LSAT168 GPA3.80 Should I ED or RD Columbia? Forum

[GMW77]

Hey Guys,

I scored 168 on October LSAT, which met my expectation since I knew I screwed up the first LR section right after I finished it.
In 10 practice tests I took in September, however, my score consistently fell between 171-173.
(usually missing one question on each LR section, 3-5 on RC, and 1-3 on LG. on October test I missed 6 questions on first LR...)
In addition, I have a 3.80 GPA from a Top 20 private school, double majoring in Statistics and Political Science. I'm a senior.
I will definitely retake in December. And I'm confident that my score will improve by 2-3 points.

But I'm trying to decide if I should ED or RD Columbia now.
Going to CLS has always been my dream. And let's just say my commitment to CLS is high enough that I'm not very concerned about whether I get financial aid or not.
I know ED will allow me to: 1) apply early in the cycle 2) show commitment to the admission officers; but I'm not sure how much leverage that would give me, and if that can make up for my low LSAT.
RD also have some advantages: 1) my lsat will improve with the December test 2) since this semester's GPA will also be added to my transcript by the end of December, my cumulative GPA will rise to approximately 3.85 if I submit my application in January. But I'm not sure if applying in January would put me in a position that an minor improvement on scores will be offset by the fact I'm applying pretty late in the cycle.
So it's basically 168+3.8 ED now vs. 171+3.85 RD in January.
Which option do you guys think will give me the best chance of getting in CLS?

Plus, a friend of mine who is a CLS graduate suggest that I apply for ED. She said it's very likely that I will be deferred to the RD, and that way I can update my December LSAT score and GPA without worrying about applying late. That sounds tempting. But I will have to bear the risk of being rejected in ED and completely losing my shot for Columbia since I can't apply again in RD. What do you guys think?

Big thanks in advance to everyone who replies!!!!

[cbbinnyc]

I don't know that getting deferred to RD is a certainty, since Columbia weighs the LSAT more heavily than GPA and your LSAT is <25%. Given that you are K-JD, I have to assume that you don't have any game-changing softs. Unless you are a URM, I wouldn't risk it ... retake and apply after you get the new score.

Hey Guys,

I scored 168 on October LSAT, which met my expectation since I knew I screwed up the first LR section right after I finished it.
In 10 practice tests I took in September, however, my score consistently fell between 171-173.
(usually missing one question on each LR section, 3-5 on RC, and 1-3 on LG. on October test I missed 6 questions on first LR...)
In addition, I have a 3.80 GPA from a Top 20 private school, double majoring in Statistics and Political Science. I'm a senior.
I will definitely retake in December. And I'm confident that my score will improve by 2-3 points.

But I'm trying to decide if I should ED or RD Columbia now.
Going to CLS has always been my dream. And let's just say my commitment to CLS is high enough that I'm not very concerned about whether I get financial aid or not.
I know ED will allow me to: 1) apply early in the cycle 2) show commitment to the admission officers; but I'm not sure how much leverage that would give me, and if that can make up for my low LSAT.
RD also have some advantages: 1) my lsat will improve with the December test 2) since this semester's GPA will also be added to my transcript by the end of December, my cumulative GPA will rise to approximately 3.85 if I submit my application in January. But I'm not sure if applying in January would put me in a position that an minor improvement on scores will be offset by the fact I'm applying pretty late in the cycle.
So it's basically 168+3.8 ED now vs. 171+3.85 RD in January.
Which option do you guys think will give me the best chance of getting in CLS?

Plus, a friend of mine who is a CLS graduate suggest that I apply for ED. She said it's very likely that I will be deferred to the RD, and that way I can update my December LSAT score and GPA without worrying about applying late. That sounds tempting. But I will have to bear the risk of being rejected in ED and completely losing my shot for Columbia since I can't apply again in RD. What do you guys think?

Big thanks in advance to everyone who replies!!!!

[GMW77]

Thanks a lot cbbinnyc! So I assume that you don't think there's much leverage for ED over RD?

I don't know that getting deferred to RD is a certainty, since Columbia weighs the LSAT more heavily than GPA and your LSAT is <25%. Given that you are K-JD, I have to assume that you don't have any game-changing softs. Unless you are a URM, I wouldn't risk it ... retake and apply after you get the new score.

