only my professional reference made it on time and the academic one screwed me over and never sent. I got a letter in December saying I'd be considered with regular admits - but NO ED. Ugh.

So I've since sent in two more additional academic LORs. Is there something else I should do to get their attention? NYU is my top choice...I would do most anything to get there. MY PS was well written, not necessarily the most exciting, but polished and organized. I've been working as a Buyer (not fashion...at at engineering firm dealing with contracts) for 1 1/2 years since graduation, and I've got a few really great awards on my resume, plus a lot of service time. I didn't do an optional essay because I'm white/male/catholic.

Any suggestions!?!?!?!

[nax425]

Oh - and I played up the Tax Law desires in my PS. I want to be involved in Tax Law and NYU is the tops for that. Dying to get it...I know I'm on the borderline.

[ravens20]

In previous years, NYU has admitted a significant number of students from the waitlist. And it sounds like your position is significantly better - you aren't even on the waitlist, but merely going to be reevaluated in the RD pool. So I wouldn't lose hope or anything like that.

Your best bet is to write a great LOCI that mention your continued interest as well as why you specifically feel that NYU would fit your interests. Mention certain centers (there is pretty much a center for every field of law), certain classes, or certain professors that are relevant to your career goals. Also highlight just how much your work as an engineer and other experiences have set you up to the career you want to pursue.

[ravens20]

If tax law is your goal....here are some things you could mention in your letter of continued interest:

-Tax Policy Colloquium led by Professor Shaviro
-The new tax clinic in which students work with the tax department at Dewey & LeBouf to represent low income taxpayers at the US Tax Court and different administrative proceedings before the IRS
-Tax Policy Fellowship Program - allows you to work with the US Treasury's Office of Tax Policy and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation
-International Taxation Program
-LL.M program or JD/LL.M program
-you could mention that you want to write for the Tax Law Review
-you could reference any of the 50 specific courses on tax law or any of the 40 faculty that teach tax law
-you could also talk about taking some relevant courses at the Stern School of Business

[nax425]

I'm on it. Thx a million

[BenJ]

You're pretty much a lock with those numbers anyway. Don't worry about it.

[lawman335]

You are locked up with those numbers , but u need not worry about that............

[nax425]

rejected...ouch. i guess the #s lied.

[BenJ]

rejected...ouch. i guess the #s lied.

Wow. I'm really sorry. NYU absolutely has no business rejecting 170/3.95s. Definitely try again next year if Columbia doesn't work out; you should be getting scholarship money, not rejected!

[nax425]

rejected...ouch. i guess the #s lied.

Wow. I'm really sorry. NYU absolutely has no business rejecting 170/3.95s. Definitely try again next year if Columbia doesn't work out; you should be getting scholarship money, not rejected!

i never expected $ with my LSAT but I thought I'd at least get a Waitlist? Oh well, something must have rubbed them the wrong way. May be looking at Gtown if CLS doesn't pan out...which, based on NYU's response, it won't.

[scribelaw]

rejected...ouch. i guess the #s lied.

Really sorry to hear that. That's very surprising.

The swell in applications seems to be having a pretty big effect. Looking at past years, you should've been a lock. But like other schools, if NYU got 18 or 20 percent more apps (which is what I think the dean said during the ASW), they can be pickier, I guess.

Still, you have definite CCN numbers -- or at least MVPND with $$. If you can, I'd consider reapplying next year. The career opportunities will be a lot better there than from Georgetown.

[nax425]

rejected...ouch. i guess the #s lied.

Really sorry to hear that. That's very surprising.

The swell in applications seems to be having a pretty big effect. Looking at past years, you should've been a lock. But like other schools, if NYU got 18 or 20 percent more apps (which is what I think the dean said during the ASW), they can be pickier, I guess.

Still, you have definite CCN numbers -- or at least MVPND with $$. If you can, I'd consider reapplying next year. The career opportunities will be a lot better there than from Georgetown.

would love to wait another year but i can't stomach that (or this job much longer...). also can't stomach the idea of Chicago/Michigan/Penn/Virginia for 3 yrs. i'll do my best to make sure the career prospects are bright and shining from gtown - if it comes to that.

[r6_philly]

would love to wait another year but i can't stomach that (or this job much longer...). also can't stomach the idea of Chicago/Michigan/Penn/Virginia for 3 yrs. i'll do my best to make sure the career prospects are bright and shining from gtown - if it comes to that.

Just curious, why can't you stomach CMPV?

Sucks about NYU

[wjnahill]

Definitely seems like NYU has been harder this year. I haven't heard anything back with a 177/3.6, which i understand should have been pretty golden in previous years. Like you, NYU is my top choice, but I don't think it's going to be happening.

Not sure I get the GULC > MVPC thing though. To each their own I guess.

[nax425]

Definitely seems like NYU has been harder this year. I haven't heard anything back with a 177/3.6, which i understand should have been pretty golden in previous years. Like you, NYU is my top choice, but I don't think it's going to be happening.

