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This cycle I applied sort of late (December) with a 175/3.39. As of right now, I'll be at Vanderbilt next year with a 50k total scholarship. I'm still on the wait list at a few places, but the only T14 I got into was Cornell. I didn't ED anywhere, and already sort of felt like I underperformed given my numbers. I just found out today though that with my final semester GPA (~3.95 or something), my LSAC GPA now got bumped up to a 3.45. Also, I'm still taking summer classes which I'll almost certainly get A's in, meaning I could bring my GPA up even more.

So I'm wondering now I applied early (as in the day apps open up) next year, what would my chances at CCNMVP ED be? Also, how should I weigh this against taking the year off vs. 50k at Vandy? I know there's only so much advice I can get online, but it really seems like I'm selling myself short by going to Vandy with only 50k total when I (will) have close to a 3.5 and a 175. I would love to go to Vandy, but 50k doesn't seem like that much. On the other hand, I have zero plans made for work in the upcoming year, and am really eager to start law school soon.

westinghouse60 wrote:This cycle I applied sort of late (December) with a 175/3.39. As of right now, I'll be at Vanderbilt next year with a 50k total scholarship. I'm still on the wait list at a few places, but the only T14 I got into was Cornell. I didn't ED anywhere, and already sort of felt like I underperformed given my numbers. I just found out today though that with my final semester GPA (~3.95 or something), my LSAC GPA now got bumped up to a 3.45. Also, I'm still taking summer classes which I'll almost certainly get A's in, meaning I could bring my GPA up even more.

So I'm wondering now I applied early (as in the day apps open up) next year, what would my chances at CCNMVP ED be? Also, how should I weigh this against taking the year off vs. 50k at Vandy? I know there's only so much advice I can get online, but it really seems like I'm selling myself short by going to Vandy with only 50k total when I (will) have close to a 3.5 and a 175. I would love to go to Vandy, but 50k doesn't seem like that much. On the other hand, I have zero plans made for work in the upcoming year, and am really eager to start law school soon.

You have a 175. I think I would wait and ED, I don't think your gpa is too overly detrimental. At the same time, I feel like more schools should have bit on your LSAT. Where did you apply?

Br3v wrote:

westinghouse60 wrote:This cycle I applied sort of late (December) with a 175/3.39. As of right now, I'll be at Vanderbilt next year with a 50k total scholarship. I'm still on the wait list at a few places, but the only T14 I got into was Cornell. I didn't ED anywhere, and already sort of felt like I underperformed given my numbers. I just found out today though that with my final semester GPA (~3.95 or something), my LSAC GPA now got bumped up to a 3.45. Also, I'm still taking summer classes which I'll almost certainly get A's in, meaning I could bring my GPA up even more.

So I'm wondering now I applied early (as in the day apps open up) next year, what would my chances at CCNMVP ED be? Also, how should I weigh this against taking the year off vs. 50k at Vandy? I know there's only so much advice I can get online, but it really seems like I'm selling myself short by going to Vandy with only 50k total when I (will) have close to a 3.5 and a 175. I would love to go to Vandy, but 50k doesn't seem like that much. On the other hand, I have zero plans made for work in the upcoming year, and am really eager to start law school soon.

You have a 175. I think I would wait and ED, I don't think your gpa is too overly detrimental. At the same time, I feel like more schools should have bit on your LSAT. Where did you apply?

T14 minus Yale, Stanford, Berkley, Northwestern, most of other T20 schools, a lot of safety schools. I think a lot of high LSAT splitters got waitlisted this cycle, plus my lack of WE and December apps probably hurt.

You're correct in believing that you're selling yourself short by taking the Vanday offer. Take the year off, get some work experience, and reapply across the T14 this September. I wouldn't suggest EDing anywhere, since that could cut in to the scholarship money they offer you. However, since you asked, if you EDed you would be an absolute lock at UVA with that LSAT, and very likely at Mich and Penn. Hell, you might even get NYU with an ED.

InGoodFaith wrote:You're correct in believing that you're selling yourself short by taking the Vanday offer. Take the year off, get some work experience, and reapply across the T14 this September. I wouldn't suggest EDing anywhere, since that could cut in to the scholarship money they offer you. However, since you asked, if you EDed you would be an absolute lock at UVA with that LSAT, and very likely at Mich and Penn. Hell, you might even get NYU with an ED.

With the GPA creeping up that high NYU is a fairly safe bet even without ED. I'd ED Columbia or Chicago. The danger, of course, is that anywhere you don't apply ED has a high chance of ending up as a waitlist and neither Columbia nor Chicago is a sure thing with ED. If you have a school in the NYU/MVPD range you really want then you may have to apply ED there.

Tiago Splitter wrote:

InGoodFaith wrote:You're correct in believing that you're selling yourself short by taking the Vanday offer. Take the year off, get some work experience, and reapply across the T14 this September. I wouldn't suggest EDing anywhere, since that could cut in to the scholarship money they offer you. However, since you asked, if you EDed you would be an absolute lock at UVA with that LSAT, and very likely at Mich and Penn. Hell, you might even get NYU with an ED.

With the GPA creeping up that high NYU is a fairly safe bet even without ED. I'd ED Columbia or Chicago. The danger, of course, is that anywhere you don't apply ED has a high chance of ending up as a waitlist and neither Columbia nor Chicago is a sure thing with ED. If you have a school in the NYU/MVPD range you really want then you may have to apply ED there.