Hey Guys,

I scored 168 on October LSAT, which met my expectation since I knew I screwed up the first LR section right after I finished it.
In 10 practice tests I took in September, however, my score consistently fell between 171-173.
(usually missing one question on each LR section, 3-5 on RC, and 1-3 on LG. on October test I missed 6 questions on first LR...)
In addition, I have a 3.80 GPA from a Top 20 private school, double majoring in Statistics and Political Science. I'm a senior.
I will definitely retake in December. And I'm confident that my score will improve by 2-3 points.

But I'm trying to decide if I should ED or RD Columbia now.
Going to CLS has always been my dream. And let's just say my commitment to CLS is high enough that I'm not very concerned about whether I get financial aid or not.
I know ED will allow me to: 1) apply early in the cycle 2) show commitment to the admission officers; but I'm not sure how much leverage that would give me, and if that can make up for my low LSAT.
RD also have some advantages: 1) my lsat will improve with the December test 2) since this semester's GPA will also be added to my transcript by the end of December, my cumulative GPA will rise to approximately 3.85 if I submit my application in January. But I'm not sure if applying in January would put me in a position that an minor improvement on scores will be offset by the fact I'm applying pretty late in the cycle.
So it's basically 168+3.8 ED now vs. 171+3.85 RD in January.
Which option do you guys think will give me the best chance of getting in CLS?

Plus, a friend of mine who is a CLS graduate suggest that I apply for ED. She said it's very likely that I will be deferred to the RD, and that way I can update my December LSAT score and GPA without worrying about applying late. That sounds tempting. But I will have to bear the risk of being rejected in ED and completely losing my shot for Columbia since I can't apply again in RD. What do you guys think?

Big thanks in advance to everyone who replies!!!!

[cbbinnyc]

Thanks a lot cbbinnyc! So I assume that you don't think there's much leverage for ED over RD?

What do you mean by leverage? You mean there's not much of an advantage? No.

I happen to be applying ED (to NYU), but I'm doing that because I am older, tied down to the tristate area by a serious relationship, don't mind giving up a chance at scholarship leverage (willing to pay sticker if I have to), and confident I want to go to NYU, so I figure why not. (Others on this site might not agree with my reasoning, but to each his own.) Also, my numbers don't make me a shoe-in at NYU (GPA below 25% from HYP, LSAT above 75%), but I'm pretty certain to at least be deferred, in which case I'll probably retake.

In your case, though you are likely to be deferred at Columbia, it is not quite as certain because your LSAT is below 25%. The negligible boost that ED gives will probably not make up for a low LSAT. Also, though Columbia is a great school, it sounds like you'll be able to apply broadly and play the field a bit ... you are pretty likely to get money from one of the lower T14, why potentially limit your options?

[GMW77]

Thanks for sharing your stroy, cbbinnyc. I'm aiming for CLS because of the school itself and the fact that I'm in a 4-year relationship and my boyfriend is studying financial engineering at Columbia. But thank you for your advice anyway. I'm gonna put off my CLS application until after the December score comes out. Best luck to your ED!

Thanks a lot cbbinnyc! So I assume that you don't think there's much leverage for ED over RD?

What do you mean by leverage? You mean there's not much of an advantage? No.

I happen to be applying ED (to NYU), but I'm doing that because I am older, tied down to the tristate area by a serious relationship, don't mind giving up a chance at scholarship leverage (willing to pay sticker if I have to), and confident I want to go to NYU, so I figure why not. (Others on this site might not agree with my reasoning, but to each his own.) Also, my numbers don't make me a shoe-in at NYU (GPA below 25% from HYP, LSAT above 75%), but I'm pretty certain to at least be deferred, in which case I'll probably retake.

In your case, though you are likely to be deferred at Columbia, it is not quite as certain because your LSAT is below 25%. The negligible boost that ED gives will probably not make up for a low LSAT. Also, though Columbia is a great school, it sounds like you'll be able to apply broadly and play the field a bit ... you are pretty likely to get money from one of the lower T14, why potentially limit your options?