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2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:59 pm
by mr368904
Hello
Sorry if this is a repeat, but I couldn't find anything quite the same on the splitter posts.

I have a 2.8 UGPA in History from a mediocre state school, but a 3.9 Grad GPA (MS Economics) from an ok program (which doesn't grade inflate--several students flunked out), and excellent references. 180 LSAT. 5 years work w/management experience in NFP at a law firm.

No upward trend last 2 years of undergrad. My ug transcript is just a hot mess. Also I only have a moderately compelling addendum (severe, debilitating ADD-- "cured" in adulthood through transcendental meditation-- it really worked, but I know adcoms don't really dig the ADD story). Non-URM.

Any chance in Hades at NYU or UPenn? My special lady friend has been accepted to her dream Ph.D. program at Princeton and those are the only remotely commute-able options (except Columbia, which even the ridiculously-optimistic LS calculator won't budge past "deny"). I'd probably do Fordham if they threw a lot of money at me, but do splitters ever get money?

Also, any word on whether combined JD/MBA is always a harder admit? I also killed the GMAT. Wouldn't an NYU MBA admission help my chances with the law school? (Nice try...)

Finally, anybody ever hear of a transcript being retroactively changed/corrected? I have two F's on there for classes I signed up for, never intended to keep, and forgot to drop before the deadline (ADD, right?). Supposedly the dean of my college could drop them, but I'll believe that when I see it.

Thanks for your thoughts and your help,
Distracted in Denver

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:02 pm
by eav1277
No help here but congrats on killing the lsat

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:49 pm
by Crowing
Well, there is this guy: http://lawschoolnumbers.com/templeton

So I wouldn't say there's no chance at Penn.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:14 pm
by Ti Malice
Chances are effectively zero at NYU. They're also very low at Penn, but someone apparently has gotten in with similar stats before, so I guess they aren't zero. Apply ED and see what happens.

Your chances would be very good at Northwestern, but I realize that doesn't help you much.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:18 pm
by domino
Why are you interested in a joint degree--what about just an MBA?

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:35 pm
by Tiago Splitter
Ti Malice wrote:Chances are effectively zero at NYU.
I know of a 2.9/179 who snuck in last semester. With Penn's new second round ED I'd ED to NYU first then ED Penn if NYU doesn't work out.

ETA: By last semester I mean last cycle. No guarantees but with apps declining it's worth a shot if these are the schools you strongly prefer and are prepared for sticker.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:14 pm
by Ti Malice
Tiago Splitter wrote:
Ti Malice wrote:Chances are effectively zero at NYU.
I know of a 2.9/179 who snuck in last semester. With Penn's new second round ED I'd ED to NYU first then ED Penn if NYU doesn't work out.
OP, listen to this guy. :lol:

Wow, didn't think that was possible.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:30 pm
by Cobretti
Tiago Splitter wrote:
Ti Malice wrote:Chances are effectively zero at NYU.
I know of a 2.9/179 who snuck in last semester. With Penn's new second round ED I'd ED to NYU first then ED Penn if NYU doesn't work out.
TCR

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:52 pm
by leo2013
congratz on killing LSAT and GMAT.

I would give you a package if I am YLS admin, but that's only me :lol:

Just curious: how does transcendental meditation work?
mr368904 wrote:Hello
Sorry if this is a repeat, but I couldn't find anything quite the same on the splitter posts.

I have a 2.8 UGPA in History from a mediocre state school, but a 3.9 Grad GPA (MS Economics) from an ok program (which doesn't grade inflate--several students flunked out), and excellent references. 180 LSAT. 5 years work w/management experience in NFP at a law firm.

No upward trend last 2 years of undergrad. My ug transcript is just a hot mess. Also I only have a moderately compelling addendum (severe, debilitating ADD-- "cured" in adulthood through transcendental meditation-- it really worked, but I know adcoms don't really dig the ADD story). Non-URM.

Any chance in Hades at NYU or UPenn? My special lady friend has been accepted to her dream Ph.D. program at Princeton and those are the only remotely commute-able options (except Columbia, which even the ridiculously-optimistic LS calculator won't budge past "deny"). I'd probably do Fordham if they threw a lot of money at me, but do splitters ever get money?

Also, any word on whether combined JD/MBA is always a harder admit? I also killed the GMAT. Wouldn't an NYU MBA admission help my chances with the law school? (Nice try...)

Finally, anybody ever hear of a transcript being retroactively changed/corrected? I have two F's on there for classes I signed up for, never intended to keep, and forgot to drop before the deadline (ADD, right?). Supposedly the dean of my college could drop them, but I'll believe that when I see it.

Thanks for your thoughts and your help,
Distracted in Denver

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:05 pm
by 09042014
There are rumors of retroactive transcript changes. I'd call up a dean at your old school and talk about it. Join some alumni booster club or something first. They might be more willing if they think they can snag some cash.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:26 pm
by mr368904
[quote="leo2013"]congratz on killing LSAT and GMAT.

