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I can't bring myself to look at any more numbers to try and sway myself one way or the other as far as if its realistic/worth it to apply to some t-14 reaches.

So far I have applied to:
UCLA
USC
Boston University
Boston College
Cornell
Notre Dame
Loyola LA
William and Mary


Aside from Cornell and BC, I had fee waivers to all of them. Are there are t-14 schools I actually have a realistic chance at that would be worth paying app fees for? I'm really just looking for any opinions as I can't decide at this point.....

Out at T14s, but maybe throw some apps to UT and Vandy. Vandy is unlikely, but Texas might just maybe happen.

NU and GULC are worth the app fee IMO.

concurrent fork wrote:NU and GULC are worth the app fee IMO.

+1 to NU with 4 years WE, depending on what it is I suppose.

rad law wrote:Out at T14s, but maybe throw some apps to UT and Vandy. Vandy is unlikely, but Texas might just maybe happen.

+1

I have numbers similar to you and sent out applications to the bottom half of the T-14

however, I only did this because i was granted fee waivers from most of them (Duke, NW, Virginia, GULC, Penn, Michigan, Etc).

If they grant you a fee waiver, the chance of getting extremely lucky is worth 12 bucks.

ahduth wrote:

concurrent fork wrote:NU and GULC are worth the app fee IMO.

+1 to NU with 4 years WE, depending on what it is I suppose.

+1

I didn't get fee waivers for any of them, or I would risk the $12 for each!

Cornell is your only shot at the T14. I'd add schools like Fordham, UT, WUSTL, Minnesota, and Illinois (free app!) for possible scholarship leverage.

Add Texas for sure. Maybe Vanderbilt also.

Fordham shot me down for a fee waiver, I can't decide if they are worth the app price. I will be applying to Cornell today though, as well as some scattered schools in the 20/30s I have fee waivers to.

You could try Michigan? I got in with almost identical numbers (.02 higher GPA) but I was ED.

You could also try EDing UVA if finances are not a consideration. Or ED round 2 at Duke.

Cornell could work (again, I got in with the same numbers).

applepiecrust wrote:You could try Michigan? I got in with almost identical numbers (.02 higher GPA) but I was ED.

You could also try EDing UVA if finances are not a consideration. Or ED round 2 at Duke.

Cornell could work (again, I got in with the same numbers).

ED UVA isn't gonna work. Below both medians.

rad law wrote:

applepiecrust wrote:You could try Michigan? I got in with almost identical numbers (.02 higher GPA) but I was ED.

You could also try EDing UVA if finances are not a consideration. Or ED round 2 at Duke.

Cornell could work (again, I got in with the same numbers).

ED UVA isn't gonna work. Below both medians.

You're right. According to LSN, Michigan seems to be OP's best bet in the T14 after Cornell. Worth a shot.

Also, OP, is your LSAT 169 or 168? It says 168 here but 169 on profile.

It's 168. I have decided to just see how this cycle goes, I am going to retake in either Feb or June, as I seriously underperformed in Oct as far as how I PT'ed on about 45 tests (driving 60 miles at 7am the morning of my birthday to get to the site, after celebrating the night before might not have been the most ideal situation). If my increase is minimal, or non existent, I will stick with what I have so far this year, but if it's substantial I will probably reapply first thing next cycle. If I am really shooting high, I'd like to have some chance at money, which right now I recognize I don't.

JenDarby wrote:It's 168. I have decided to just see how this cycle goes, I am going to retake in either Feb or June, as I seriously underperformed in Oct as far as how I PT'ed on about 45 tests (driving 60 miles at 7am the morning of my birthday to get to the site, after celebrating the night before might not have been the most ideal situation). If my increase is minimal, or non existent, I will stick with what I have so far this year, but if it's substantial I will probably reapply first thing next cycle. If I am really shooting high, I'd like to have some chance at money, which right now I recognize I don't.

