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LSN:http://lawschoolnumbers.com/Acer01

170/3.65

This may be premature (still waiting on acceptances/scholarships), but I'm debating between attending in the fall or withdrawing all apps, taking another year off, retaking, and reapplying next cycle. Still waiting on a few t14s, but Michigan is my top choice as of now. I'm waiting on scholarship info from them (will update when it comes in), but I don't see it being significant enough to keep me under 150K debt (including CoL).

Here's a breakdown of my situation:

Currently working a shit (low paying) job - if I decide to take a year off I would try to find another
SO will be here next year for work regardless of my decision
Ill be traveling the last two weeks of May so a June retake seems unlikely
Debt averse - taking a year off would allow me to payoff some of the ~16K in debt I already have (UG and car loan)
Willing to retake Oct/Dec/Feb if necessary

I'm leaning towards taking another year off, but curious to hear what others think.

TYIA

how early did you submit?

i think you if you get the right acceptances + initial schollies / you could negotiate up at mich / duke / cornell. why no northwestern? it looks like you want to stay midwest.

Applied early January (December LSAT).

The high CoA + CoL at NW put me off initially, but I'm regretting it now.

Assuming I get in at Duke/Cornell, I'll definitely negotiate and see what happens. I still don't see my total debt being under 130-150k at Michigan (maybe slightly lower and Duke/Cornell).

I should have added that I plan on withdrawing my apps from Gtown and below (with the exception of ND and Vandy) regardless.

Why withdraw from Vandy at this point? There's nothing in it for you, and if you're truly debt-averse, it could become a reasonable option. You'd probably be looking at close to a six figure scholly, and it's deceptively close to the Midwest. If you're biglaw or bust, then nevermind, but it's almost certainly going to be a better option than ND, if nothing else.

My Mistake - not withdrawing from Vandy.

My top three at this point (granted that I'm still waiting on a number of schools) are Mich, Vandy, and ND (Vandy scholly should be coming this week).

I'm not Biglaw or bust, but I would like to have it as an option. My only concern is that I go Michigan w/debt and, assuming I can even land Biglaw, get there and hate it. Now I've got 6 fig debt working a job I hate.

Again, thanks for the feedback. I know theres a lot more to consider with decisions and schollies coming in.

Retake. Or at least reapply next September.

The biggest downside to doing so, IMO, is that this year applicants/applications are waaaaay down, even from last year. If they start rebounding next cycle, that could adversely impact your chances at T14 schools. But on the flip side, if they continue the downward slide, that could help you out. It's a gamble either way.

Apps will likely continue to decline, and you can offset any concerns there by just adding another point or two on the LSAT. Add 3-4 more and Harvard comes into the picture along with even bigger scholarships everywhere else.

Tiago Splitter wrote:Apps will likely continue to decline, and you can offset any concerns there by just adding another point or two on the LSAT. Add 3-4 more and Harvard comes into the picture along with even bigger scholarships everywhere else.

H is not "in the picture" at 174. 170+ admits are up this cycle and it's not a guarantee that apps in general will continue to decline. They're not going to jump like crazy next cycle or anything, but taking a cycle off betting that the next one will be easier is not a solid plan. But yes, def retake.

I see one admit. More importantly, why so douchey?