Early decision? Forum

[kaveman]

I have just over a 3.6 gpa and 172 LSAT. Based on this, law school predictor has me as a "consider" at places like Penn, Duke, and Michigan. When I enter an early decision option for these schools, my prediction changes to "admit." I'm not stupid enough to think it's a crystal ball into the future, but obviously ED has some advantage. My concern, however, is that if I ED to Michigan, for example, they will have no motive to give me any scholarship $$, since I'm already on the hook. People w my numbers on LSN seem to have a good shot at $$ from Michigan, so is this a well founded fear? Does ED actually reduce my chances at money? Thanks in advance.

[Tiago Splitter]

ED definitely reduces your chances at money, mainly because you will be unable to play multiple offers against one another. Michigan is one of the few top schools that tends to give out money to their ED admits. Don't count on any from other schools in the T14 if you apply ED.

[UnamSanctam]

Tiago's right. Most T14s won't give money to an ED applicant. Michigan is an anomaly in that it usually does.

[Moomoo2u]

Looking at TLS stats and LSN you have a good chance at mich with your numbers if you apply early. I'm not sure if ED is warranted unless you think Mich is the school for you (and if it gives money all the better).

If RD $ is better than ED $ (I'm pretty sure it is) then I would just apply early RD to Mich.

As someone else said you won't be able to play the schools off eachother and you'll be bound to whatever school you ED, so if Penn gives you 2x as much $ as Mich for example you won't be able to take it. I would RD all of them or else choose one school you feel comfortable paying close to sticker for.