Sounds like a good plan. Feel your cycle out and if waiting a year won't be too detrimental to you, then by all means you should. A 170+ will open new doors for you next cycle. A 173+ could be a game changer. A little word of advice, no drinking/partying the night before Feb/June LSAT exam haha. You can get out of control afterwards, though.

RJ127 wrote:

JenDarby wrote:It's 168. I have decided to just see how this cycle goes, I am going to retake in either Feb or June, as I seriously underperformed in Oct as far as how I PT'ed on about 45 tests (driving 60 miles at 7am the morning of my birthday to get to the site, after celebrating the night before might not have been the most ideal situation). If my increase is minimal, or non existent, I will stick with what I have so far this year, but if it's substantial I will probably reapply first thing next cycle. If I am really shooting high, I'd like to have some chance at money, which right now I recognize I don't.

Sounds like a good plan. Feel your cycle out and if waiting a year won't be too detrimental to you, then by all means you should. A 170+ will open new doors for you next cycle. A 173+ could be a game changer. A little word of advice, no drinking/partying the night before Feb/June LSAT exam haha. You can get out of control afterwards, though.

Ha yea, this same thing happened to me in HS when I took the SATs on my birthday, can't they just pick a different date than oct. 9th?! Fortunately in HS it didn't affect my results. Oh well, hopefully this cycle goes well. If not hopefully I do well enough to leverage some money at schools, or start all over next year.

JenDarby wrote:

RJ127 wrote:

JenDarby wrote:It's 168. I have decided to just see how this cycle goes, I am going to retake in either Feb or June, as I seriously underperformed in Oct as far as how I PT'ed on about 45 tests (driving 60 miles at 7am the morning of my birthday to get to the site, after celebrating the night before might not have been the most ideal situation). If my increase is minimal, or non existent, I will stick with what I have so far this year, but if it's substantial I will probably reapply first thing next cycle. If I am really shooting high, I'd like to have some chance at money, which right now I recognize I don't.

Sounds like a good plan. Feel your cycle out and if waiting a year won't be too detrimental to you, then by all means you should. A 170+ will open new doors for you next cycle. A 173+ could be a game changer. A little word of advice, no drinking/partying the night before Feb/June LSAT exam haha. You can get out of control afterwards, though.

Ha yea, this same thing happened to me in HS when I took the SATs on my birthday, can't they just pick a different date than oct. 9th?! Fortunately in HS it didn't affect my results. Oh well, hopefully this cycle goes well. If not hopefully I do well enough to leverage some money at schools, or start all over next year.

Haha yeah, my birthday was the weekend before the Oct LSAT so I had to take it easy. Sending positive vibes your way for your cycle, fellow libra.

JenDarby wrote:It's 168. I have decided to just see how this cycle goes, I am going to retake in either Feb or June, as I seriously underperformed in Oct as far as how I PT'ed on about 45 tests (driving 60 miles at 7am the morning of my birthday to get to the site, after celebrating the night before might not have been the most ideal situation). If my increase is minimal, or non existent, I will stick with what I have so far this year, but if it's substantial I will probably reapply first thing next cycle. If I am really shooting high, I'd like to have some chance at money, which right now I recognize I don't.

Yeah, I am retaking in February too, but it's more just ego satisfaction (I KNOW a 168 is not representative of my abilities) since I am committed to Michigan and thrilled about it.

Good luck!

You may be underestimating the value of your work experience.

CanadianWolf wrote:You may be underestimating the value of your work experience.

Oh? How much do you think I might be underestimating it?

I did end up applying to UT a few weeks ago as well.

It's difficult to predict--especially this late in the application cycle. Unfortunately, the best answer is to apply to the bottom half of the Top 14 & wait for the results. Your application should receive a serious read as you are unlikely to fall into either the auto-admit or auto-reject piles.

Cornell and NU are your best shots at T-14. GULC would be a long shot IMO.