Application Strategy Forum

[hill1334]

Hi all,

I have a 170 on the LSAT and 3.66 GPA. I plan on retaking the LSAT in December to try and get the 2-4 more points I need to be a competitive applicant at my top 3 schools--Columbia, NYU, and Virgina--and increase my scholarship offers from the T8-T18. (I am hopeful I can get a couple more points as my PT average was 175)

As I am below both the medians at my top choices, I don't plan to apply to them until I receive my December LSAT score, but I am curious as to whether TLSers think I should try to apply early to some of the other schools I am considering, such as Duke, the University of Michigan, Georgetown, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and WUSL, where I am slightly above the medium LSAT but slightly below the medium GPA. My guess is that with my GPA, current LSAT, and my above average softs (not that they really matter), I should be in with a shout at all these schools even if I don't improve my score on the LSAT. Given this fact, should I try to apply to these schools early in order to get the slight (possibly nonexistent?) pre-Thanksgiving application boost, or should I just wait until I get my December LSAT, which I could actually end up not improving on?

Thanks!

[phillywc]

You can do either. Personally I'd wait, but I don't think either decision is indefensible.

[smiles123]

I'm in a similar boat. I've decided to apply to schools that are my safties and schools I am competitive at with my Sept. score but hold off on my reaches for a new score.

Here's my reasoning.

For the schools that are safeties. If I am accepted before december comes out then I will update them with the new score which will hopefully help with schollys.

For schools I have competitive numbers. I expect that in december I'd either see no movement, acceptance, or waitlisted. I don't expect to get rejected at these schools this early in the cycle if my numbers are around their medians. So it can't hurt to apply earlier with my old LSAT and update.

Reaches- Here's where I'm holding off on the apps. I don't want schools to see my old score and reject me automatically because of the old LSAT. I know typically schools will hold your application but I don't want to take the chance.

This is all my opinion and I am by no means an expert, so take it FWIW.

[hill1334]

You can do either. Personally I'd wait, but I don't think either decision is indefensible.

Any particular reason you would wait? I guess it might make sense that you want to have the committee members looking at your application for the first time when it is at its best.

Thanks!

[hill1334]

I'm in a similar boat. I've decided to apply to schools that are my safties and schools I am competitive at with my Sept. score but hold off on my reaches for a new score.

Here's my reasoning.

For the schools that are safeties. If I am accepted before december comes out then I will update them with the new score which will hopefully help with schollys.

For schools I have competitive numbers. I expect that in december I'd either see no movement, acceptance, or waitlisted. I don't expect to get rejected at these schools this early in the cycle if my numbers are around their medians. So it can't hurt to apply earlier with my old LSAT and update.

Reaches- Here's where I'm holding off on the apps. I don't want schools to see my old score and reject me automatically because of the old LSAT. I know typically schools will hold your application but I don't want to take the chance.

This is all my opinion and I am by no means an expert, so take it FWIW.

I think this is the strategy I am leaning towards. Thank you for your feedback.

[hill1334]

I have an additional, related question: While most people seem to believe that for the purposes of admissions it will not really hurt for me to wait until I receive my December LSAT score to apply, will waiting until late December to apply, as opposed to applying before Thanksgiving, impact the scholarship offers I receive from those schools I am above both medians at? Is it possible that some schools might give out such a high percentage of their scholarship money early on that by the time late December roles around they are giving less money to equally qualified applicants?

I mainly ask because while I was originally planning on trying to submit my applications to those T-14 schools I am already above the medians at before Thanksgiving, finalizing those apps while also working 70+ hours a week and studying for the December LSAT is proving a tough ask. I would like to just concentrate on the LSAT for the next two weeks, but not at the expense of losing out on scholarship money to schools I am likely to get into...

Thanks!

[Kratos]

I have an additional, related question: While most people seem to believe that for the purposes of admissions it will not really hurt for me to wait until I receive my December LSAT score to apply, will waiting until late December to apply, as opposed to applying before Thanksgiving, impact the scholarship offers I receive from those schools I am above both medians at? Is it possible that some schools might give out such a high percentage of their scholarship money early on that by the time late December roles around they are giving less money to equally qualified applicants?

I mainly ask because while I was originally planning on trying to submit my applications to those T-14 schools I am already above the medians at before Thanksgiving, finalizing those apps while also working 70+ hours a week and studying for the December LSAT is proving a tough ask. I would like to just concentrate on the LSAT for the next two weeks, but not at the expense of losing out on scholarship money to schools I am likely to get into...