I would give you a package if I am YLS admin, but that's only me :lol:

Just curious: how does transcendental meditation work?
[quote="mr368904"]

TM is basically hypnotizing yourself. You sit somewhere comfortable and quiet without distractions. Close your eyes and let your mind wander for a while, at least three minutes, no more than ten. Just think about whatever. Then you "very gently introduce the mantra." Technically you have to have a special mantra provided by a guru, but there's a list on-line somewhere. I use "aima." It means nothing. You just hear it spoken to you in your head over and over again. Try not to be too rythmic or sing-song with it. If your mind wanders, don't chastise yourself, just gently return your mind to the mantra. The idea is to enter a trance. It doesn't work every time, but that's ok. Just sitting quietly for a while is still pretty good for your mind grapes. If you do trance, you'll kind of snap out of it after 20 minutes or so. You'll feel extremely peaceful and content, you'll sleep like a baby that night, and, if you have severe ADD, you'll suddenly find yourself able to follow thoughts through to their conclusion, read books, dress yourself properly, all that fun stuff.

I read an article somewhere about how TM is becoming really popular amongst corporate lawyers. Keeps you off the ledge, I guess.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:29 pm
by mr368904
oops, that's supposed to go with Leo's comment above.

Thanks for all the help! I'll definitely try ED NYU then ED Penn.

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:31 pm
by leo2013
TM is basically hypnotizing yourself. You sit somewhere comfortable and quiet without distractions. Close your eyes and let your mind wander for a while, at least three minutes, no more than ten. Just think about whatever. Then you "very gently introduce the mantra." Technically you have to have a special mantra provided by a guru, but there's a list on-line somewhere. I use "aima." It means nothing. You just hear it spoken to you in your head over and over again. Try not to be too rythmic or sing-song with it. If your mind wanders, don't chastise yourself, just gently return your mind to the mantra. The idea is to enter a trance. It doesn't work every time, but that's ok. Just sitting quietly for a while is still pretty good for your mind grapes. If you do trance, you'll kind of snap out of it after 20 minutes or so. You'll feel extremely peaceful and content, you'll sleep like a baby that night, and, if you have severe ADD, you'll suddenly find yourself able to follow thoughts through to their conclusion, read books, dress yourself properly, all that fun stuff.

I read an article somewhere about how TM is becoming really popular amongst corporate lawyers. Keeps you off the ledge, I guess.
Thanks, I guess I will try it for my sleep!

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:47 pm
by Rahviveh
mr368904 wrote:
leo2013 wrote:congratz on killing LSAT and GMAT.

I would give you a package if I am YLS admin, but that's only me :lol:

Just curious: how does transcendental meditation work?
mr368904 wrote:
TM is basically hypnotizing yourself. You sit somewhere comfortable and quiet without distractions. Close your eyes and let your mind wander for a while, at least three minutes, no more than ten. Just think about whatever. Then you "very gently introduce the mantra." Technically you have to have a special mantra provided by a guru, but there's a list on-line somewhere. I use "aima." It means nothing. You just hear it spoken to you in your head over and over again. Try not to be too rythmic or sing-song with it. If your mind wanders, don't chastise yourself, just gently return your mind to the mantra. The idea is to enter a trance. It doesn't work every time, but that's ok. Just sitting quietly for a while is still pretty good for your mind grapes. If you do trance, you'll kind of snap out of it after 20 minutes or so. You'll feel extremely peaceful and content, you'll sleep like a baby that night, and, if you have severe ADD, you'll suddenly find yourself able to follow thoughts through to their conclusion, read books, dress yourself properly, all that fun stuff.

I read an article somewhere about how TM is becoming really popular amongst corporate lawyers. Keeps you off the ledge, I guess.
Hmmm I should try this lol

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:36 am
by Thelonious Kwiggz
First I would like to say congratulations on your LSAT.

Second integrating your experience with TM into your personal statement rather than a addendum would definitely capture adcoms attention. You do not have to label your ADD as the problem you solved instead you can address how TM aided you in putting together the pieces of your once scattered life. It would communicate that you are able to deal with stress efficiently and in a non self destructive manner(unlike many who are currently in the law profession and/or in law school). Also mention TM could add to the redemptive element of your story.

I also practice TM daily and have a extremely low GPA and I am currently PTing in the 176-180 bracket. My low GPA can be largely attributed to my fascination with esoteric mysticism during college. In my pursuit of clandestine wisdom I journeyed on a path traveled by men like Terrence McKenna :wink: .

I wish you the best on NYU and UPenn

Re: 2.8/180 - 3.9 MA GPA Econ - NYU/Penn??

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:41 pm
by JWalker
IB4 Aberzombie shows up and starts saying "Go to Penn because P is a peer of CC and N isn't."