Not sure I get the GULC > MVPC thing though. To each their own I guess.

IDK what NYU wants. Apparently not me. Plenty of people with lower stats are getting in, they must actually care from applicant to applicant what the softs are and mine must have been too artsy.

I'm location driven. I HATE Chicago. Never been to Philly, but it doesn't appeal. I could visit for like a day. Virginia? Michigan? Ummmm....no.

The slight and nearly invisible employment prospect bump would be worthless to me if I'm going to be miserable for 3 years. That said, I'll go to DC. I won't be thrilled about it, but I'll go. Sometimes life blows hard and u just have to suck it.

[r6_philly]

Definitely seems like NYU has been harder this year. I haven't heard anything back with a 177/3.6, which i understand should have been pretty golden in previous years. Like you, NYU is my top choice, but I don't think it's going to be happening.

Not sure I get the GULC > MVPC thing though. To each their own I guess.

IDK what NYU wants. Apparently not me. Plenty of people with lower stats are getting in, they must actually care from applicant to applicant what the softs are and mine must have been too artsy.

I'm location driven. I HATE Chicago. Never been to Philly, but it doesn't appeal. I could visit for like a day. Virginia? Michigan? Ummmm....no.

The slight and nearly invisible employment prospect bump would be worthless to me if I'm going to be miserable for 3 years. That said, I'll go to DC. I won't be thrilled about it, but I'll go. Sometimes life blows hard and u just have to suck it.

I don't think you should rule Philly out until you get a feel. I dislike NYC, which I was just reminded again yesterday. Philly is great city that doesn't quite have the same things I take issues with NYC. You should check it out. Your chance of working in NYC isn't much too worse from Penn than NYU, and you will be back in the city in no time.

[nax425]

Definitely seems like NYU has been harder this year. I haven't heard anything back with a 177/3.6, which i understand should have been pretty golden in previous years. Like you, NYU is my top choice, but I don't think it's going to be happening.

Not sure I get the GULC > MVPC thing though. To each their own I guess.

IDK what NYU wants. Apparently not me. Plenty of people with lower stats are getting in, they must actually care from applicant to applicant what the softs are and mine must have been too artsy.

I'm location driven. I HATE Chicago. Never been to Philly, but it doesn't appeal. I could visit for like a day. Virginia? Michigan? Ummmm....no.

The slight and nearly invisible employment prospect bump would be worthless to me if I'm going to be miserable for 3 years. That said, I'll go to DC. I won't be thrilled about it, but I'll go. Sometimes life blows hard and u just have to suck it.

I don't think you should rule Philly out until you get a feel. I dislike NYC, which I was just reminded again yesterday. Philly is great city that doesn't quite have the same things I take issues with NYC. You should check it out. Your chance of working in NYC isn't much too worse from Penn than NYU, and you will be back in the city in no time.

i heard it was dangerous/nasty. i like safety. isn't philly like riddled with violence or something? gang warfare? IDK.

[r6_philly]

i heard it was dangerous/nasty. i like safety. isn't philly like riddled with violence or something? gang warfare? IDK.

Gangs no.
Violence yes.
Will you see it - not likely.

If you go to Penn, you will probably never see the parts of Philly that are dangerous (I hope not unless you are into some questionable things). There is a rectangle "center city" area stretch from Penn all the way to the waterfront, and it contains bars, restaurants and night clubs. Everything you want to do is contained in that box which is awesome and safe.

If you want to something else just go out of the city. Interstate 76 runs right next to Penn's campus and you will never have to visit the undesirable parts getting in and out of Penn/Area.

It's like comparing the village or soho with staten island or harlem, it's NYC, just different parts.

[nax425]

i heard it was dangerous/nasty. i like safety. isn't philly like riddled with violence or something? gang warfare? IDK.

Gangs no.
Violence yes.
Will you see it - not likely.

If you go to Penn, you will probably never see the parts of Philly that are dangerous (I hope not unless you are into some questionable things). There is a rectangle "center city" area stretch from Penn all the way to the waterfront, and it contains bars, restaurants and night clubs. Everything you want to do is contained in that box which is awesome and safe.

If you want to something else just go out of the city. Interstate 76 runs right next to Penn's campus and you will never have to visit the undesirable parts getting in and out of Penn/Area.

It's like comparing the village or soho with staten island or harlem, it's NYC, just different parts.

well i definitely don't want to deal with having a car, I hate dealing with cars. plus i hate going to the gas station and filling up, getting oil changes, etc.

what are "questionable things."....?

[r6_philly]

well i definitely don't want to deal with having a car, I hate dealing with cars. plus i hate going to the gas station and filling up, getting oil changes, etc.

what are "questionable things."....?

Anything that will take you to the seedy parts of town. Anyway you don't need a car. You can get everywhere by walking, or better, get a bicycle. Cabs are cheap too. Come check it out. I really like Penn as a school and the area it's in, the campus is beautiful. But I don't think it fits my goals too well since I learned more about it.