Thanks!

I don't think it'll really matter because most schools won't be making a decision until your december score comes in. Anyway, conventional wisdom is the earlier you apply, the more spots and money is open. Although, I knew a bunch of people who got off the WL and got some good scholly offers.

Are you desperate to matriculate next year? Obviously you could wait till next cycle and get those apps in early if you're really worried about.

[hill1334]

I have an additional, related question: While most people seem to believe that for the purposes of admissions it will not really hurt for me to wait until I receive my December LSAT score to apply, will waiting until late December to apply, as opposed to applying before Thanksgiving, impact the scholarship offers I receive from those schools I am above both medians at? Is it possible that some schools might give out such a high percentage of their scholarship money early on that by the time late December roles around they are giving less money to equally qualified applicants?

I mainly ask because while I was originally planning on trying to submit my applications to those T-14 schools I am already above the medians at before Thanksgiving, finalizing those apps while also working 70+ hours a week and studying for the December LSAT is proving a tough ask. I would like to just concentrate on the LSAT for the next two weeks, but not at the expense of losing out on scholarship money to schools I am likely to get into...

Thanks!

I don't think it'll really matter because most schools won't be making a decision until your december score comes in. Anyway, conventional wisdom is the earlier you apply, the more spots and money is open. Although, I knew a bunch of people who got off the WL and got some good scholly offers.

Are you desperate to matriculate next year? Obviously you could wait till next cycle and get those apps in early if you're really worried about.

Definitely plan to apply this year, but if I apply and underperform, then I might be willing to wait another year...

I think I will try to get all my apps for my schools I have a 50% plus chance of getting into within the next week or so. I appreciate the response.

[hill1334]

Another question regarding application strategy for everyone.

I finally have my applications ready to go for those schools I am over the median at. However, I just asked for an additional recommendation I likely won't be able to get for another week or two. Should I apply now and then supplement my application with the additional recommendation, or should I wait until I have the additional recommendation? If I choose to apply now, is there a way to supplement the application on LSAC after initially submitting, or would I have to figure out how to send it to any schools I apply to directly? Either way, the recommendation will be ready in time for my applications to my reach schools (which I am waiting to apply to until I get back my December LSAT score).

It is already getting later in the cycle than I wanted to apply, and I am starting to chomp at the bit.

Thanks!

Additional info for consideration:

Just three days ago, I was encouraged to request an additional letter of recommendations from one of the attorneys I work with. I already have a LOR from two professors and an attorney I work with more regularly, but the attorney I am getting the fourth recommendation from is more senior and works with me on the pro bono asylum case I specifically reference in my personal statement. As he said he would be happy to talk about my active engagement in the case and the additional level of responsibility I have taken on, I think it will likely lend some credence to my personal statement.

[pylon]

I finally have my applications ready to go for those schools I am over the median at. However, I just asked for an additional recommendation I likely won't be able to get for another week or two. Should I apply now and then supplement my application with the additional recommendation, or should I wait until I have the additional recommendation? If I choose to apply now, is there a way to supplement the application on LSAC after initially submitting, or would I have to figure out how to send it to any schools I apply to directly? Either way, the recommendation will be ready in time for my applications to my reach schools (which I am waiting to apply to until I get back my December LSAT score).

I would use your existing recommendations to apply for the safer schools asap. I think you can send schools new letters, but it doesn't stop them from considering your application as complete once they've received two typically.

I would then use the new recommendation for your reach schools once the LSAT score comes in.

[hill1334]

I finally have my applications ready to go for those schools I am over the median at. However, I just asked for an additional recommendation I likely won't be able to get for another week or two. Should I apply now and then supplement my application with the additional recommendation, or should I wait until I have the additional recommendation? If I choose to apply now, is there a way to supplement the application on LSAC after initially submitting, or would I have to figure out how to send it to any schools I apply to directly? Either way, the recommendation will be ready in time for my applications to my reach schools (which I am waiting to apply to until I get back my December LSAT score).

I would use your existing recommendations to apply for the safer schools asap. I think you can send schools new letters, but it doesn't stop them from considering your application as complete once they've received two typically.

I would then use the new recommendation for your reach schools once the LSAT score comes in.

I appreciate the advice! Likely will do as you suggest. Any competing opinions out there?

[hill1334]

Bumping as I just want to confirm there are no different opinions out there. Apologies.