Share your re-apply stories? Forum

[matchesmalone17]

Still trying to decide whether to re-apply next cycle (sounds like at least a few other TLS-ers are as well).

If you have experience re-applying, could you share how that went for you? Did you re-apply with the same stats but early? What happened with the schools you were accepted to the first time?

My specific situation: applied everywhere on last date applications were open & skipped "why x" essays. 170 LSAT, 3.0 GPA from a tier I school, 5-9yrs significant WE. Goal is fed clerkship and impact litigation at ACLU (or similar PI non profit) following law school. In at Georgetown and Texas (waiting on $$ from both), UCLA (80k scholly), WUSTL (135k scholly). WL at Duke, Northwestern, Michigan, UVA. Would be happy to attend Georgetown if sig scholly $$ comes through. Would be happy to continue my current job for another year so that is not an issue.

If I re-applied I'd do it with the same stats, but on Day 1. Might do a September re-take of LSAT, but not sure if I'd be able to get a significantly higher score (June too early for that). Goal of re-applying would be getting in at better ranked schools and higher scholarships.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

Probably not super useful comment, but here goes anyway:

Are you expecting significant money from any T14s? If so, why?
With a 170/3.0, you are honestly not *that* attractive of a candidate for merit aid at most of the top schools. GTTTown maybe, but if you're not above both medians at most of the top 14, you really shouldn't be banking on significant merit aid.

OT: I am retaking and reapplying. Hoping a 170+/3.98 will get me a couple fulls. If the retake doesn't go as planned, admissions deans have already told me I should expect the same outcome (or slightly better) applying early as opposed to the end of December.

[matchesmalone17]

Probably not super useful comment, but here goes anyway:

Are you expecting significant money from any T14s? If so, why?
With a 170/3.0, you are honestly not *that* attractive of a candidate for merit aid at most of the top schools. GTTTown maybe, but if you're not above both medians at most of the top 14, you really shouldn't be banking on significant merit aid.

OT: I am retaking and reapplying. Hoping a 170+/3.98 will get me a couple fulls. If the retake doesn't go as planned, admissions deans have already told me I should expect the same outcome (or slightly better) applying early as opposed to the end of December.

This is useful, thanks! I was thinking applying early would mean there would be more scholarship $$ available. But if you need to be above both medians for that to happen at a T14...well then it sounds like re-applying wouldn't help. Maybe I should just ask the admissions offices about this straight up (sounds like that worked for you?).

[Future Ex-Engineer]

Probably not super useful comment, but here goes anyway:

Are you expecting significant money from any T14s? If so, why?
With a 170/3.0, you are honestly not *that* attractive of a candidate for merit aid at most of the top schools. GTTTown maybe, but if you're not above both medians at most of the top 14, you really shouldn't be banking on significant merit aid.

OT: I am retaking and reapplying. Hoping a 170+/3.98 will get me a couple fulls. If the retake doesn't go as planned, admissions deans have already told me I should expect the same outcome (or slightly better) applying early as opposed to the end of December.

This is useful, thanks! I was thinking applying early would mean there would be more scholarship $$ available. But if you need to be above both medians for that to happen at a T14...well then it sounds like re-applying wouldn't help. Maybe I should just ask the admissions offices about this straight up (sounds like that worked for you?).

Yeah, so I had a pretty good cycle - in everywhere Chicago and down (and a Harvard WL) with a 168/3.98. I got a number of solid offers from top schools (2/3rds at Mich/Cornell, 70% UT, 1/3rd NYU, very low amount from Chicago, but surprised to get anything) along with fulls+stipends from WUSTL and Bama (only non-T14/15 I applied to). I am reapplying early next year because I feel I got lowballed pretty hard by UVA/Duke, and I'm also shooting for 175 on the LSAT (my 168 was the result of a month of studying while working full time).
I was super open with deans at ASWs, basically telling them I know I can score better on the LSAT, and that I want to go to school for free since I don't come from tons of money. I asked if it would look bad to them if I declined admission and reapplied next year. Since I have a legitimate reason for my sitting out a year, they all told me it was definitely not a problem to do that, and they even went as far as saying it wouldn't hurt me either - if I applied with the same stuff earlier next year, I should expect the same or very similar outcomes. For me, that makes it a no-brainer.