Retake to get off waitlists/wait a year a reapply Forum

[Kiersten1985]

I'm not even sure how much I'm considering doing either of these things, but here's the situation:

3.66/169 more in profile

In at:
BU
BC
Cornell
Michigan
Texas
Vanderbilt
UCLA
Brooklyn
Cardozo

WL'ed at:
Columbia
UVA
Georgetown

Out at:
Harvard (applied to appease the fam)
Berkeley

Waiting on (but expecting WL/dings):
Penn
Duke
NYU

Columbia is my DREAM school. I should have ED'ed, yes, but I didn't because I was thinking about financial aid and now I regret not going ED. I'm staying on the WL and doing everything I can think of to get accepted still. My bf (we've lived together for 2 years, going to get married after LS) will be in NYC next year for work and then will be getting a new job or going to b-school. We live/work in NYC now and love it.

I have two questions:
1) Is there a downside to retaking the LSAT in June? I scored around my average but I think I could possibly get at least a 170. Is there a downside to having schools that have accepted me see that I've registered for the June test?

2) How stupid/smart would it be for me to wait a year and reapply (and retake)? I could easily stay at the job I have now or try to get something else in the city. Would schools re-accept me or will they take a "screw you, you didn't come last year" stance? Also, do I have to get new LORs/write a new PS, etc.?

I'll be 25 in the fall so I'm not too worried about my age at this point, though it would be nice to start making money sooner rather than later. hope this wasn't too long and thanks for any advice.

[Kiersten1985]

no one?

[jks289]

I don't think there is a downside in retaking really. It will cost you time, potentially your sanity. If Columbia is your dream school, then you may regret not trying for next cycle. BUT you are in at some great schools. You are going to have lots of option after graduation and I would bet money that someday you feel glad you ended up not going to Columbia. Life just has a way of working out that way. Just my two cents.

[BlueCivic]

you might get into NYU.

also you could defer at one of your accepted schools and retake the lsat--if you do well enough you can reapply and if you do worse you aren't hurt. Im not positive if the school you defer at would be upset about that.

I deferred twice, then turned down my acceptance in order to reapply (i didn't retake), and the school at which i deferred accepted me again.

[therealellewoods]

FWIW... with your softs and LSAT, I wouldn't rule out Penn, Duke, and NYU just yet. I would consider putting down a deposit somewhere or deferring acceptance and taking the June LSAT.

I've never been in the 169+ range, but if you can really score into the 170's why not try to use that to your advantage in getting off the Columbia waitlist? Also, a visit can truly help if you haven't done that yet. Otherwise, I agree w the above post... you might be happier in the end someday that you didn't go to Columbia. Taking another year off might just postpone that decision.

Whatever you decide, GOOD LUCK

[Richie Tenenbaum]

I have two questions:
1) Is there a downside to retaking the LSAT in June? I scored around my average but I think I could possibly get at least a 170. Is there a downside to having schools that have accepted me see that I've registered for the June test?

2) How stupid/smart would it be for me to wait a year and reapply (and retake)? I could easily stay at the job I have now or try to get something else in the city. Would schools re-accept me or will they take a "screw you, you didn't come last year" stance? Also, do I have to get new LORs/write a new PS, etc.?

1) The only downside I could see would be retaking it in June and getting the same or lower score and THEN decide to reapply for next year and retake again in Oct. If you are not confident about retaking, I would make sure I would be happy with not reapplying if I did not knock the June test out of the park.

2) I decided to reapply and have not regretted the decision so far. I was re-accepted at the school that was and still is one of my top schools. Not sure if I will be offered the same amount of money though. Schools have different policies on PS (though I think most do not require a new one), but I believe most do not require new LORs. I did not get new LORs, though I rewrote my PS and added additional LORs.

Keep in mind though- you might need as high as a 175 to be in good shape at Columbia.

[im_blue]

1) There's no downside to retaking the LSAT as far as accepted schools are concerned. They're not going to revoke acceptances even if you score poorly.

2) I think you'll get into Duke but not NYU/Penn. So you'll have your choice of some fantastic T14 schools this year (Michigan and Duke) that both place well in NYC. If you want any shot at Columbia (with or without ED), you'd absolutely need to hit their median LSAT of 172, since your GPA is already below median.

(See: http://columbia.lawschoolnumbers.com/ap ... =1&type=jd)

If that's what you'd like to aim for, and you think you can get a 172+, then take another year to study and retake the LSAT. They'll probably wanted an updated resume and PS, but the LORs can be the same. If you go this year, I'd pick Michigan.

[Kiersten1985]

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the answers and they helped a lot.

I've decided to retake in June, but to also put down a deposit somewhere. If by some miracle I do crazy-well on the LSAT, I might reapply next cycle. Otherwise, I'll just hope it gets me off the waitlist and if not, I'll choose somewhere on my list.

Thanks again!

[danidancer]

I echo everyone else's sentiments. GOOD LUCK! Just a question though - why didn't you apply to Fordham?

[Kiersten1985]

I echo everyone else's sentiments. GOOD LUCK! Just a question though - why didn't you apply to Fordham?

I really like NYC but I kind of figured I could get into BU and I would pick BU over Fordham. I also wasn't offered a waiver from them and didn't care to ask them for one, just didn't seem worth it to me since I knew I wouldn't go.

[mhernton]

My buddy got off the waitlist at Columbia (2L right now). He applied really late, late January or February. He got a 168 both times he took the test. He went to Rice for undergrad, and did well, but not outstanding. He is a white male with some significant softs (world traveler, military veteran). My point is that its not your LSAT. If you were waitlisted at 169, you'll probably be waitlisted at 170 or 171. If you take the test again, you risk your score going down, even if only by a point. Your a superhero right now and have offers in hand. This year was record year for most LS for applications, next year will probably be another. I would take my chances now with the best offer in front of me, and take a chance at a transfer. I know the city is the center of the universe, but everyone needs to leave at some point to see the rest of the world....