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In my humble opinion, definitely reapply as early as possible (September) unless something really good comes through (Lower T14 $$$$, CCN $$$). Go teach English for a year abroad and save a little $ and gain some life/work experience.

What are your goals?

I would wait for NYU, you should be in good shape with your stats unless you wrote a crummy PS.

If you got NYU would you wait a cycle for Columbia/Chicago? I doubt waiting a year will help you with Harvard since you didn't get the interview, so you'd need to retake if you really wanted it.

As of now, I think you should.

Applying early with the 172 should make a big difference

Relax. You're saying you're having a bad cycle because you got rejected from Harvard.

Wait for everything else to unfold. You have great numbers. Schools are hesitant because drop in apps means unpredictability. They don't know the market rate on 172/3.9. You will get into a lot of great schools, with money.

After all that happens in the next few months, if you are still upset about the "bad cycle" because you want to go to HLS, then reapply in September.

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FWIW if you do decide to reapply it is super easy to get a job as a paralegal with a liberal arts degree. Firms like to take kids, train them for their purposes, keep them for 1-2 years and then send them off to law school before they get enough experience to get too expensive. This is what I did, and it was very useful in helping me decide that I did actually want to be a lawyer.

Apps for next year open up in a few months. Hang out on the waitlists and see what happens, but don't be afraid to walk away.

Get a job and do some living. Reapply on day 1. Law school sucks. Take the year confident that you'll have a better outcome next cycle and enjoy the hell out of it. Learn how to play the banjo. Teach English in Uzbekistan for a semester.

This is an awesome opportunity. I spent my year off worrying about retaking instead of doing that stuff. Sucked. Don't rush to LS, especially without maximizing the opportunity your numbers give you.

You're still pending at 6 good schools. Lots to be decided yet ...

A 172 and a high 3.9 and you didn't apply to Yale?! Granted, the odds aren't in your favor with 3 LSAT takes but still! C'mon man - you do have a shot!

damn a 3.9X and a 172 and duke and georgetown waitlisted you? man. youre over both 75ths with room to spare

im pretty surprised.

Yeah, a year off would probably be good either way. Another low stress option I've seen people do in your scenario: you could likely get on a staff for a state legislator or representative, find some kind of work in DC, or you could hitch on with a campaign for the fall. You've got pretty OK credentials for something like that.

Did you say the 172 was from this February? If that's the case, I'm sure you'd do a lot better trying again next year, you've got great numbers. But I'm sure a T14 will come through for you with a great scholarship this year, too, if you just want to start right away.

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james.bungles wrote:

thevuch wrote:damn a 3.9X and a 172 and duke and georgetown waitlisted you? man. youre over both 75ths with room to spare

im pretty surprised.

well Duke was before my Feb retake came in, and I'm hoping GULC was a YP, but yeah.

did you wipe your ass with a sheet of paper and scan it then use it for your personal statement?

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Work a year at a paid position, doesn't matter what. Put cash in your pocket and allay the fears at OCI that you are a 3 year K-JD who is petrified of the real world and has never proven they can show up at 9.

Also, apply the first day applications open. Otherwise, you a just leaving money on the table.

Finally, rework your PS. It likely has a glaring flaw that Berkeley though added character. Have more than one (non-family) co-editor.

james.bungles wrote:

thevuch wrote:

james.bungles wrote:

thevuch wrote:damn a 3.9X and a 172 and duke and georgetown waitlisted you? man. youre over both 75ths with room to spare

im pretty surprised.

well Duke was before my Feb retake came in, and I'm hoping GULC was a YP, but yeah.

did you wipe your ass with a sheet of paper and scan it then use it for your personal statement?

Berkeley didn't seem to think so

i know man congratulations i was only kidding.

you should be proud

Yea 172 3.9x definitely max out your potential do something that will look really good obviously too late for TFA/PeaceCorps/RhodesScholarship/Military boost at this point just teach English abroad for a year and enjoy Half tuition to Columbia/Chicago or probably 75% tuition at lower t-14 or full-ride at NU if you ED

Reapply. The late application almost certainly hurt you. You will likely kick ass next year and be able to get substantial scholarships. Congrats with 3.9+ GPA and 172 LSAT.

I'd reapply if I were you. Nothing wrong with Berkeley, but I bet you're leaving a lot of money on the table. Agree on getting a year of work experience, too.

I vote reapply unless Stanford pulls through for you or you score a major scholly at a school you really like (e.g. a late Ruby at UChi, if you like the school).

little update, just got a call from UVA and they're willing to give me a full ride. hopefully this cycle is turning around!

james.bungles wrote:little update, just got a call from UVA and they're willing to give me a full ride. hopefully this cycle is turning around!

That would be REALLY hard to turn down...

cron1834 wrote:You're still pending at 6 good schools. Lots to be decided yet ...

Nailed it