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Stats: 173/~3.7
In at GULC, but sticker is looking likely. Waitlisted at all the other schools that I applied to (T10). Should I just go to vanderbilt with ~100k, or should I redo cycle? I'm going to ride out the Mich, Penn, and NYU waitlists (expecting waitlist from NYU since I applied in early November and nothing but silence).
No ties to south.

Thank you for your time and opinions.

Update: Got ~120k at GULC.

Update2: Also got a full time job offer within my major.

Great. GULC just upped their scholarship offer.

(~ means approximately. don't want to out myself completely)

Where do you want to work, and where do you have ties?

I feel like 100k at Vandy is better than sticker at any T14 sans HYS.

I think you didn't cast your nets wide enough and had bad luck with a few schools and/or applied late. Your scholly at Vandy makes sense with your numbers, so not sure whether there are any perceived weaknesses in your applications. I say if you can sustain yourself for another year, bolster your resume, experience the world, etc. then wait it out for another year. That is if you are not comfortable attending Vandy.

bk187 wrote:I feel like 100k at Vandy is better than sticker at any T14 sans HYS.

Yeah but a 173/3.7 should not be forced into sticker at a T-14.

Tiago Splitter wrote:Yeah but a 173/3.7 should not be forced into sticker at a T-14.

Completely agree.

I was too lazy to look it up on LSN.

rad lulz wrote:Where do you want to work, and where do you have ties?

My preference would be anywhere that gets me a job pretty much, and my ties are to a market that's near impossible to break. I'm just worried that not having ties to south might hurt me in a job search.

ETA:
Cloudhidden: To be honest, my application wasn't that good. Put whatever together and hit submit.

So it looks like you applied early since you applied to NYU in Nov. Why do you think another cycle would be any different?

#ifdef wrote:

rad lulz wrote:Where do you want to work, and where do you have ties?

My preference would be anywhere that gets me a job pretty much, and my ties are to a market that's near impossible to break. I'm just worried that not having ties to south might hurt me in a job search.

ETA:
Cloudhidden: To be honest, my application wasn't that good. Put whatever together and hit submit.

What market? I can't think of a place that Vandy with ties can't get you back to.

#ifdef wrote:To be honest, my application wasn't that good. Put whatever together and hit submit.

If you think your resumes/PS/essays/etc could all be significantly polished then it might be worth it. But if they are already decent I don't think it will be. You'll be facing an uphill battle if schools have already rejected/waitlisted you when you reapply and there is just more polish on your app.

bk187 wrote:So it looks like you applied early since you applied to NYU in Nov. Why do you think another cycle would be any different?

(hopefully) work experience and volunteer experience. My application was pretty bad. Easily 5+ grammar mistakes in my PS.

ETA: Didn't realize how bad of a writer I was until I picked up a book on grammar.

rad lulz wrote:

#ifdef wrote:

rad lulz wrote:Where do you want to work, and where do you have ties?

My preference would be anywhere that gets me a job pretty much, and my ties are to a market that's near impossible to break. I'm just worried that not having ties to south might hurt me in a job search.

ETA:
Cloudhidden: To be honest, my application wasn't that good. Put whatever together and hit submit.

What market? I can't think of a place that Vandy with ties can't get you back to.

PMed.

#ifdef wrote:(hopefully) work experience and volunteer experience. My application was pretty bad. Easily 5+ grammar mistakes in my PS.

ETA: Didn't realize how bad of a writer I was until I picked up a book on grammar.

Then I think it might be worth it to reapply. If you really had a mistake-ridden app that definitely hurt.

bk187 wrote:

#ifdef wrote:(hopefully) work experience and volunteer experience. My application was pretty bad. Easily 5+ grammar mistakes in my PS.

ETA: Didn't realize how bad of a writer I was until I picked up a book on grammar.

Then I think it might be worth it to reapply. If you really had a mistake-ridden app that definitely hurt.

Thanks the input! I'm also considering EDing to Penn next year.

ETA: Also not opposed to retaking the LSAT, but I'm not sure how much that'll help.

Redo your essays, then reapply if you are uncomfortable with the South.

OP, sounds like those grammar mistakes may have been what killed ya. I know its law school not english/grammar school but considering you scored better than 99% of test takers chances are you are bright enough to submit polished essays.

I've read several interviews with members of adcoms where they state that a PS should be "practically flawless" in terms of spelling/grammar. They know you can do better and are probably disinclined to admit people they perceive as highly intelligent but not putting in the legwork.

Id be willing to bet that if you reapply with essays you worked on for a couple months you will get similar $$ at a t14.

#ifdef wrote:I'm also considering EDing to Penn next year.

I wouldn't do this. I think $100k at Vandy is way smarter than sticker at Penn.

Dany wrote:

#ifdef wrote:I'm also considering EDing to Penn next year.

I wouldn't do this. I think $100k at Vandy is way smarter than sticker at Penn.

Ya this.

Definitely re-do your cycle. If you applied early next cycle you could easily expect 60k from Michigan, an invite to a big Penn scholarship, and maybe into CCN.

Re-do.

All right! Thanks for the advice. I think I may redo my cycle esp. because my application will be much stronger next year with full time work experience and some volunteering experience.

I have a question. Would Vandy hold it against him for rejecting their scholarship this year? Say he can't beat 173, he retakes and reclaims a 173 and his cycle ends up exactly the same except for Vandy.


Would they not offer him a scholarship out of spite?

Gail wrote:I have a question. Would Vandy hold it against him for rejecting their scholarship this year? Say he can't beat 173, he retakes and reclaims a 173 and his cycle ends up exactly the same except for Vandy.


Would they not offer him a scholarship out of spite?

Yeah, I have this same question as well. Not for Vandy, but I'm worried that if I reapply next year, I won't get the sweet offer I got this year.

Probably a legitimate concern. Vanderbilt may think that you intend to use any future scholarship offer as a bargaining chip with other law schools.

^ Is OP retaking, or just applying another cycle?

CanadianWolf wrote:Probably a legitimate concern. Vanderbilt may think that you intend to use any future scholarship offer as a bargaining chip with other law schools.

Kind of throws a monkey wrench into the whole "retake/reapply" deal, doesn't it?

Gail wrote:

CanadianWolf wrote:Probably a legitimate concern. Vanderbilt may think that you intend to use any future scholarship offer as a bargaining chip with other law schools.

Kind of throws a monkey wrench into the whole "retake/reapply" deal, doesn't it?

Not for this guy, unless he would really love to end up at Vandy. I sort of doubt that, given the existence of this thread. Sounds like his goal is to have more/better options next time around, and without a sloppy app a 173/3.7 should cruise into the mid T-14.

Now if he had strong ties to the South and really wanted to end up there, Vandy with 100K would be a fine option.