Does Chicago or Columbia give you an ED bump? If not, NYU might be the safe bet. Or you can multiple ED if you initially get held at C or C. Looking at LSN this year, both seem possible.

Also, I agree that you totally underperformed with your numbers. I would find a job, save some money, and re-apply next year.

Doorkeeper wrote:Does Chicago or Columbia give you an ED bump? If not, NYU might be the safe bet.

Chicago did give a boost to several low GPA applicants this cycle but certainly not all of them. It's hard to say at Columbia but it can't hurt.

I do think OP will get NYU RD but money isn't likely. If he's cool paying sticker at NYU and wants some certainty then ED there isn't a bad idea.

Apply ED to Northwestern if they still offer the full scholarship for ED admits. Your high LSAT should make you a shoo-in there.

Man, people are telling you ED everywhere huh--you have those kinds of numbers.

FWIW, A 176/3.5 who was WL at NYU for like six months just got in, with 62.5K.

In your shoes, I'd probably ED Columbia and blanket T-14.

One problem is finding a job on such short notice... I have a good GPA from an average state school with a degree in Poli sci and Econ but hadn't really planned to work this coming year. I don't have any "real" WE yet (i.e. not an unpaid internship and not retail), and every job seems like it requires several years experience...Catch-22.

Also, pretty sure I'd do Penn/UVA ED, since Columbia/Chicago aren't certainties, and I'd hate to get rejected there and then repeat this cycle and miss on most of the T14 again. I think I'd probably prefer Penn to NYU too.

westinghouse60 wrote:One problem is finding a job on such short notice... I have a good GPA from an average state school with a degree in Poli sci and Econ but hadn't really planned to work this coming year. I don't have any "real" WE yet (i.e. not an unpaid internship and not retail), and every job seems like it requires several years experience...Catch-22.

I know the feeling. The best thing to do is husttlllleeee. Talk to friends, get on LinkedIn, talk to your family, etc etc. honestly, getting a job will help with both admissions AND OCI, plus it'll give you a breather between UG and LS and put some money in your pocket. Win-win. (:

As for NU ED, you won't get it unless you have that WE. Also this year, most of the people on LSN who got it were around a 3.6 GPA so you might be a little low on the GPA end unless you can pull it up to 3.6 ish.

westinghouse60 wrote:Also, pretty sure I'd do Penn/UVA ED, since Columbia/Chicago aren't certainties, and I'd hate to get rejected there and then repeat this cycle and miss on most of the T14 again. I think I'd probably prefer Penn to NYU too.

I think you might be selling yourself short. People with numbers like yours have gotten into CCN with money. I would not ED for fear of losing leverage.

OP, what market do you want to work in post law school? If you want NYC, you should certainly ED NYU rather than Penn.

InGoodFaith wrote:OP, what market do you want to work in post law school? If you want NYC, you should certainly ED NYU rather than Penn.

I have ties to the south, but other than that either NYC or DC. I used to want NYC>all others, but now I just want to go where I can pay off debt, and it seems Penn has out placed NYU in biglaw overall pretty consistently the past few years.

I'd ED Chicago or Penn and then UVA if the first two don't work out. I've heard that Columbia ED doesn't help much?

banjo wrote:I'd ED Chicago or Penn and then UVA if the first two don't work out. I've heard that Columbia ED doesn't help much?

Hard to tell based off LSN, but I've also heard they have a much higher GPA floor (3.4-3.5, even for ED) than the rest of CNMVP, so that's my concern about EDing there.

westinghouse60 wrote:

InGoodFaith wrote:OP, what market do you want to work in post law school? If you want NYC, you should certainly ED NYU rather than Penn.

I have ties to the south, but other than that either NYC or DC. I used to want NYC>all others, but now I just want to go where I can pay off debt, and it seems Penn has out placed NYU in biglaw overall pretty consistently the past few years.

Definitely ED one of the CCNs and blanket the rest of the T14. You'll get money somewhere.

As for your job, hustle with friends and family. Also just send a fuckton of resumes out to companies/NGOs that are hiring.

Your numbers are both better than mine, and I got into most of Columbia-->down with decent WE, no ED application and why X essays to most schools. I also got very little or no merit aid at most schools. Obviously I'm just one person, but I don't think I'm an exceptional applicant, and things worked out well for me. Work experience and being able to speak in an informed manner about why you want to be a lawyer should help you if that's what you decide.

Working on resume to change it from "law school app specific" to actual an "actual job" resume. Parents are pretty against me doing this and want me to go to Vandy this year..

Anyway, I think I'll mass apply to entry level jobs at banks/insurance firms etc before I get an apartment in Nashville. If I can find a halfway decent job (even if its selling insurance for 20k/year tops) I might do that, and I'll have some time to worry about where to apply this upcoming cycle.

I figured out that with A's in all my summer classes I can get up to a 3.49. On the one hand, I hate to ED to Penn/UVA since I probably could have been a lock there last year with a 3.39 and I essentially would have wasted a year. On the other hand, I'm worried about totally missing on CCN ED and ending up only in at lower T14s with no $. I know this seems unlikely, but people told me I'd probably get one of MVP RD and some lower T14s with $ last year, which didn't pan out.

Ed Columbia and if you don't get in change your UVa app to ED. Only caveat is if you really prefer Penn to Columbia then ED there which should be close to a lock.