Reapplying next cycle with a master's??? Forum

[apple1234]

Hi everyone,

So here is my situation: I applied late in the game (complete early Jan, after Dec LSAT) with a 166 and a 3.8, very good softs and an interesting story. So far my cycle has gone ehhhh....

IN: BU, BC, Fordham, Hastings, Loyola LA, Cardozo
WL: Columbia, Duke, Northwestern (hold), USC, GW
OUT: Chicago, NYU, Georgetown, Berkeley

Still waiting on UCLA and Cornell. Really hoping for UCLA and obviously going to ride out the Columbia WL.

But here's the thing: I was accepted to a 1 year master's program at the London School of Economics. At this point, I'm planning on doing the master's and reapplying early next cycle. How much of an impact will the master's have on my chances? I know people say that grad school doesn't matter but will it help at least a little since it's from a really good school? Is
this cycle as good as it's going to get for me? Should I just go to Fordham? Should I go to
LSE and reapply ED somewhere (Columbia, UCLA)? Ahh help!

PS Retaking isn't an option due to previous cancels. Sucks cause my PT average was 170.

[cinephile]

Why not do the masters (since it sounds like something you want to do) and also apply for a waiver to take the LSAT a 4th time?

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Have you tried to make a request to a school to take for a 4th time? I can't imagine a school saying no to an applicant with 2 cancels and just 1 take, especially considering how early a test-taker must postpone ahead of time now.

If you think the masters program will have value of its own, separate from boosting your chances, then I say go for it if cost is not a concern. If your primary motivation is thinking that a masters will somehow get you into CCN or the other T14 schools you got rejected/WL'd at, well that's probably a bad idea. It's pretty obvious what is holding you back right now, and that's your LSAT score. A somewhat marginal soft is not going to overcome that negative. I would try to see if a school will allow you a 4th take.

[voice of reason]

Conventional wisdom is that the master's degree is a very small positive soft factor. It will help, just not much, and maybe not enough to make a difference.

Why do you want a master's degree? If you want to be a lawyer, it seems unlikely that getting a master's degree in anything is worth your time or money unless it's a technical field and you want patent law. What field would your master's be in?

[apple1234]

To be honest, preparing for and taking the LSAT was one of the worst experiences of my life lol. I had a panic attack during the first test and know I underperformed the second. I tried everything possible to get over the test anxiety and nothing really worked... If I could just get a f-ing grip I KNOW that I could score 170+.... I know people are going to say the LSAT is nothing compared to the stress of law school, etc but I really believe that I will be fine and that I have just built this test up to be something it's not.

In short, my confidence is shot after 3 tries and WTF happens if I spend another 6 months preparing and freak out again?! And my girlfriend will surely dump me if I put her through the LSAT again.... This all probably sounds pathetic hahaha

[apple1234]

Conventional wisdom is that the master's degree is a very small positive soft factor. It will help, just not much, and maybe not enough to make a difference.

Why do you want a master's degree? If you want to be a lawyer, it seems unlikely that getting a master's degree in anything is worth your time or money unless it's a technical field and you want patent law. What field would your master's be in?

International Political Economy. Not sure yet exactly what I want to do with my law degree... Something pertaining to international trade

[09042014]

LSE would take a retarded monkey that could write a check for tution.

What happened at UMich?

If you can retake and gain even a couple points you should. Cornell might pan out for you even with a 168.

[apple1234]

LSE would take a retarded monkey that could write a check for tution.

What happened at UMich?

If you can retake and gain even a couple points you should. Cornell might pan out for you even with a 168.

Are you referring to Gaddafi's son? In any case, not very nice

Didn't apply to UMich. Ann Arbor isn't for me....

[09042014]

LSE would take a retarded monkey that could write a check for tution.

What happened at UMich?

If you can retake and gain even a couple points you should. Cornell might pan out for you even with a 168.

Are you referring to Gaddafi's son? In any case, not very nice

Didn't apply to UMich. Ann Arbor isn't for me....

Not applying to Mich was stupid. You are on the very edge of T14 and they are one of the least selective. Still got a shot at Cornell.

[apple1234]

LSE would take a retarded monkey that could write a check for tution.

What happened at UMich?

If you can retake and gain even a couple points you should. Cornell might pan out for you even with a 168.

Are you referring to Gaddafi's son? In any case, not very nice

Didn't apply to UMich. Ann Arbor isn't for me....

Not applying to Mich was stupid. You are on the very edge of T14 and they are one of the least selective. Still got a shot at Cornell.

So I'm stupid AND headed for a school that takes retarded monkeys? LOL thanks!!

What are your thoughts on Fordham? And the USC waitlist?

[mala2]

I think if you can afford it go to LSE, have fun, learn a lot. You only live once. It's one year, it will be interesting and it will give you perspective on what you want to do. You already know what your 166 will get you. If you do worse on the test it won't matter because schools look at the high one and you can always say you were sick. Maybe take an online course like blueprint or something like that. If you spread it out it's not much of a time commitment. Get a waiver and re take the test knowing that it can't hurt you, you are in at Fordham and maybe Mich with your 166. I think you'll get a 170:)

[FiveSermon]

I would rather just get a job save up some $ and get some work experience while studying and retaking a year. That would help much more IMO than a masters.

[emjay]

Hey OP, I was in a very similar situation to yours.

Took the LSAT twice, had major test anxiety and underperformed both times, applied a little late into the cycle (Dec-Jan), got into a one-year masters program abroad and was deciding between that and BU Law. I chose BU because I know I reached my LSAT limit. I know I could take another shot at the LSAT, but I felt like I had reached my limit because test anxiety was intense for me and a lot of people who tell you to retake may not have experienced that.

For me, the anxiety was not something I ever experienced before, I did a lot of different things to try to get rid of the anxiety before the second take but it didn't help (hell, it got worse the second time as I got a case of anxiety-induced shingles and still scored a point lower than the first take). My point is, if you feel like you've reached you're LSAT-studying limit (I had taken a prep course, 9 months, and 50+ PTs), you may decide that it's best to just be content with your score and your options.

After doing some research, I realized that waiting a year and getting my masters abroad before law school just wouldn't be worth it in the long run. Yeah it would be fun and educational, but it won't be enough of a soft to put me over the edge at some of the schools I was WL'ed at this cycle, and I don't think that marginal boost is something to bank on to get you into your reach/dream school next cycle. The masters also might be pointless when paired with your future JD so that's another thing to consider. O and it costs a ton of money.

Ultimately, if you're not gonna retake, you need to decide whether getting your masters would be worthwhile beside for the slight soft factor and if you decide it is go for it, but I don't think you should count on it to get you into certain schools next cycle.
Good luck.

[pixytree]

If you really want the master's, go for it. But if you're getting it thinking it will give you a better chance at schools, then pass.

My guess is getting your apps in early (and putting your all into them) will give you a much greater boost than a Master's. Did you make school-specific PS statements or LOCI? This could help as well.

[Chouchous]

OP, I'm in a very similar situation. I underperformed on my LSAT, still went ahead and applied to law schools, got into some T20s at sticker, some Top 10 waitlists.

I also got accepted into a LSE graduate program. I'm very hesitant to accept the offer for financial reasons. I visited one of the law schools that waitlisted me and had a chat with an admissions counsellor. FWIW, she did not seem overly impressed when I mentioned the LSE offer and possibly reapplying next year. My impression was that work experience would be the way to go.

[Chouchous]

[/quote]International Political Economy. Not sure yet exactly what I want to do with my law degree... Something pertaining to international trade[/quote]

I actually have an offer for the same program.

[09042014]

LSE whores itself out to people who will pay sticker. Most MA programs do.